In the Master Animation you learn to develop your animation skills through your own project. We create a space where you can find your own animation language and turn your vision as an author and animator into a short film, a feature or series concept or an XR experience. It's all about your own story and its creative realisation.
The courses and seminars include the topics:
- Story Development and Storyworlds
- Concept & Design
- Producing and production: production processes, budgeting, financing, dossier/concept
- Format development
- Experimentation and exploration: hands-on workshops with technologies such as VR, artificial intelligence or real-time applications
- Applied research: theories and methods
- Media - Film - Animation: History and Theory
- Self-marketing
- Excursion to a festival or a professional conference
You apply with a concrete project. This can be a pre-developed concept for an animated short film, an XR Experience or another format that will be produced in the production track. It is also possible to apply with an idea for a larger format, such as an animated series or a feature-length film, which is developed during the course of study until it is ready to be pitched to a professional audience, including a trailer or teaser. The application project can also follow a personal animation-based interest, such as a technological research question or the development of an innovative installative format.
• Production - Project work
The programme is project-based and practice-oriented, the course content is geared towards the practical implementation of animation-based projects. Flanked by theoretical reflection on animation and film-specific topics and experimental-explorative work, students develop and produce their projects. All projects can be pitched to a plenum of representatives from production companies and broadcasters with the aim of producing in co-production and acquiring funding.
• Research and Producing
In the framework modules, theoretical questions are linked to practical work. Ideally, the written Master's thesis serves as in-depth research for the practical project. An important component of the framework is animation-related production knowledge in the areas of budgeting, financing and distribution in Switzerland and Europe and the basics of international co-productions.
• Explorative work
The experimental module encourages students to open up their own projects to innovative narrative, design and technological approaches. The focus is on forward-looking technologies such as Expanded Realities (VR, AR, MR), real-time technologies and virtual production and the use of AI-based processes in animation production.
• Free elective area
In the exchange modules, students take courses of their choice. Look beyond your own discipline and discover new ways of dealing with creative-artistic topics, learn a foreign language or deepen your knowledge in an area relevant to your project.
For detailed information on the programme, please contact the MA Animation study coordination: Dr. Tina Ohnmacht, tina.ohnmacht@hslu.ch
We understand animation as a comprehensive and broad concept that includes not only the classic short film, but also serial concepts and installation-based animation formats.
Together with your coaches, you will design an individual study agreement. Experienced mentors from the animation field accompany your project work. Seminars and exercises teach you the technical and theoretical basics. The production management supports you in planning your production in a professional and feasible way. Regular exchange with lecturers and fellow students takes place in the Animation Forum.
Through cooperation with international guest lecturers, you will already come into contact with professionals from the industry during your studies. The HSLU maintains numerous partnerships with schools in Europe and enables students to gain experience abroad in the form of exchange semesters. An integral part of the Master Animation programme is a visit to an international festival and an exchange with animation professionals from Europe.
Our aim is to link teaching and research in the field of film and animation. The Master Film cooperates with the Visual Narrative research group. Animation research is also represented in Lucerne. In November 2022, the annual conference of the AG Animationsfilm, Dimensions of Animation took place at the HSLU. Graduates of the Master Animation have the opportunity to pursue an artistic-scientific or scientific doctorate.
