The Glassworker
Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated feature film.
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*The Glassworker* (Urdu: شیشہ گر, *Sheesha Gar*) is a 2024 Pakistani animated film that blends romance with an anti-war message. Produced by Mano Animation Studios, it marks the directorial debut of Usman Riaz, who co-wrote the story with Moya O’Shea; O’Shea also wrote the screenplay. The film is Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature, drawing visual influence from anime. It debuted at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 10 June 2024, and reached Pakistani cinemas on 26 July 2024.
The story follows Vincent Oliver, a young man raised in the coastal town of Waterfront—known for its rich soil and silicon-heavy sand—where his father Tomas runs a glassworking shop. As war erupts between two nations, the town becomes a battlefield, and fire spirits called djinns weave through the narrative. Years later, adult Vincent, preparing his first glass exhibition, discovers a letter from his childhood love Alliz Amano. The letter revisits their past: Vincent, homeschooled and taught glasswork by his pacifist father, befriends Alliz, the daughter of Colonel Amano. She dreams of becoming a violinist, and despite Tomas’s disapproval, the two grow close.
When war breaks out, locals—including Vincent’s rival Malik—enlist. Tomas is forced to build advanced glass rectifiers for the military. Malik confesses his love for Alliz, straining her bond with Vincent. A bombing raid sparks a fight between Vincent and Alliz, driving them apart. After her father goes missing, Alliz turns to music, composing her own piece and inviting Vincent to her performance. He is denied entry and watches from the roof; spotting soldiers approaching the college, he leaves to confront them. Inside, Malik returns with the wounded Colonel Amano, earning Alliz’s gratitude and a kiss—which Vincent sees. Heartbroken, Vincent sabotages the rectifiers to halt the war, but his actions inadvertently cause Tomas to lose an arm during a bombing. Alliz and her family are killed when their train is bombed as they flee.
In the present, Vincent finishes Alliz’s letter, in which she confesses her love. At his glass exhibition, a recurring blue flame distracts him. Back at the workshop, he tries to burn the letter, but the blue flame transforms it into a vision of Alliz. The film closes with the two reunited on the beach, their hands linked
- Release year
- 2024
- Country
- Pakistan
- Director
- Usman Riaz
- Production company
- Mano Animation Studios
- Genre
- Anti-war romantic drama
- Animation type
- Hand-drawn, anime-influenced
- Box office (opening weekend)
- Rs. 10 million in Pakistan
Lore & Background
The Glassworker is set in the seaside town of Waterfront, known for its fertile soil and silicon-rich sand, which becomes a battleground between two nations. The story follows Vincent Oliver, son of master glassworker Tomas Oliver, and his childhood friend Alliz Amano, daughter of Colonel Amano. Alliz aspires to be a violinist, and despite Tomas's disapproval, the two grow close. War breaks out, and Vincent's rival Malik joins the military; Tomas is coerced into making advanced glass rectifiers. During a bombing raid, Vincent and Alliz argue and become estranged. Alliz's father goes missing, and she finds solace in music. At her performance, Vincent is barred entry and watches from the roof; he sees Malik return with the injured Colonel Amano, and Alliz kisses Malik, devastating Vincent. Vincent sabotages the rectifiers, inadvertently causing his father to lose an arm. Alliz and her family are killed in a bombing while departing by train. In the present, Vincent reads Alliz's letter professing her love; at his glass exhibition, a blue flame motif appears, and later, blue flames transform the letter into a vision of Alliz, ending with the two reunited on the beach.
Reader's Guide
The Glassworker holds significance as Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated feature film, marking a milestone in the country's animation industry. Produced by Mano Animation Studios and aided by Geoffrey Wexler, a Studio Ghibli veteran, the film features anime-influenced animation. It premiered at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and later screened at the Hiroshima Animation Season 2024, competing in Feature Competition. The film earned Rs. 10 million in its opening weekend in Pakistan. Critical reception was generally positive: on Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 24 critics' reviews were positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. Critics praised its hand-drawn animation and visual ambition, though some noted familiar themes and uneven character animation and dubbing. The film was acquired for U.S. distribution by Watermelon Pictures and premiered in the United States on August 15, 2025. Its anti-war message and romantic drama elements, combined with its technical achievement, contribute to its legacy as a landmark in Pakistani cinema.
Did You Know?
- The Glassworker is Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated feature film.
- The film's production was aided by Geoffrey Wexler, who worked for Studio Ghibli.
- It premiered at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival on 10 June 2024.
- The film earned Rs. 10 million in its opening weekend in Pakistan.
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