Animationsinstitut of Filmakademie, Baden-Württemberg

The Animationsinstitut offers you artistic and technical education in the field of animation. Whether computer animation, hand drawn animation, stop motion, real time animation, or interactive applications – our technologically sophisticated infrastructure gives you the opportunity to learn all relevant production techniques. We have five different courses: Animation, Visual Effects, Technical Directing, Animation/Effects Producing and Interactive Media.

Animation

You specialize in either animation directing, concept art, or character animation. As an animation director you assume overall artistic responsibility for a project, from idea to project completion. As a concept artist you are responsible for the individual look, from the first sketches to character and production design to the final image. As a character animator you bring developed characters to life and focus on the field of animation.

Animation/Effects Producing

The Animationsinstitut teaches you the production-related implementation of animation, game and effects projects. You will become a professional in matters of budgeting, timing, resource management, team leadership, etc. In addition to these theoretical foundations, the focus of your studies is on practical work and project realization together with other students. Your organizational skills are key in production teams. The objective is to teach you a problem-based, joined-up way of thinking to help you with the competent development and implementation of project ideas. This course provides the basis for your career to take off as a producer in the film and media industry or by setting up your own production company. Many alumni of the Animationsinstitut work for international film studios or game companies where they are responsible for major projects, occupying important interface roles. Whether you create breathtaking shots using motion capture, or ultra-realistic VR environments – as a technical director with a background in computer science, you set new tech trends in the film and game industry.

Technical Directing

You create the link between art and technology in the production of films, games, or immersive media projects. You manage any technical aspects. After you have completed your studies of computer science or a similar subject area, you are comprehensively trained as a technical director at the Animationsinstitut. You implement animation and VFX projects, research new software solutions, and are free to experiment in a variety of ways together with other Filmakademie students. Supported by highly qualified lecturers, you get to meet important players in the national and international industry even while studying. You are in charge of finding the solutions to technical challenges in the projects you work on in a team with other students. For example, you program suitable software solutions, automate animation or VFX processes, and define workflows.

Another important part of your studies is your research work at the Animationsinstitut, which opens new horizons of technology for films, games, and other formats. You are involved in the development of innovative applications and participate in the institute’s intensive research in the context of third-party funded projects.

Interactive Media

You learn how to design, plan and implement games, apps, VR experiences, media installations, and other interactive experiences. The focus is on the social as well as playful interaction of users and observers with the possibilities offered by media. You have unlimited room to experiment with formats. The objective is to develop ideas as well as your own artistic and technical design language. To this end, you are given the free space to experiment together with other Filmakademie students in a variety of ways, and to implement your own projects in cooperation. You are supported by highly qualified lecturers and get to meet important national and international players in the industry even while studying.

During your studies, you realize projects in teamwork, from idea to design to production and publication. You can choose from three specializations: As a transmedia/games director you take on the artistic direction of a project. As a transmedia/games artist you take charge of its technical and audiovisual design. As a transmedia/games producer you are responsible for the production of a project on the financial and organizational level and are significantly involved in any creative and technical processes, from content development to marketing strategy.

Visual Effects

You get an artistic and technical education in the implementation of VFX in films, games, and other formats. Our technologically sophisticated infrastructure allows you to learn all relevant techniques for VFX production. You carry out your own projects and have the space and freedom to experiment in a variety of ways together with other Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg students. Highly skilled lecturers support you, and even while studying you get to meet important players in the national and international industry.