Le Verrier

It was an amazing experience watching this and since it was hand drawn, every single Frame felt like it was drawn with utmost effort. The details were amazing, the voice acting was amazing, the characters, storyline, and everything was worth the time and money.

Altho I overall Loved it and would recommend everyone to watch it, The ending was a bit off.... Like it felt a bit unexpected, as in "Wait what?" But it wasn't bad tho, and I hope they keep on making other such films and maybe even anime series in Pakistan. I'm sure other people would also have a lot of ideas, and with this movie, I hope they gain motivation and make their own movies as well.

Even tho it was the first ever Pakistani animated movie, and hand drawn as well, It was enough to satisfy!

BEFORE u get angry, read my review till last and think about it.

The glass worker is a nice movie, not gonna lie and i have been following it up for last 4-5 years. But i knew from the start, as this is Usman Riaz first movie the story will have problems and oh oh boy it had alot. The ending was confusing to say the least, as many of the plot of the movie was missing and the movie rapped it up pretty quickly. It also didnt felt "original as Usman Riaz was inspired by Ghibli, which actually made the film feel like "too much" inspired by Ghibli. I know its his first movie but if he had been original with it , it would have been better and also made it more natural and calming rather then rapping it up quickly. IF you actually wanna see what a "MASTER PIECE" looks like, (as people here are screaming that this movie is, although it isnt) Go watch HAYOA MIYAZAKI first film "Nausicaä The Valley of Wind". Or "the castle in the sky", then you will truly understand the art of animation and the beauty of a true master piece story.

The reviews here are totally wrong saying it is the "best movie ever", I have seen alot, i mean ALOT of animated movies and especially Japanese, as i like there 2D natural artwork. I am pretty choosy about my animated movies and this one was a easy 7/10. The main reason being that is, although the animation was beautiful and nice, but the story lacked alot and kinda felt amateurly written + not to forget the Urdu dubbing of the movie, which didnt had any natural feelings. I will highly recommend watching the movie in ENGLISH rather then URDU, because the original script of the movie is in English, due to this the Urdu one felt like a google translation lmao.

"The Glassworker," directed by Usman Riaz and produced by Mano Animation Studios, is an enchanting hand-drawn animated film that captivates the heart and soul. Set in a land reminiscent of Pakistan, this film tells a profound story of love, artistry, and the relentless shadows of war.

The voice performances are exceptional. The emotional resonance they deliver adds layers to the already rich narrative.

"The Glassworker" is not just a film; it is an experience that lingers long after the credits roll. It challenges the viewer to reflect on the importance of love, art, and individual thought in times of turmoil. Usman Riaz has crafted a timeless piece that stands as a tribute to the power of animation and storytelling.

Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates a beautifully crafted narrative and stunning animation. "The Glassworker" is a rare gem in today's cinematic landscape.

From Mano Animation Studios and director Usman Riaz comes 'The Glassworker,' a hand-drawn animated feature film set in a location loosely inspired by Pakistan. Set in a fictional European-inspired country on the brink of war, it follows young Vincent and his father Tomas; both are in charge of running the best glass workshop in the country, and fear an impending war, which they refuse to participate in, leading them to be labeled cowards. The story unfolds through flashbacks as present-day Vincent reads a letter from his girlfriend Aliz, a gifted violinist. These flashbacks reveal how they first met during a war and how their relationship evolved through it. Tomas's son, Vincent, is a skilled glassworker in Waterfront Town, homeschooled by his father while serving as an apprentice. His mother, also a talented glassmaker, passed on her gift to him. Vincent longed to go to school and play with the other town children, but his father dismissed these desires as distractions from his future as a glassmaker. The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his daughter Alliz, an expert young violinist, will shake up their reality and test their relationship. As tensions mount, Vincent and Alliz's relationship becomes an act of silent resistance, challenging the ideologies that surround them. This is an age when patriotism and social standing are considered more important than free thought and artistic pursuits! . This is an age when love simply doesn't matter!

"The Glassworker" is a coming-of-age romantic drama and the first hand-drawn animated feature film made in Pakistan. It tells the story of a young glassblower in training and his relationships with his father and a beautiful girl over the years, while his homeland is plagued by war and ongoing conflict with a neighboring country. In fact, although it's not surreptitiously mentioned, it seems to recall the perpetual conflict between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir region, a conflict that raged since the days of the two countries' independence and continues today. A moving and sensitive animated film, written and directed by Usman Riaz, a Pakistani composer and animator, with a style reminiscent of the films of the famous Studio Ghibli. It has participated in and won several international awards, including those at the Annecy and Sitges festivals.

It features a sensitive and enjoyable love story; however, this forbidden relationship between feuding families shakes our protagonist's reality and tests the relationship between father and son. Therefore, the deep love that develops between Vincent and Alliz is constantly challenged by the differing perspectives of their parents. And it features the original voices of Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra, and Tony Jayawardena.

The filmmakers use hand-drawn 2D animation that evokes character and environment designs based on the renowned Japanese studio, Studio Ghibli. This influence is evident, as Mano Animation Studio developed the film under the tutelage of Geoffrey Wexler, a former Studio Ghibli producer. The vibrant , brilliant colors enhance the love story, lending a poetic quality to the narrative. Meanwhile, the war sequences unfold with hypnotic intensity, depicting both brutality and hope. While "The Glassworker" has flaws, and failures such as underdeveloped character dynamics and a rushed ending, it remains a commendable and important animation experiment. This ambitious project contributes to elevating an often underappreciated art form.

In The Glassworker, the spirit of Studio Ghibli and its main representative, Hayao Miyazaki, is revived. Many of the latter's ideas and images are brought to life, recalling some frames from the classic films of that well-known mangaka and catoonist, such as Princess Mononoke, Castle in the Sky (1986), Ponyo on the Cliff (2008), Tales from Earthsea (2006), along with the masterpiece Spirited Away, (2001). However, it is especially influenced by Porco Rosso and The Wind Rises (2013), including the flying machines, giant aerial machines, and zeppelins that swarm throughout the film. This is an eminently personal work, the hard work of a man, Usman Riaz, in fact the author himself acts as screenwriter, composer, editor, director of photography, producer and director of this great film entitled "The Glassworker" (2024) which was Pakistan's official submission for the category 'Best Feature Film' at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. Rating: 7/10. Better than average. Well worth watching.

Pretty good movie overall. Many elements that I liked, for example the animation was amazing, especially for something that is produced in Pakistan. Could clearly tell that they put a lot of effort into it, and influence of Ghibli films could be seen. They nailed the glass working part. The animation seemed to be the main focus of the movie. The voice acting was alright, I didn't like the voice actor voicing the female protagonist (I watched the English version, maybe Urdu was better). The story itself wasn't too original, but was alright, and basically just got the job done. At least they didn't try to force tear-jerker moments for no reason. Good, solid movie, which is altogether unexpected from Pakistani cinema, hopefully this is one of many actual quality movies that we release.