Latest news with #ManoAnimationStudios
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Usman Riaz nabs Best Debut Director award
Almost a year after its release, The Glassworker keeps exceeding the mark. Usman Riaz, the creator of the Pakistani animated feature, took to social media on Friday to announce yet another win for the film. "I'm honoured to receive the Tongues on Fire, Flame Award for Best Debut Director at the UK Asian Film Festival 2025 for The Glassworker," wrote Riaz. "Bringing The Glassworker to life has been the greatest creative journey of my life, and I'm deeply grateful to the festival and jury for this recognition." While the animator himself was not present to receive the award in person, he expressed gratitude towards the fellow creative who did. "A heartfelt thank you to our brilliant screenwriter, Moya O'Shea, for attending the festival and accepting this award on my behalf." Last month, Deadline reported that the London premiere of The Glassworker was set to close the UK Asian Film Festival, which covered venues across London, Leicester, and Coventry. The Glassworker follows Vincent, a glassblower apprentice who works under his father and develops an attachment to Alliz, a violinist and the daughter of an army colonel. As the threat of war forces them to confront difficult truths, the two must find a way to face their fears and cling onto hope in times of despair. Following The Glassworker's release in 2024, Mano Animation Studios achieved a record-setting milestone by launching Pakistan's first 2D hand-drawn animated feature. The film was shortlisted as the country's official submission for the Oscars of 2025 in the category of International Feature Film. It debuted on a global scale at Annecy International Animation Film Festival and has since received both national and international acclaim. In September, Riaz took to Instagram to announce the achievement to his followers, "We are proud to announce that The Glassworker has been selected as Pakistan's submission for the International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. This marks the first time a 2D hand-drawn animated film from Pakistan has been chosen for this prestigious honour." He added, "The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee stated: 'Usman and Mano's work has demonstrated exceptional storytelling and artistry while breaking new ground for animation in Pakistan. This achievement will be remembered in our cinematic history.'" He then included his own words in the caption, "The Glassworker represents a decade of passion and perseverance. I am deeply humbled by the selection and hope this story resonates with audiences everywhere, showcasing the talent and creativity Pakistan has to offer."
SBS Australia
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
This beautiful Pakistani film is finally streaming in Australia
Vincent and Alliz go for a walk in 'The Glassworker'. Credit: Glassworker LLC What makes a Miyazaki film? The obvious answer might be iconic filmmaker 's distinctive hand-drawn animation style, but at the heart of his stories is his appreciation for the small, seemingly mundane moments of beauty and tranquility that, at the end of the day, are what make our lives meaningful. And, of course, how war rips these precious moments away from us. In an homage to Miyazaki, groundbreaking Pakistani animated film The Glassworker channels his style, grace and politics into a visually stunning romance film that also seeks to highlight the destructive nature of war. Ten years in the making, The Glassworker' s release was a momentous occasion in Pakistani cinema. The country's first ever independent, hand-drawn animated feature film was the result of a decade of persistence and grit. It was debuted proudly in 2024 by the artists of Mano Animation Studios, and was Pakistan's submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. Co-founder Usman Riaz is the director, animator and co-composer behind this much-anticipated film, which pays homage to Hayao Miyazaki by channeling his beloved, comforting visual style and anti-war politics. And now, for the first time in Australia, The Glassworker is available to stream free, only . The titular glassworker is Vincent Oliver, the young son of a pacifist glassworker who is homeschooled and raised to become an artisan like his father. The story follows his meeting and budding romance with Alliz Amano, a talented violinist who also happens to be the pro-military daughter of the colonel who turned Vincent's city into a warzone. Told mostly in flashbacks as Vincent looks at a letter Alliz sent him long ago, the film traces the challenges their connection faced due to their contrasted upbringings, incompatible politics and opposing social classes. While Vincent's father abhors the military and any notion of war, Alliz's father's life revolves around it. He is a well-respected colonel who leads his own battalion, and his authority and power stem from his grip on the brutal violence that is warfare. However, in a surprisingly tender scene, Amano is shown haggard and exhausted, seated in a chair under a portrait of his own father in military gear, seated in the same chair. The violence that dictates his life is inherited and keeps him from his loved ones – there are truly no winners in war. The setting of The Glassworker is ambiguous. While the characters are often seen in Pakistani clothes or eating gulab jamuns, their province is fictional – though the mountainous background, pashmina-style shawls and military occupation suggest contested land like Kashmir. The hand-drawn frames are wonderfully faithful to Miyazaki's style, constructed with loving hands as meticulous as Vincent's own as we watch him delicately craft tiny glass structures in a process that is surprisingly accurate to glass making in real life. In other scenes, the 'camera' lingers on sparkling sculptures, glittering bazaars and golden sunlight lazily shining against ocean waves or through open windows. It chooses to focus on the ring of a bell as a heavy wooden door is pushed open by a visitor, or the wrinkles in the hand of a loved one reaching out to be held – moments in life that are easy to forget, and yet sometimes the most significant. It's in these fleeting moments of beauty and sentimentality, where detail is at the forefront and dialogue exists in the background, that the film is at its best. While the story is not quite as nuanced as what you would expect from a Studio Ghibli film, the vibrant, rich animation, the magical realism and its emphasis on the beauty of human creation (and our equal propensity for destruction) is a poignant example of the iconic studio's legacy. Though, the irony of the film's titular character suggesting real art must create rather than imitate (a nod to AI, perhaps?) might raise some eyebrows given the film itself imitates the art style of another. In a world where trends and movies feel more temporary than ever, in which quantity is favoured over quality and art is churned out with speed and carelessness, The Glassworker is a slow-burn labour of love which will inspire a new generation to take their time with their art and work on their craft earnestly, passionately and intentionally. The Glassworker is available to stream on SBS On Demand. Discover more animated movies, from cartoons to thoughtful explorations of issues and challenges, in the ANIMATED MOVIES COLLECTION at SBS On Demand. Share this with family and friends SBS's award winning companion podcast. Join host Yumi Stynes for Seen, a new SBS podcast about cultural creatives who have risen to excellence despite a role-model vacuum.
The Guardian
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Glassworker: Studio Ghibli's legacy lives in Pakistan's first hand-drawn feature
The Glassworker began as an 'impossible dream' and, like every impossible dream, its existence is a testament to the grit and grind of those who willed it to life. They are the artists at Mano Animation Studios, whose co-founder Usman Riaz is the director, animator and co-composer behind Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated feature. The titular glassworker is Vincent Oliver, voiced by Teresa Gallagher as a child and Sacha Dhawan as an adult. With his father, Tomas (Art Malik), he works at the finest glass workshop in Waterfront town. But as war breaks out over the sovereignty of the Great Ravine, their treasured storefront comes under threat. Amid it all a budding romance sparks between Vincent and Alliz Amano (Anjli Mohindra), a talented violinist who turns out to be the daughter of the colonel who has turned their quaint town into a warfront. Most of the story unfolds in the form of childhood memories, as Vincent and Alliz grow up under the looming threat of war and try to hold on to their friendship, art and innocence, all of which are impacted by their fathers' beliefs. Every hand-drawn frame is handled with the utmost care, much like Vincent and Tomas handling the molten glass. In an early sequence, we see the glass-making process in detail as young Vincent empties his lungs into the blowpipe to form a sculpture's final shape; breathing life into it, in a sense. This metaphor is the core of The Glassworker: just like the glass sculpture, beautiful things take a lot of effort to form – but can shatter at just a slight touch. Later in the film, the glass sculpture breaks, foreshadowing the corruption that befalls the glassworks as Alliz's father, Colonel Amano (Tony Jayawardena), coerces Tomas into helping build the army's warships. Much like Tomas, Amano is a disciplinarian. His battle planes cast ghastly shadows over the lush green fields where Vincent and Alliz play, souring their blossoming companionship. As the story progresses, quiet and subtle moments reveal Amano's tragedy. Like Vincent and Tomas, he, too, has an appreciation for the arts. He loves Alliz's music and, more importantly, he loves her. But war drives him away from his daughter and his sensibilities. We see him at home in a red armchair, broken and tired, underneath a family portrait in which his father, a decorated general, is sitting in the same chair. Father and son are, in their own ways, also victims of the ruthless cycle of war. The Glassworker's anti-war sentiment and its hand-drawn animation call to mind the works of Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki. The film's aesthetics possess the same emotional resonance and attention to detail that are part of Miyazaki's distinctive style. Even the romantic score is reminiscent of Joe Hisaishi's iconic compositions for Ghibli films. But while The Glassworker's exploration of the hereditary nature of ideals is compelling the film's anti-war philosophy and presentation lack the nuance that is a staple of Miyazaki's works. Still, Riaz's debut feature is not without glimmers of brilliance. Aside from being a landmark in the history of Pakistani cinema, what sets The Glassworker apart from its inspirations is the rich and vibrant world of Waterfront, partly influenced by Riaz's hometown of Karachi. Although it is difficult to tell if the moral values The Glassworker tries to impart will be remembered, few will forget the bustling market Tomas and Vincent walk through, where the little glassworker is treated to one of the mouth-watering gulab jamuns that sparkle in a pot. The Glassworker is available to stream on SBS On Demand in Australia, with UK and US streamers yet to be announced. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
Express Tribune
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Usman Riaz's hand-drawn tribute to Ghibli
Amidst the recent flood of AI-generated Studio Ghibli-inspired images, Usman Riaz, the visionary behind Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated film The Glassworker, posted a stunning Howl's Moving Castle fan poster across all his social media platforms on Tuesday. His caption pushed back against the rising trend of AI-generated art, stating: "Amidst the recent wave of Ghibli AI content, here's something I made the old-fashioned way - with years of study, love, and a deep understanding of the Ghibli style." He revealed that this particular piece was part of a 2021 series created while working on The Glassworker, purely for the joy of it, ensuring that every detail felt as authentic as possible. In doing so, Riaz not only showcased his deep appreciation for Ghibli's artistry but also emphasised the irreplaceable value of human creativity and craftsmanship. Recently, AI-generated art inspired by Studio Ghibli has taken over social media, with users prompting AI tools, especially ChatGPT, to create landscapes, characters, and dreamlike scenes in the signature hand-drawn aesthetic of Hayao Miyazaki's legendary animation house. This surge in AI-generated Ghibli-style art was made possible with the launch of a new image filter in ChatGPT, designed to refine outputs in specific artistic styles. The trend has sparked debates about the ethics of AI art, especially when it mimics the distinct style of studios that have spent decades refining their craft. While some fans are fascinated by the ability of AI to emulate Ghibli's soft, painterly look, others argue that these images lack the heart, emotion, and storytelling depth that come from real artists. Many have pointed out that Studio Ghibli itself has always championed traditional animation, with Miyazaki famously dismissing AI as a "disrespect" to human effort. The trend, therefore, stands in direct contrast to the philosophy that Ghibli embodies - one of meticulous hand-drawn artistry. Riaz, a Pakistani animator, musician, and director, pioneered work in hand-drawn animation in the country. As the founder of Mano Animation Studios, Riaz spent years bringing The Glassworker to life - a passion project inspired by the storytelling and animation techniques of Studio Ghibli. Upon its release last year, the film was dubbed by BBC as "Pakistan's first Ghibli-style animation". In the same interview, the animator recalled, "Since I was a child, I have loved hand-drawn animation and there's something so magical about it. The beauty of the lines drawn and painted by the human hand [have] always resonated with me."
Khaleej Times
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
The Glassworker: Pakistan's first hand-drawn animated film
Usman Riaz, a young and dynamic artist, has turned his dream into reality by creating The Glassworker, Pakistan's first-ever hand-drawn animated film. A decade in the making, the film is a groundbreaking achievement, earning Pakistan's nomination for the Oscars and setting a new standard for animation in the country. A haunting and compelling story, The Glassworker captivates audiences with its breathtaking visuals and thought-provoking narrative. Every frame, meticulously hand-drawn, breathes life into the characters, pulling viewers into an emotionally rich experience. The film's exquisite cinematography, coupled with a deeply moving script, showcases the dedication and skill poured into its creation. A Journey of Passion and Perseverance From an early age, Riaz displayed an innate talent for drawing and music. At just 21, he was invited to the TED conference in Edinburgh as the youngest participant, later earning a scholarship at Berklee College of Music. Despite opportunities abroad, Riaz returned to Pakistan, determined to pursue his passion for animation and storytelling. 'There were many challenges as Pakistan is still raw when it comes to film production. Though recent hits like Maula Jatt have been produced, the industry still lacks financial support, technical expertise, and production skills. The government needs to step in to help the industry grow.' Undeterred by these obstacles, Riaz built Mano Animation Studios, bringing together like-minded artists who believed in his vision. Key collaborators, including Maryam Paracha and Khizer Riaz, stood by him, sharing his passion despite skepticism from many in the industry. A Decade of Hard Work To refine his animation techniques, Riaz travelled to Japan, immersing himself in the art of hand-drawn animation. Once Mano Animation Studios was established, the real work began — relentless hours of drawing, refining, and perfecting each frame. Over time, talented artists from Japan, Thailand, Korea, and Spain joined his ambitious project, adding a global touch to the film. The film's carefully crafted dialogues, soul-stirring music, and beautifully detailed scenes came together after ten years of dedication and passion. The final product is not just a movie — it's a work of art. 'No one has ever attempted a film like The Glassworker in Pakistan. A fully hand-drawn feature film is a rarity, and I have poured my heart and soul into it for almost a decade.' A New Era for Pakistani Animation Beyond its artistic brilliance, The Glassworker carries a powerful message: 'Bloom wherever you are planted.' This philosophy reflects Riaz's own journey - overcoming challenges, defying expectations, and creating something truly extraordinary. With The Glassworker, Pakistan has taken its first step into the world of hand-drawn animation. The film's international recognition proves that, with the right support and investment, the country has the potential to thrive in the animation industry. Usman's journey is a testament to perseverance and artistic passion, inspiring a new generation of Pakistani filmmakers to dream big and push creative boundaries.
