Usman. You are right. Everyone's path is different. Eventually, we will all get to our destination if we work hard enough. Just ask a filmmaker named Denver Jackson. He proved that making an animated film on your own is not impossible. I will prove it as well. Both of you represent a new generation of filmmakers that I have come to admire for different reasons. Congrats on your film my friend and any success that comes your way. It is much deserved.
This movie will find its audience. There are a lot of accusations about the film being some A.I. Studio Ghibli app ripoff. It's a shame because a lot of care and artistry went into the production. Mano Animation Studios has a great doc that details the painstaking process of putting this animated film together. I suggest people check it out. It is highly educational for any filmmaker or anyone curious about the medium of filmmaking. Here is the link to the doc. https://youtu.be/rxAOUJt1PaU?si=WRpf1B203cfunWmR
We were disappointed to see that GenAI has slipped into the discourse around this film online -- way too many people don't realize what an achievement The Glassworker actually is! It's rare for a director or team to study the Miyazaki/Takahata films this closely and carefully. Nothing made with a ChatGPT filter will ever pull off what they've pulled off here.
We were caught by surprise when we heard it was getting a wide US release -- but it was a very pleasant surprise! It's set to be one of the best animated features (if not the best) in American theaters this year, so we're hoping a lot of people get to see it.
The passage about everyone telling him that it's impossible, every single steps of the way, no matter how far he got is a tough read. He said that his parents always supported him though so props to them and much respect to the director for pulling it off.
I hope he finds a way to make the next one quicker!
We're excited to see what he comes up with next! Usman is really talented and thinks about his craft on a deep level, and it was awesome to talk with him. It's hard to visualize just how much he and the team had to overcome to make a movie like this -- incredibly inspiring.
I hadn't heard of this movie before, but now I can't wait to watch it!
Thank you for such an interesting interview. Reading all this makes you appreciate the movie even more. So curious to see it!
I enjoyed your interesting questions, too. Even though I took my time reading this post (it took me several days), I enjoyed every second of it! I'm super happy I came across your Substack and this interview, too. Thank you!! 🤩🙏
Thank you for bringing to our attention gems like this. Unless you are in the circuit, I think I wouldn't even be able to know about these movies. That's way I love your newsletter.
Really appreciate this -- highlighting projects like The Glassworker, that have so much care put into them but don't have major backing, is a serious passion of ours. We're lucky that we get to do it.
I totally respect the filmmakers and any 2D animated movie, but (personally) I felt it was unwatchable in terms of story/ script. I attended a screening at Lightbox, and the scene where the (unnamed character) has (body part removed) (!) was met with laughter because it was so strange and melodramatic and out of place. I really wanted to like this film, but viewing it all I could think of was how badly it was aping Ghibli's style vs doing something new and different. (reminded me of how Harman & Ising just kept copying Disney's style (poorly) throughout the early 30s). Sometimes reading reviews like this, I wonder if we even saw the same film!
Interesting to hear this! That scene had a totally different effect on us. It felt like a believable consequence of the characters' actions up to that point, and it was startling and refreshing to see a Miyazaki-inspired filmmaker pull from the darkness and gruesome violence in Miyazaki's work (like the Nausicaä manga or Princess Mononoke) that so few do. Sorry to hear about the laughter, although we've heard that laughing at serious scenes has gotten common in theaters lately, for some reason.
That said, there's no doubt that The Glassworker has its bumps -- you can see the assurance of the drawings fluctuate across the movie, especially when you compare some of the team's earliest shots to the last ones it did. There are other marks of a learning team, too.
Just seeing trailers, we weren't sure whether it would hold together ourselves. A lot of people attempt to make Ghibli-inspired work and fail. It was only after we sought out a screener copy that we decided to accept Claire's interview pitch last year. The film really impressed us and still does -- as soon as we saw the attention to detail put into that opening sequence with the glassblowing, it was clear that the team was seriously doing its research and not just knocking off a "vibe." Watching the rest, it didn't disappoint in its filmmaking or storytelling, or in the specificity of its animation.
Usman. You are right. Everyone's path is different. Eventually, we will all get to our destination if we work hard enough. Just ask a filmmaker named Denver Jackson. He proved that making an animated film on your own is not impossible. I will prove it as well. Both of you represent a new generation of filmmakers that I have come to admire for different reasons. Congrats on your film my friend and any success that comes your way. It is much deserved.
This movie will find its audience. There are a lot of accusations about the film being some A.I. Studio Ghibli app ripoff. It's a shame because a lot of care and artistry went into the production. Mano Animation Studios has a great doc that details the painstaking process of putting this animated film together. I suggest people check it out. It is highly educational for any filmmaker or anyone curious about the medium of filmmaking. Here is the link to the doc. https://youtu.be/rxAOUJt1PaU?si=WRpf1B203cfunWmR
We were disappointed to see that GenAI has slipped into the discourse around this film online -- way too many people don't realize what an achievement The Glassworker actually is! It's rare for a director or team to study the Miyazaki/Takahata films this closely and carefully. Nothing made with a ChatGPT filter will ever pull off what they've pulled off here.
I agree wholeheartedly.
I can’t wait to see it, I will be watching for my chance to do so
We're crossing our fingers that a lot of folks have a chance to see it in theaters! It's a really inspiring project (and an excellent film).
I've heard about this movie for a little while now. I'm so glad that it is going to be out so I can watch it!
We were caught by surprise when we heard it was getting a wide US release -- but it was a very pleasant surprise! It's set to be one of the best animated features (if not the best) in American theaters this year, so we're hoping a lot of people get to see it.
Now, about to be released in UK also
“It hurts…” but Riaz stills going! that’s THE mark of the best. Incredible🤩
It's hard to imagine what he and the team went through to make this movie happen. Happy we could share some of his story and wisdom!
The passage about everyone telling him that it's impossible, every single steps of the way, no matter how far he got is a tough read. He said that his parents always supported him though so props to them and much respect to the director for pulling it off.
I hope he finds a way to make the next one quicker!
We're excited to see what he comes up with next! Usman is really talented and thinks about his craft on a deep level, and it was awesome to talk with him. It's hard to visualize just how much he and the team had to overcome to make a movie like this -- incredibly inspiring.
这里稍微扩展一下，田边修绝对是被忽视的动画人，由于高畑勋认为“没有田边修”是不行的，所以辉夜姬物语这一整个项目全部是围绕着田边修进行的，完全按照田边修的画风，几乎所有原画都被田边修更改过，除了少数几人（比如桥本晋治）。也因为田边修的拖沓的工作进度，这也成为了高畑勋制作周期最长的作品。
I hadn't heard of this movie before, but now I can't wait to watch it!
Thank you for such an interesting interview. Reading all this makes you appreciate the movie even more. So curious to see it!
I enjoyed your interesting questions, too. Even though I took my time reading this post (it took me several days), I enjoyed every second of it! I'm super happy I came across your Substack and this interview, too. Thank you!! 🤩🙏
Ah, so great to read this! Thank you -- glad you got so much out of the piece!
Very interesting and inspiring read. This newsletter is a real gem, thank you for unexpectedly helping rekindle my connection to animation. :)
So glad you enjoyed, and wonderful to hear that the newsletter is having such a positive effect! Thanks so much for the kind words.
Thank you ;)
Happy to spread the word about this awesome film!
Thank you for bringing to our attention gems like this. Unless you are in the circuit, I think I wouldn't even be able to know about these movies. That's way I love your newsletter.
Really appreciate this -- highlighting projects like The Glassworker, that have so much care put into them but don't have major backing, is a serious passion of ours. We're lucky that we get to do it.
Don't Give Up!
I think that's the lesson I should (& we should) take from this conversation.
It's definitely a valuable one. Fingers crossed that the film does well in the UK and Ireland!
Also, would love to see his artbook collection someday!
Yep!
I totally respect the filmmakers and any 2D animated movie, but (personally) I felt it was unwatchable in terms of story/ script. I attended a screening at Lightbox, and the scene where the (unnamed character) has (body part removed) (!) was met with laughter because it was so strange and melodramatic and out of place. I really wanted to like this film, but viewing it all I could think of was how badly it was aping Ghibli's style vs doing something new and different. (reminded me of how Harman & Ising just kept copying Disney's style (poorly) throughout the early 30s). Sometimes reading reviews like this, I wonder if we even saw the same film!
Interesting to hear this! That scene had a totally different effect on us. It felt like a believable consequence of the characters' actions up to that point, and it was startling and refreshing to see a Miyazaki-inspired filmmaker pull from the darkness and gruesome violence in Miyazaki's work (like the Nausicaä manga or Princess Mononoke) that so few do. Sorry to hear about the laughter, although we've heard that laughing at serious scenes has gotten common in theaters lately, for some reason.
That said, there's no doubt that The Glassworker has its bumps -- you can see the assurance of the drawings fluctuate across the movie, especially when you compare some of the team's earliest shots to the last ones it did. There are other marks of a learning team, too.
Just seeing trailers, we weren't sure whether it would hold together ourselves. A lot of people attempt to make Ghibli-inspired work and fail. It was only after we sought out a screener copy that we decided to accept Claire's interview pitch last year. The film really impressed us and still does -- as soon as we saw the attention to detail put into that opening sequence with the glassblowing, it was clear that the team was seriously doing its research and not just knocking off a "vibe." Watching the rest, it didn't disappoint in its filmmaking or storytelling, or in the specificity of its animation.
Thanks for the big spoiler, by the way
Apologies! I don't know how to black out the text like in reddit here!