'The Glassworker' Review: Usman Riaz Crafts a Hand-Drawn Masterpiece of Love and Art
- Romey Norton
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton - August 22, 2025
Pakistani filmmaker Usman Riaz has created something truly special with The Glassworker—a breathtakingly hand-drawn animated film that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary. Winner of the Audience Award at the Asian World Film Festival, this poetic tale of forbidden love and artistic passion stands as a testament to the enduring power of traditional animation.
What is the film The Glassworker about?
The film begins with Usman Riaz giving the audience a small behind-the-scenes look at how and why this film was made. Instantly, you can feel the passion everyone has for this film and how important this film is, being the first fully hand-drawn independent animation feature film. Riaz has spent a decade pursuing this impossible dream, and he did it, and for that, it’s an essential watch.
Set in a town sharply divided by social class and family duty, The Glassworker follows Vincent, the son of a skilled glassmaker, as he falls deeply in love with Alliz, a talented violinist who happens to be the colonel's daughter. Their romance unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions between their families, creating a narrative that feels both familiar and fresh.
There’s also a supernatural subplot, involving Djinn; supernatural beings of Islamic myth, anglicized as genies. Although they are never seen, they represent a nod to cultures, beliefs, and the dangers of falling in love.
Crafted by Mano Animation Studios under the mentorship of Ghibli producer Geoffrey Wexler, the film's visual style draws inspiration from classic anime while maintaining its distinct aesthetic identity. The hand-drawn animation in The Glassworker is nothing short of spectacular. Each frame feels lovingly crafted, with fluid character movements and richly detailed backgrounds that create an immersive world. The glassmaking sequences are particularly mesmerizing, with Riaz and his animation team capturing both the delicate precision and raw physicality of the craft.
The gorgeous, vibrant colour palettes shift subtly to reflect emotional states, and the interplay of light (sometimes the Djinn) makes every scene feel like a painting brought to life.
Given that one of the protagonists is a violinist, music plays a central role in The Glassworker. The score beautifully complements the animation and creates an additional layer of immersion that enhances the hand-drawn animation.
While the star-crossed lovers narrative might feel familiar, Riaz develops Vincent and Alliz as individuals with genuine depth and agency. Vincent's passion for his craft mirrors his growing love for Alliz, while her dedication to music becomes both a source of connection with Vincent and conflict with her family's expectations.
The Glassworker's main weakness is in its occasional over-reliance on romantic melodrama conventions. While the central love story is beautifully rendered, some plot developments feel predetermined rather than organic. Some viewers might find the middle act slightly predictable, but the journey is so beautifully rendered that familiarity becomes comfort rather than disappointment.
With a happy, supernatural and dreamlike end, the film comes full circle and will leave viewers with a big, silly smile on their faces.
Is The Glassworker worth watching?
At 98 minutes, The Glassworker is a remarkable achievement that deserves to find a wide audience. It's the kind of hand-drawn animated feature that reminds us why this medium remains so powerful and necessary.
For viewers seeking beautiful animation, compelling characters, and themes that resonate beyond cultural boundaries, The Glassworker delivers on all counts. It's a film that honours traditional craftsmanship while telling a thoroughly modern story about following your heart and your art.
'The Glassworker' releases in US cinemas September 5
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