Who hasn’t been inspired by Studio Ghibli? Pakistan’s first ever hand-drawn animated feature clearly takes inspiration from the famed film studio, especially with the gorgeous detail work. However, what we find interesting is how The Glassworker doesn’t just take notes on their art style. The filmmakers also follow their ethos. While hesitant in referencing real-world conflicts, the childhood romance with a general’s violinist daughter and a craftsman echoes Ghibli’s own anti-war stance. Pairing this first love with the conflict between pursuing the craft and being complicit in the war reminds us of The Wind Rises. But ultimately, The Glassworker understands and celebrates ordinary life. And it’s this respect for life that pushes them to stand against war. While the film doesn’t go above and beyond Ghibli, The Glassworker is a much more heartfelt homage to the studio compared to the widespread copy-pasting done by generative AI.
"Though the film embraces the old-fashioned star-crossed romance, it’s driven by a surprising emotional realism."
— Nick Bradshaw
"“The Glassworker” goes beyond merely aping Miyazaki’s distinctive style. It gets to the heart of the anti-war sentiment that underscores much of his work."
— Siddhant Adlakha
A young glassworker-in-training living with his pacifist father finds his apprenticeship upended by an impending war and the arrival of an army colonel to their seaside town.
