ETNA : European Training Network for Animation Schools

• Home
• About
• Schools
• Training for trainers
• Member Area
• Contact

HFF - Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen «Konrad Wolf»

Programme information

Founded in 1954, HFF is the oldest and largest film school in Germany. Today about 40 professors, 100 assistants and lecturers teach over 500 students in eleven different departments: Acting, Animation, Audio, AV-Media Science, Cinematography, Directing, Film music Composition, Film and TV Production, Film and Video Editing, Set Design, Scriptwriting.
HFF is equipped with Music, Sound Recording and Mixing Recording Studios, Sound Stages, Acting Stages, Cinemas (40 - 230 seats) (16-35 mm), Central Technical Equipment Storage, Workstations for Computer animation, Compositing, Audio and Video Editing, Digital Audio Mixing Console, Film Scanner, Colour Correction and Film Printer.

Degree category / length of studies
Diploma in Animation: 9 terms (4,5 years)

Programme categories
Specific Animation Module: Principles of Animation I; Principles of Animation II; Experimental Animation; Animation Layout; Character Design / Model sheet; Storyboard; Background design; History and Analysis of Animation
Module in Computer Animation / Interaction: Basics Hardware / Software; 2D Computer Animation; Ink+Paint; 3D Computer Animation; Interaction; Compositing
Art / Design Module: Design principles; Character design 2D & 3D- drawing; Art work 
Scientific Module: Film history; Music / Film music; Content development; Dramaturgy; Acting for animators; Anatomy; Theory of technical equipment; Media law; Financing; Special effects; Audio- / Video-Postproduction; Art history; Film mastering
Special Events: Visiting Artists; Work-shops; Excursions

Number of teachers 
18 teachers

Number of students 
50 students

Number of foreign students
10 foreign students

Entry requirements
Practical experience (>12 weeks internship) and 3 days entrance examination in Potsdam

Programme description 
The animation department was founded in 1984 and developed from a vocational school to art school status in 2002. It has currently 4 Professors, 4 full time assistants and about 10 part time lecturers. Over 100 students apply to the animation department each year for the 10 available vacancies. 
The 9 semester curriculum is divided into two parts: pre-diploma after 2 years and diploma after 2,5 years. The students are required to produce at least two pieces of animation during this period. The first two years have a very dense course structure. The following 2,5 years focus on developing and finishing the diploma film and thesis.
The whole curriculum will be reorganized to meet the Bologna criteria for Bachelor and Master.
The animation department is well equipped with traditional animation drawing tables, multiplane recording stands, puppet animation facilities and state of the art computer workstations for 2D and 3D animation, compositing and interaction.

Philosophy

The Animation Department at HFF wants to train multi-skilled animation artists who are able to creatively develop their own story and control the production process of the project as part of a creative team using traditional analogue and digital techniques. 
The graduates are able to work not only in the animation industry but also in related industries, requiring the skills of animators such as VFX, games and multimedia.