“Glassworker” marks the first collaboration between Charades and Cristobal

Mano’s presentation not only made the cut but received a standing ovation afterwards. It impressed various publications outside Pakistan to follow its development as a possibly meaningful and beautiful hand-drawn animated film coming out of the dangerous (hyperbole) Karachi, Pakistan.

An inside look into Mano Animation Studios, Pakistan's first hand-drawn animation studio as it continues to work on its first feature, The Glassworker, set for a 2023 release.

Usman Riaz unleashed his creativity and imagination and answered questions about his ambitious film, an epic anti-war film that, in the words of its producer, recalls the romanticism of the Golden Globe winner Doctor Zhivago and where patriotism confronts free-thinking, artistic creation, and love.

ooking through the art that has been released from The Glassworker so far, Studio Ghibli’s influence on the project is clear. As Usman mentions in the interview, “Studio Ghibli is a huge inspiration.

In a magical-realist world in the early 20th century, the son of a glassworker and the daughter of an army colonel fall in love. Their romance is challenged by an approaching war and their parents’ differing outlooks on life.

The first hand-drawn animated feature from Pakistan, directed by Riaz, and created by Pakistan-based Mano Animation Studios, with “Wrinkles” producer Manuel Cristobal having just boarded as a producer.

After a two-and-a half year hiatus, renowned Spanish producer Manuel Cristobal has returned to toon production, joining the team behind animated feature project “The Glassworker,” directed by Usman Riaz, and created by Pakistan-based Mano Animation Studios.

Tomas and his son Vincent run the finest glass shop in the country, and find their lives upended by an approaching war. The arrival of an army colonel and his talented daughter Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son.

The Glassworker, Pakistan's first hand-drawn film made by Usman Riaz, is one of eight feature films from around the world chosen for the Work In Progress category at France's Annecy International Animation Festival 2022.