From an animation perspective, The Glassworker is an astonishing achievement in every way. The characters move wonderfully, and each person has a distinct, recognizable design. Waterfront is a town filled with beauty, and the animation highlights this. A scene involving a djinn and sand is marvelous to behold. But it is the use of lights and colors that truly makes this a visual masterstroke. The glass objects all have different colors, and the way they refract light is used to set the mood and add a sense of wonder to most sequences.
Plot-wise, things are not quite as solid, though. Some character moments seem to come out of nowhere. At one point, seemingly out of jealousy, Vincent tells Alliz that she isn’t a true artist because she merely recites what someone else has written and does not create her own works. This petty thinking marks a stark contrast in Vincent’s persona up to that point. It does not work. Similarly, not working is the lead’s breaking psyche as the war continues year in, year out. He seems so devoted to his glasswork and his relationship with Alliz that there are only a few scenes where he seems to notice the war. This makes some of Vincent’s actions appear random and inconsistent with his character. It doesn’t help that the climax of this thread is resolved in about 5 seconds. Finally, O’Shea does not properly lay the groundwork for almost the entirety of Waterfront being so militarily-minded and Tomas not being so, causing tensions. A 10-year-old Vincent makes deliveries all over the town, with each person warm and welcoming to him. It is only Malik (Sham Ali), the bully and romantic rival, who calls him out, and it is not until years later that the rest of the town seems to turn against Tomas and Vincent.
“…the characters are all well-defined and well-rounded…”
However, the characters are all well-defined and well-rounded; even Malik gets dimension. Vincent’s love for his family history is endearing, as is his excitement when given the chance to share what he knows. Alliz is the beating heart of the plot, with her loyalty and determination showing humanity and strength. She is also the person with the most nuanced, and therefore most realistic, view of war, soldiers, and everyday citizens. Amano and Tomas are both fairly stoic, but they have scenes that reveal what they truly care about.
The Glassworker proves that 2-D, hand-drawn animation is an art form that will not die. Almost any frame from this 98-minute coming-of-age romance can be framed. The characters are engaging and have real depth. The story works overall, especially the magical ending, though there are a handful of scenes that just don’t completely add up. These do take viewers out of the plot, however momentarily, though the amazing visuals mean the movie never completely loses all watching at any point.
"…proves that 2-D, hand-drawn animation is an art form that will not die."
