so I’m going to talk about and culture is a very fluid thing it’s
and culture is a very fluid thing it’s
and culture is a very fluid thing it’s dynamic and that’s what makes it complex
dynamic and that’s what makes it complex
dynamic and that’s what makes it complex it is influenced and shaped by
it is influenced and shaped by
it is influenced and shaped by everything around it look at me I’m a
everything around it look at me I’m a
everything around it look at me I’m a product of everything around me I’m a
product of everything around me I’m a
product of everything around me I’m a mixed heritage Pakistani who grew up
mixed heritage Pakistani who grew up
mixed heritage Pakistani who grew up speaking order to and Here I am on a
speaking order to and Here I am on a
speaking order to and Here I am on a stage in the Middle East giving a talk
stage in the Middle East giving a talk
stage in the Middle East giving a talk in English about the cultural
in English about the cultural
in English about the cultural significance of hand-drawn animation
significance of hand-drawn animation
significance of hand-drawn animation which has its roots in the West and when
which has its roots in the West and when
which has its roots in the West and when I was a child I always admired the way
I was a child I always admired the way
I was a child I always admired the way people made animation it’s what inspired
people made animation it’s what inspired
people made animation it’s what inspired me to draw and there is something
me to draw and there is something
me to draw and there is something incredibly beautiful about hand-drawn
incredibly beautiful about hand-drawn
incredibly beautiful about hand-drawn animation it never looks obsolete the
animation it never looks obsolete the
animation it never looks obsolete the beauty of the lines drawn and painted by
beauty of the lines drawn and painted by
beauty of the lines drawn and painted by the human hand cannot be replicated in
the human hand cannot be replicated in
the human hand cannot be replicated in the modern obsession with
the modern obsession with
the modern obsession with computer-generated detail animation may
computer-generated detail animation may
computer-generated detail animation may have its roots in the West but it is a
have its roots in the West but it is a
have its roots in the West but it is a huge part of Japanese culture Japan was
huge part of Japanese culture Japan was
huge part of Japanese culture Japan was influenced by the early works of Disney
influenced by the early works of Disney
influenced by the early works of Disney and adapted it to their own culture and
and adapted it to their own culture and
and adapted it to their own culture and made it their own
now who is to say animation is not
now who is to say animation is not rightfully theirs it belongs to Japan
rightfully theirs it belongs to Japan
rightfully theirs it belongs to Japan just as much as it belongs to the West
just as much as it belongs to the West
just as much as it belongs to the West and just like it belongs to Japanese
and just like it belongs to Japanese
and just like it belongs to Japanese culture why can it not also belong to
culture why can it not also belong to
culture why can it not also belong to Pakistani culture let’s try and shift
Pakistani culture let’s try and shift
Pakistani culture let’s try and shift our perception I want to remind you that
our perception I want to remind you that
our perception I want to remind you that my country has no background in
my country has no background in
my country has no background in hand-drawn animation and has no
hand-drawn animation and has no
hand-drawn animation and has no hand-drawn animation industry not yet we
hand-drawn animation industry not yet we
hand-drawn animation industry not yet we are trying to change that I’m an artist
are trying to change that I’m an artist
are trying to change that I’m an artist and a composer and I’m the founder of
and a composer and I’m the founder of
and a composer and I’m the founder of mono the first hand-drawn animation
mono the first hand-drawn animation
mono the first hand-drawn animation studio in my country thank you in the
studio in my country thank you in the
studio in my country thank you in the start of the year I put together a team
start of the year I put together a team
start of the year I put together a team of incredibly talented people from the
of incredibly talented people from the
of incredibly talented people from the UK the US Malaysia and of course
UK the US Malaysia and of course
UK the US Malaysia and of course Pakistan our Kickstarter raised a
Pakistan our Kickstarter raised a
Pakistan our Kickstarter raised a hundred and sixteen thousand dollars and
hundred and sixteen thousand dollars and
hundred and sixteen thousand dollars and we set out to make the country’s first
we set out to make the country’s first
we set out to make the country’s first we’ll do animated film
we’ll do animated film
we’ll do animated film thank you I called it she sugar or the
thank you I called it she sugar or the
thank you I called it she sugar or the glass worker the glass worker is a
glass worker the glass worker is a
glass worker the glass worker is a coming-of-age story about two children
coming-of-age story about two children
coming-of-age story about two children from separate walks of life set in the
from separate walks of life set in the
from separate walks of life set in the fictitious waterfront town
fictitious waterfront town
fictitious waterfront town Vincent is an apprentice glass blower
Vincent is an apprentice glass blower
Vincent is an apprentice glass blower learning from his father in their glass
learning from his father in their glass
learning from his father in their glass shop and Alize is a prodigious violinist
shop and Alize is a prodigious violinist
shop and Alize is a prodigious violinist striving to find her own unique voice on
striving to find her own unique voice on
striving to find her own unique voice on the instrument the film will comment on
the instrument the film will comment on
the instrument the film will comment on the effects of war on children and
the effects of war on children and
the effects of war on children and follow both characters through their
follow both characters through their
follow both characters through their formative years as life gets more
formative years as life gets more
formative years as life gets more complicated and inhibits their
complicated and inhibits their
complicated and inhibits their friendship I would love to show you
friendship I would love to show you
friendship I would love to show you footage from the animation now please
footage from the animation now please
footage from the animation now please keep in mind that the footage that
keep in mind that the footage that
keep in mind that the footage that you’re about to see was made entirely by
you’re about to see was made entirely by
you’re about to see was made entirely by our small team at mono a group of people
our small team at mono a group of people
our small team at mono a group of people who live and breathe hand-drawn
who live and breathe hand-drawn
who live and breathe hand-drawn animation I hope you will enjoy it just
animation I hope you will enjoy it just
animation I hope you will enjoy it just as much as we enjoyed making it can we
as much as we enjoyed making it can we
as much as we enjoyed making it can we dim the lights
pyaara Vincent Vincent puja math karna
pyaara Vincent Vincent puja math karna who jihad licked a liquid Linden Lab day
who jihad licked a liquid Linden Lab day
who jihad licked a liquid Linden Lab day Papa key posting a meritorious Abad a
Papa key posting a meritorious Abad a
Papa key posting a meritorious Abad a pleasure hair journey payment for
pleasure hair journey payment for
pleasure hair journey payment for cultivating Mira hottest Ohio Oliver
cultivating Mira hottest Ohio Oliver
cultivating Mira hottest Ohio Oliver stop cook our pasta but Agatha Maharaja
stop cook our pasta but Agatha Maharaja
stop cook our pasta but Agatha Maharaja Bharata the cameras she heard me ho t be
Bharata the cameras she heard me ho t be
Bharata the cameras she heard me ho t be on e buzz
on e buzz
on e buzz nicknamed sake
junk apothem won’t you can hum got this
junk apothem won’t you can hum got this out of here
out of here
out of here [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I’ll never softly she should get gone
[Music]
[Music] thank you thank you so much
thank you thank you so much
thank you thank you so much I want the film to focus on the more
I want the film to focus on the more
I want the film to focus on the more subtle moments in life the beauty in the
subtle moments in life the beauty in the
subtle moments in life the beauty in the mundane and the tragedy in the beautiful
mundane and the tragedy in the beautiful
mundane and the tragedy in the beautiful now let’s dive a little deeper into
now let’s dive a little deeper into
now let’s dive a little deeper into people being influenced by their
people being influenced by their
people being influenced by their surroundings take for instance my
surroundings take for instance my
surroundings take for instance my creative process behind the film in the
creative process behind the film in the
creative process behind the film in the West the concept art behind animation is
West the concept art behind animation is
West the concept art behind animation is an extremely collaborative process you
an extremely collaborative process you
an extremely collaborative process you have a writer a director a storyboard
have a writer a director a storyboard
have a writer a director a storyboard artist and the character designer
artist and the character designer
artist and the character designer working together to create the
working together to create the
working together to create the storyboards and scenes for the film in
storyboards and scenes for the film in
storyboards and scenes for the film in the east in places like Japan it is much
the east in places like Japan it is much
the east in places like Japan it is much more personal it is expected of the
more personal it is expected of the
more personal it is expected of the director to draw their own storyboards
director to draw their own storyboards
director to draw their own storyboards and really guide the rest of the team
and really guide the rest of the team
and really guide the rest of the team towards the completed film since we are
towards the completed film since we are
towards the completed film since we are such a small team at mono animation
such a small team at mono animation
such a small team at mono animation studios I had no choice but to take up
studios I had no choice but to take up
studios I had no choice but to take up this approach here are some of my
this approach here are some of my
this approach here are some of my storyboards for the film every detail
storyboards for the film every detail
storyboards for the film every detail and shot is planned out for the
and shot is planned out for the
and shot is planned out for the animation team to help into life even
animation team to help into life even
animation team to help into life even though no one will see my storyboards
though no one will see my storyboards
though no one will see my storyboards when they see the film I still want to
when they see the film I still want to
when they see the film I still want to make them as beautiful as I can I love
make them as beautiful as I can I love
make them as beautiful as I can I love this quote for you to sleep well at
this quote for you to sleep well at
this quote for you to sleep well at night the aesthetic the quality has to
night the aesthetic the quality has to
night the aesthetic the quality has to be carried all the way through I feel it
be carried all the way through I feel it
be carried all the way through I feel it is very important to encourage a healthy
is very important to encourage a healthy
is very important to encourage a healthy animation industry in the subcontinent
animation industry in the subcontinent
animation industry in the subcontinent and the Middle East there is so much
and the Middle East there is so much
and the Middle East there is so much untapped potential to produce beautiful
untapped potential to produce beautiful
untapped potential to produce beautiful work people constantly ask me about the
work people constantly ask me about the
work people constantly ask me about the film they say why are the characters not
film they say why are the characters not
film they say why are the characters not Pakistani how can your characters speak
Pakistani how can your characters speak
Pakistani how can your characters speak or do if they are not Pakistani well I
or do if they are not Pakistani well I
or do if they are not Pakistani well I grew up watching animated films made in
grew up watching animated films made in
grew up watching animated films made in Japan and America I watched most of
Japan and America I watched most of
Japan and America I watched most of these Japanese films with English
these Japanese films with English
these Japanese films with English subtitles and I never found it strange
subtitles and I never found it strange
subtitles and I never found it strange that characters living in imaginary
that characters living in imaginary
that characters living in imaginary European settings spoke in Japanese and
European settings spoke in Japanese and
European settings spoke in Japanese and behaved as though they were from Japan
behaved as though they were from Japan
behaved as though they were from Japan similarly I never found it strange that
similarly I never found it strange that
similarly I never found it strange that Disney films set in China or the Middle
Disney films set in China or the Middle
Disney films set in China or the Middle East featured teenagers speaking with
East featured teenagers speaking with
East featured teenagers speaking with thick American accents and behaving like
thick American accents and behaving like
thick American accents and behaving like Western teens it’s all about perception
Western teens it’s all about perception
Western teens it’s all about perception and this is why hand-drawn animation is
and this is why hand-drawn animation is
and this is why hand-drawn animation is so special not only is the craft
so special not only is the craft
so special not only is the craft incredibly intricate and beautiful but
incredibly intricate and beautiful but
incredibly intricate and beautiful but because the medium allows us to
because the medium allows us to
because the medium allows us to reimagine the boundaries of the real
reimagine the boundaries of the real
reimagine the boundaries of the real world that we have set upon ourselves it
world that we have set upon ourselves it
world that we have set upon ourselves it has the potential to create a more
has the potential to create a more
has the potential to create a more universal and inclusive experience in a
universal and inclusive experience in a
universal and inclusive experience in a world as divided as it is now we need
world as divided as it is now we need
world as divided as it is now we need that more than ever
that more than ever
that more than ever why or do most of the youth in my
why or do most of the youth in my
why or do most of the youth in my country prefer English and a little
country prefer English and a little
country prefer English and a little little regard for the earthly language
little regard for the earthly language
little regard for the earthly language but that’s because we haven’t given them
but that’s because we haven’t given them
but that’s because we haven’t given them something that catches their attention
something that catches their attention
something that catches their attention something that they can understand and
something that they can understand and
something that they can understand and be proud of in this day and age no
be proud of in this day and age no
be proud of in this day and age no nowadays pretentious old artists still
nowadays pretentious old artists still
nowadays pretentious old artists still pine for dead or do poets while most of
pine for dead or do poets while most of
pine for dead or do poets while most of the new artists in my country chase
the new artists in my country chase
the new artists in my country chase after approval from the West I think we
after approval from the West I think we
after approval from the West I think we are all guilty of that to some degree so
are all guilty of that to some degree so
are all guilty of that to some degree so I want to reclaim my language but on my
I want to reclaim my language but on my
I want to reclaim my language but on my own terms
own terms
own terms I didn’t want to set the film in
I didn’t want to set the film in
I didn’t want to set the film in Pakistan that would have been too direct
Pakistan that would have been too direct
Pakistan that would have been too direct I wanted to take an aesthetic and
I wanted to take an aesthetic and
I wanted to take an aesthetic and setting that animation audiences around
setting that animation audiences around
setting that animation audiences around the world are more familiar with and
the world are more familiar with and
the world are more familiar with and subtly injected with Pakistani values
subtly injected with Pakistani values
subtly injected with Pakistani values experiences and themes because after all
experiences and themes because after all
experiences and themes because after all the West so often takes characters from
the West so often takes characters from
the West so often takes characters from the East and Western eise’s them I just
the East and Western eise’s them I just
the East and Western eise’s them I just thought it would be cool to take Western
thought it would be cool to take Western
thought it would be cool to take Western characters and make the landscape and
characters and make the landscape and
characters and make the landscape and living situation like my country and
living situation like my country and
living situation like my country and make the characters speak in or do or do
make the characters speak in or do or do
make the characters speak in or do or do itself is a mishmash of different
itself is a mishmash of different
itself is a mishmash of different cultures it’s written in the Persian
cultures it’s written in the Persian
cultures it’s written in the Persian script with many borrowed words from
script with many borrowed words from
script with many borrowed words from Turkish Arabic and English
Turkish Arabic and English
Turkish Arabic and English so why can’t we do the same thing with
so why can’t we do the same thing with
so why can’t we do the same thing with animation why can we not take the beauty
animation why can we not take the beauty
animation why can we not take the beauty of Japanese and Western animation and
of Japanese and Western animation and
of Japanese and Western animation and make it our own
make it our own
make it our own through our Kickstarter funds we can now
through our Kickstarter funds we can now
through our Kickstarter funds we can now make 15 minutes of our film but the
make 15 minutes of our film but the
make 15 minutes of our film but the final goal is to make a 90 minute
final goal is to make a 90 minute
final goal is to make a 90 minute feature why are we doing this we’re
feature why are we doing this we’re
feature why are we doing this we’re doing this because we want children in
doing this because we want children in
doing this because we want children in Pakistan and the Middle East to grow up
Pakistan and the Middle East to grow up
Pakistan and the Middle East to grow up knowing that if they enjoy art and
knowing that if they enjoy art and
knowing that if they enjoy art and animation that there is a place they can
animation that there is a place they can
animation that there is a place they can come and work where their skills will be
come and work where their skills will be
come and work where their skills will be utilized appreciated and their talent
utilized appreciated and their talent
utilized appreciated and their talent will be encouraged I hope that with this
will be encouraged I hope that with this
will be encouraged I hope that with this unique collage of language and culture
unique collage of language and culture
unique collage of language and culture people in Pakistan and around the world
people in Pakistan and around the world
people in Pakistan and around the world will have their eyes and ears opened
will have their eyes and ears opened
will have their eyes and ears opened just as mine were opened as a child to
just as mine were opened as a child to
just as mine were opened as a child to the riches of hand-drawn animation and
the riches of hand-drawn animation and
the riches of hand-drawn animation and its potential along with the beauty of
its potential along with the beauty of
its potential along with the beauty of our language why should any of us be
our language why should any of us be
our language why should any of us be bound by the restrictions of an
bound by the restrictions of an
bound by the restrictions of an antiquated society we can all choose our
antiquated society we can all choose our
antiquated society we can all choose our own path in reclaiming our culture thank
own path in reclaiming our culture thank
own path in reclaiming our culture thank you
”
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