Remember the Pakistani teenager who orchestrated sensational acoustic guitar music in the most unique of ways; putting the guitar horizontal on his lap, strumming it both his hand, fingers and knocking it around? Well, that person, Usman Riaz, has took a different approach in life now.
He has released Pakistan’s first ever hand drawn animated film called The Glassworker.
The movie is being created under the banner of Mano Animation Studios. The Glassworker is a story of a young boy, Vincent and a girl named Alliz. Vincent is learning the art of glassblowing from his father in their glass shop. Alliz, a frequent visitor of the shop, makes Vincent fall for him and that’s how the story further progresses.
Speaking to media, the filmmakers told them:
“The story is set in the fictitious Waterfront Town. Vincent is an apprentice glass blower learning from his father in their glass shop. Alliz is a prodigious violinist striving to find her own unique voice on the instrument.”
“The film will comment on the effects of war on children and follow both characters through their formative years as life gets more complicated and inhibits their friendship.”
Here is the trailer of The Glassworker.
Jami Moor, a renowned Karachi-based film director also spoke out in support for the team and its highly-stylized film. He had this to say for what is Pakistani’s first anime-influenced film.
He wrote on Facebook,
“Best ever animation from Pakistan! This is film making, pure heart warming purity of hard working, genius kids. Young filmmakers doing what not many adults can do.”
It is remarkable to see that initiatives such as these are being taken. This will help diversify Pakistani showbiz and create opportunities for people working in the said fields. Pakistan has no dearth of artistic talent and its time they came forward and showed the world what they are capable of. Usman Riaz’s The Glassworker is a realization of that lofty goal.
Mashallah .. Zindabad Wala Kam Hai Ye. At Last We Entered Into Animation. And Its Far Better Than Indian Animation Standards. Its Like Some Professional Anime of Studio Ghibli.
I don’t understand…………if this is purely made by a Pakistani production company, then why does the story include english-based “Oliver” & “Aliiz” charterers, i would assume, if this is purely a Pakistani effort then the story setting would have some essence of Local roots. If this is a purely fictitious setting then why not at least entertain the notion of using Urdu based names, some hint of PK culture that would enforce the idea that this Anime was made in Pakistan. I would really prefer seeing an anime promoting our culture, then seeing
an anime, which to be honest, seems like a foreign anime dubbed in Urdu.
We have some great creative minds who could help develop a story line purely home grown in PK. Our Drama industry is a great example where PK gets its identity, not saying that all dramas are great but at least they have the identity of PK in them.
I implore the guys making the Anime to reconsider some aspects and inject some PK flavor in this great initiative. I do appreciate the effort and hard-work put by the team, but who can say this is a work made from Pakistan apart from seeing the Credits. :(
Bilkul theek kaha dost, but as far as the names are concerned if you look at the credits in the end it says Alliz Espi is the producer of the film and Vincent Espi had done sound design, mixing and mastering. So may be the producer had its say in setting the names of lead characters and wanted them to name those after their family member names :-)
Well, then its not entirely pakistani
Well done
Great :D
Let’s be clear, this is not an anime. It was not by made by Japan. Also, this looks beautiful. The animation is crisp and the art is brilliant. Will definitely watch it in theatre.
art style is like anime and is an animated film…
That does not make it an anime. Period.
Nyanpasu~
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2e7002f546702b44cf26709fa24496767ec8d668bb25dc7a9199c8338fa6a223.png
Speaking of, what’s your take on the music video of Shelter by Porter Robinson? Do you think that’s an anime?
Nyanpasu :D (s2 when)
Ah that’s tricky. I lean towards it being an anime just because It was produced by a proper Japanese animation studio (A1). (It was removed from r/anime though; but I think it was put up again after a debate)
Wait, you mean S3 right? Because there’s already a second season.
And yeah, Shelter is an anime through and through. Made in Japan, first screened in Japan. Mods were just being a_hole.
Great stuff though. The feels. Had similar expectations from this one, but really disappointed after hearing that voice acting. It’s just hollow.
That S2 is just a remake D;
I’ll still watch glassworker. The art is enough to keep me interested. But you’re right. Without proper voice acting, it will not have any impact.
Looks like a voice over only.
Anyways, why can’t we make something besides appeasing English?
USELESS!!
Good effort by the director but i agree that the work should have been representative of pakistani society.
Bhai wo 3 BAHADUR bhi to bani thi… wo kaha ki thi? koi batayega??????
That was 3D CGI. This is the first hand drawn animation from Pakistan ever.