The Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, the oldest and largest film school in Germany, was one of the leading animation schools at the last FMX – Film Media & Exchange in Stuttgart. EAJ met with Professors Felix Gönnert (BFA/MFA Animation) and Rico Dober (BFA VPX/VP) to learn more about the school’s educational offerings.
What career opportunities do the BFA Animation and MFA Animation Directing programmes offer?
Felix Gönnert: The aim of the Bachelor of Arts in Animation is to acquire and understand the holistic basis for the realisation of artistic animated films. At the end of the programme, each student completes an independent animation project and the coursework exercises form the basis for a professional (online) portfolio.
The Master’s degree programme in Animation Directing offers students a targeted specialisation that prepares them for leading positions in the animation industry and enables them to successfully realise complex animation projects. Our graduates find their way to animation studios in Germany and abroad as animators, directors, storyboard artists or become founders of studios such as Lumatic, monströös. Talking Animals.
How is the Bachelor’s degree programme in VFX/VP structured?
Rico Dober: The bachelor’s degree programme in Visual Effects & Virtual Productions, which will start in the coming winter semester, is an eight-semester course with a highly interdisciplinary structure, including other areas of film production such as photography, scenography and animation. The artistic aspect is very important to us, which is why topics such as image design and aesthetics are also dealt with intensively in the first semesters.
At the centre of each semester is the Artistic Practice module, where students can apply what they have learned. The 6th semester is a project semester, during which students can do an internship in a company, realise their own project, or spend a semester abroad.
What qualities and talents do your ideal students have? Do they work mainly in Germany/Europe after graduation, or also worldwide?
F. G.: The Bachelor’s degree programme in Animation at the Film University Babelsberg appeals to diverse target groups of aspiring animation artists: graduates of high schools/art and design schools, career changers, international students. The target groups of the Master’s degree programme in Animation Directing include both aspiring animation filmmakers and experienced animators who wish to expand their directing skills, and have completed at least one animation project in a significant role. Graduates of the BFA Animation and MFA Animation Directing programmes work worldwide after graduation, with a strong focus on Berlin.
R. D.: Above all, our ideal students should enjoy creating beautiful images, and have a desire to express themselves creatively. Ideally, they have already gained some experience in the field of computer graphics and visual effects: initial experiments with 3D modelling, or using game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity are very helpful. There are many job opportunities in a very international industry: large VFX studios are located in Germany, England, North America, Canada, India and New Zealand.
Have your students’ works ever dealt with social issues? If so, which ones?
F. G.: Our students deal with a variety of social issues in both their artistic-practical and theoretical final theses. A selection of graduation films can be viewed here.
Read the full article in the new issue of The European Animation Journal.
