Pakistan’s First Animated Film ‘Under the Blaze’ Shines Light on Child Labor

Pakistan is set to make its mark in the world of animation with the upcoming short film “Under the Blaze,” directed by Awais Shaukat, a 20-year-old illustrator and animator. The film, which addresses the pressing issue of child labor, is being produced by Rafhan Shaukat at the Lahore-based Awartsy Animations studio.

“Under the Blaze” tells a poignant story inspired by the real-life experiences of children working in brick kilns across Pakistan. Awais, who is also an undergraduate student of fine arts at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, and his team conducted extensive research by visiting numerous kilns and speaking with affected families. Their aim is to raise awareness about the harsh realities faced by these children.

Speaking about the project, Awais emphasized the unique power of animation to breathe life into stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. “I think animation is the only way in which you can put life into a story with a pencil that only a few people can see,” he said.

The film’s animation style is a throwback to the classic 2D animation techniques of the 20th century, reminiscent of the early works of Walt Disney and DreamWorks. The painstaking process involves hand-drawing every frame and painting each background scene individually—an homage to a timeless art form that many modern artists have left behind.