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    Breaking the 'Glass' Ceiling

    Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
    Posted on: August 27, 2024 | | 中文

    Alliz and Vincent at the Beach

    Local feature films rarely get recognized at international festivals, and producing of films is not a major focus in many educational institutions. In a country where film is rarely seen as an art form and where 'art' movies are uncommon, the release of The Glass Worker, Pakistan's first 2D hand-drawn animated film, is truly a remarkable achievement.

    The Glass Worker is a result of the vision and dedication of a group of young artists from Karachi. Directed by Usman Riaz, screenplay written by Moya O'Shea, and produced by Khizer Riaz and Manuel Cristóbal, The Glass Worker is a collective effort fueled by passion and creativity. The film pushes the limits of what can be achieved in Pakistan's growing animation industry. With no guidance, Usman Riaz has set out to do the impossible: establish an animation studio. He was joined by his cousin Khizer Riaz and close friend Mariam Paracha, and their love for Japanese-style animation films led to the creation of Mano Productions.

    Oliver Glass Shop

    The movie tells the story of Vincent and Alliz, two young people whose lives cross paths in a small, peaceful waterfront town. Vincent, the son of a skilled glass worker, works as an apprentice in his father's shop and understands how fragile life can be just like the delicate glass he works with. His father, Tomas, is a loving figure who not only teaches Vincent the art of glassmaking but also shares wisdom about peace and the importance of being against war. Tomas is one of the few people in the city who are against war, and wants to keep his son away from it. Enters Alliz, the daughter of Colonel Amano, a military officer sent to the town to look after the preparation for the war. Despite her father's role in the conflict, Alliz finds her true passion in music and becomes an emerging violinist who finds comfort in her art, and then she meets Vincent. As Vincent and Alliz's relationship deepens, their bond grows in the shadow of a looming war. One could see a lot of ‘Pakistan’ in the film, with the dress, marketplace, buildings and of course, the beach. Usman Riaz admits that the waterfront town resembles Karachi a great deal, and the looming threat of a war was something the Team Mano grew under during their early years.

    Young Vincent and Alliz

    The story moves back and forth in time, keeping the audience engaged, while the animators skillfully show the changes in the characters over time. We see Vincent and Alliz in different ages, and their growth is depicted beautifully.

    Usman Riaz's inspiration for The Glass Worker came from Japan's famous Studio Ghibli. When Usman reached out to Studio Ghibli's creatives for advice, he expressed his frustration over the lack of facilities in Pakistan for creating such animations. Instead, they encouraged him to build his own studio. Motivated by this advice and his lifelong fascination with Japanese cartoons, their vibrant colors and expressive hand-drawn faces. Usman embarked on a journey to establish his own animation studio in Pakistan and founded Mano Animation Studios. His determination and passion laid the groundwork for what has become a historic achievement in Pakistan's film industry.

    Young Vincent Playing with Train

    The film features an English-language cast including talented actors such as Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra, and Tony Jayawardena, who have been part of various international projects. The producers are also not from Pakistan while for composing the music, Usman opted for the masters.

    At a time when Pakistan is often associated with negative news and terror attacks, The Glass Worker is a positive offering with a different narrative. Through his film, Usman presented a side of Pakistan where people are naturally against war, but often have to deal with the harsh realities of survival. His work not only highlights the country's artistic potential but also provides a touching reflection on the human cost of conflict.

    The Store Room

    The film premiered at the 2024 Annecy Film Festival on 10 June 2024, after being screened at Cannes in May. The animation style and the anti-war message from Pakistan was appreciated and the team was all over the news. Usman Riaz (director), Mariam Paracha (art director), and Khizer Riaz (producer) not only made history for Mano Animation Studios, but also inspired a new generation, showing that Pakistan has a future in filmmaking.

    Alliz on the Train

    The Glass Worker represents a significant breakthrough in an industry that has struggled to gain momentum. It is a bold step forward in an underappreciated industry, proving that artistic vision and dedication can pave the way, even in the most challenging environments. The success of The Glass Worker under Mano Productions' banner highlights the studio's commitment to nurturing animation talent in Pakistan, and contributing to the global animation landscape.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021