In the heart of Boston lies the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a treasure trove of art, history, and inspiration. Its Venetian-style architecture, intricate sculptures, and thoughtfully curated collections have captivated visitors for over a century. Among those inspired when they came across it during their college years in Boston were two young Pakistanis, Usman Riaz and Mariam Paracha, studying at the Berklee College of Music and Emerson College respectively, a few years apart during the early 2010s.

Their admiration for the museum planted the seeds for The Glassworker – Sheesha Gar in Urdu – Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature film and Pakistan’s official submission to the 2025 Oscars.

The Glassworker - English trailer

Born in New York in 1840, Isabella Stewart Gardner was a collector who wanted to make art available to everyone. She envisioned a space that would immerse visitors in beauty and creativity. This vision has now inspired a story deeply rooted in South Asian culture and influenced by her legacy.

Talking to Sapan News during a visit to Boston recently, Mariam Paracha reflected on the museum’s impact. Isabella Stewart Gardner “didn’t just collect art,” she said, but also “created a narrative. That’s what we wanted to achieve with The Glassworker — to make each frame of the film a work of art that contributes to the story.”

This commitment to craftsmanship is evident in The Glassworker, a hand-drawn animated anti-war romantic drama produced by Mano Animation Studios, founded in 2015 by Riaz in his native Karachi. The film’s aesthetic draws from Japanese anime and the works of Studio Ghibli, the well-known animation studio based in Koganei, a city in Japan. Its soul — the meticulous attention to detail, emotional depth, and atmosphere — owes much to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Art, war, passion

The film follows Vincent, a young glass artisan, and Alliz, a violinist, as they navigate a world on the brink of war. Their relationship, defined by their shared passion for art, unfolds amidst the tensions between their fathers, who represent opposing sides of the conflict.

The story’s universality lies in its exploration of intergenerational conflict, personal growth, and the courage to forge one’s path.

The film uses a non-specific geopolitical context set in the fictional Waterfront Town. However, parallels to British Indian history are evident because of dress styles, characters’ names, shop interiors and the market’s exterior. Its magical realist elements, like the presence of a djinn, add a layer of mystique without overshadowing the core narrative.

When I saw the film at a sold-out show at a cinema run by Emerson College, I was struck by the patience involved in the art of hand-drawn animation in the film, which creates a parallel to the film's lead character and his glassmaking, crafting elegant, handmade artefacts, every inch infused with love.

To maintain authenticity, the filmmakers visited an actual glasswork factory, creating detailed visual references for the film’s stunning visuals, Paracha told me when we met at Emerson College later. She showed me on her laptop how their team mapped the imaginary city featured in the film, merging meticulous research with artistic imagination.

The Glassworker took almost a decade to complete, reflecting the patience and dedication required in traditional glassmaking. The influence of Studio Ghibli, particularly Hayao Miyazaki’s works like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, is unmistakable. However, the film carves its own identity, blending anime aesthetics with a touch of nostalgia.

The influence of steampunk is also evident — a genre that is futuristic yet retro at the same time, blending the aesthetic and technology of the 19th century with science fiction elements.

Each frame emphasises detail, from the naturalistic portrayal of light and shadow to the textures of glass, clothing, and architectural elements. The anime aesthetic shines in its ability to communicate emotion through subtle gestures, facial expressions, and atmospheric backdrops. For instance, quiet moments between the characters are amplified by the interplay of light streaming through stained-glass windows or reflections on polished glass surfaces.

The story is set against the backdrop of a world transitioning between traditional craftsmanship – glassmaking – and the encroaching industrial era. This tension is a hallmark of steampunk narratives, which often explore the relationship between artisanal creativity and mechanical innovation. From the glassblowing tools to the machinery glimpsed in the town, there is a subtle presence of industrial design. The gears, levers, and metallic components echo the steampunk fascination with Victorian-era technology.

Like many steampunk stories, The Glassworker addresses the social implications of modernisation. The protagonist’s art — a deeply traditional craft — is threatened by political tensions and industrialisation, much like steampunk narratives often juxtaposed personal stories against larger societal upheaval.

Riaz’s journey to create this masterpiece took him around the world in search of mentors, including a visit to Studio Ghibli. This global perspective enriched the film, positioning it as a bridge between cultures and generations.

“We see The Glassworker as not just a film but a bridge between traditional art forms and modern storytelling,” Paracha explained.

The mesmerizing musical score composed by Riaz blends classical and contemporary styles that complement the film's rich visuals.

The connection between Isabella Stewart Gardner and two Pakistani filmmakers highlights the universal power of art. As Gardner's museum inspires visitors, The Glassworker seeks to expand Pakistani cinema and animation, globally presenting the country’s artistic heritage. This project demonstrates the transformative power of art and cross-cultural inspiration, reflecting Gardner’s vision of creativity transcending boundaries.

The story, while fictional, mirrors the filmmakers’ own journey — marked by resilience, meticulous craftsmanship, and a deep respect for tradition. Like the intricate glass work depicted in the film, The Glassworker is a labour of love, a testament to the art of storytelling and the magic of hand-drawn animation.

(The author is a journalist from India based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is a Fulbright-Nehru 2024 Master’s scholar at Rutgers University who is passionate about creating authentic and powerful stories about South Asia. She can be reached at pragyan@sapannews.com. By special arrangement with Sapan)