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The Hitchhiker's Guide to Animation

Welcome to the Bachelor of Animation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts!

(In an ongoing process, we are translating this guide into English. Please have patience... )

If you count all currently studying students, the teachers and co-workers, then in total we are a team of more than 100 people who are working together in the Animation Department. This is about the size of a medium company!

So that great work can be created, we count on each other to take care and follow certain rules to make things easier.

This booklet will hopefully be a useful tool for your studies. Print it out, read it on the train, in the bus, in a café or put it close to your workplace so you have it close when you need it, for example if you forgot that an IDA is or which festivals you will visit in which semester.

The most important rule is: stay informed & ask questions!

Although we try and keep you as up-to-date as possible, you also have the responsibility to regularly consult your E-mail, the student calendar, and the notice board in the entrance hallway.

If you work next to your studies, please make sure you take the necessary measures so that your working hours don't collide with school hours.

Accomodation

If you are currently looking for accomodation in Lucerne, check out the following websites or write a message on our Ani-HSLU discord server saying what you have/are looking for.

• wgzimmer.ch
• students.ch

Aniwiki

This is what you are looking at right now. Our AniWiki. It is a living, constantly changing organism. We welcome you to create or (responsibly) modify articles. You can use your HSLU-Login for this (login button at top right).

Important AniWiki entries for you are especially:

• Template for Studentpage
• Template for Studentfilm
• Project Submission (mandatory for every film made during your studies!)

Anwesenheitspflicht 80% / Mandatory attendance

Most modules must be visited in person for at least 80% of their duration in order to pass. Some have an even higher attendance regulation, so be sure to check the exact module description on https://mycampus.hslu.ch. If you missed class due to health reasons, you must submit a doctor's note/medical certificate to your head of module. If you know in advance that you will miss certain classes, always inform your head of module so you can negotiate the consequences.

Apéro-Verein and TAFFEI

We are very proud that, over the years, our students have initiated some very fun extra-curricular teams and activities, and are keeping them alive until this day! They are always happy to welcome new members:

• The "Apéro-Verein" is a team of students that don't only like to party, but also enjoy MAKING the parties! They are the masterminds behind most of our larger school events (Ani-ween, Ani-Xmas, the Welcoming Party for our new students, etc...) and also coordinate the setup and cleanup procedures.
• TAFFEI (yep, legend has it that the name comes from "tough eye") is a student film club which screens animated or live-action films once a week. The posters are often made incollaboration with illustration/art/video students.

Blackbox- & Workshop rules

Blackbox

If you need access to the workshop- and blackbox- cupboards and locked areas: contact your head of module, the artistic assistance, or the current student blackbox & workshop helper.

Before leaving the blackbox

• Disassemble all the partitions/moveable walls and lean them against the walls
• Clean all used tables
• Store all colour-filters, moltons (big black cloth) and green-screen cloth in the cupboard
• Sweep the floor around your used area

Workshop

Tool rental

If you are borrowing tools, please write your details into the rental-list in the workshop.

Labelling

Projects that will stay in the workshop or blackbox over multiple days, are to be labelled with the correct project-form.

Working materials

• Using small amounts of work materials is free.
• Please contact the artistic assistant in case you intend to use larger amounts, so we can re-stock.

Contact and questions: Artistic Assistant

Before leaving the workshop

• Put away tools, paints, glue and working material, put all caps and lids back on containers, give your working area a quick dust
• Put any small wood or styrofoam in the bins or bring them to the rest-material depot

After your Module

• The heads of modules are in charge of organizing the cleanup process.
• Order large trash containers 2 days ahead with the current facility manager.
• All tools belong back in their place.
• Working areas and tables are cleaned (cleaning materials are in the 1st floor, in the passage between the main hallway and room 145)
• STOP-MOTION SETS WILL NOT BE STORED: Students are required to take their sets home, dismantle them and recycle the material, or take the entire sets to the Ökihof.

Blog Animation-Luzern

We have our own blog in which our students and co-workers can write short articles and post pictures. We're very open to any suggestions for topics and articles! Write to our artistic associate or tech support if you're interested in writing your own article, it's even payed $$$

https://animation-luzern.ch

Bulletin board

At the entrance to the main atelier 155 in the corridor you will find our bulletin-board. On both sides of the wall you will find:

• the curriculum overview of the current semester
• class lists
• theory lesson plans
• group-lists for the various modules
• NAKU- and extracurricular activity offers
• notices for guest lectures

Please do not hang up non-animation-studies-related advertisements here. There will be a special area for this.

Computerrooms

We have one small computer-room and one large one (with a flexible room divider) in which lessons take place, but you can also work on your own projects outside of teaching hours. The rooms have air-conditioning, but please note:

• The temperature should be set at a constant 24°C
• If the temparature or the air circulation is not pleasant, you can tell our artistic assistant. They will request the required changes via the school's caretaker.
• Doors must be kept shut, or the air-con does not work correctly.

Deadlines and server uploads

When you start working in the animation industry, deadlines are binding - some even existential! That's why they are important to us, too.

Latest 2 weeks after the SEP you must put your finished (and only the finished!) projects onto the folder communicated by your teachers. These files are what will be looked at when you are graded. Jean First is responsible for the archiving, and ONLY archives correctly labelled and saved files. Consult the Project Submission page for details on how to correctly upload files, or ask Jean if you have questions!

Discord

Don't let the name fool you, we like harmony! And harmony involves communication. During the Corona-lockdown we established a chat-server using the program Discord which worked so well, that it has become a staple of our communciation. Especially during SEPs, where you can comment your friend's presentations live and sometimes watch other classes' special guest inputs. Learn all about Discord in this hilarious 2 Minute How-To video!

Download Discord here, and then ask Jean First or your local artistic associate or... ANYONE from the upper years for a secret invite code.

E-Mail Policy

When you start your studies at HSLU, you receive your own HSLU e-mail address. Here are the rules to use:

• Check your inbox and read your e-mails at least twice a day.
• Important e-mails are sent via our assistants with subject headers like: "1.BA: xyz..." or "EVERYONE/ALLE: xyz..."
• Circulars (i.e. "mass mails"/Rundmails) are only to be sent by assistants, your module teachers, and in exceptions Jürgen Haas.
• Please don't "answer all" when replying. Check who really needs to know your information!
• Please don't send „undisclosed recipients“ Emails (BCC)

Essen, Trinken, Kochen

In sämtlichen Unterrichtsräumen, im Besondern den Computer-Räumen gilt ein Essverbot. Im Atelier gilt ein striktes Kochverbot. Keine Wasserkocher, keine Hot-Dog-Maschinen oder Mikrowellen. Kapsel-Kaffeemaschinen dürft ihr am Arbeitsplatz haben.

Bitte verköstigt euch in der Empfangshalle am Kiosk, im Aufenthaltsraum (Mikrowellen) oder bei schönem Wetter draussen. Die IG Arbeit betreibt die tolle Kantine NYLON 7. Getränke bitte nur in Flaschen in die Räume nehmen und anschliessend entsorgen. Wir pflegen ein sehr gutes Verhältnis zu unserem Hausdienst.

Festivals

Keine Animation ohne seine Festivals! Wir bezahlen deine Akkreditierung (Festivalpass) für folgende zwei Festivals im Frühlingssemester, die festen Bestandteil im Curriculum sind. Die Teilnahme ist jeweils Pflicht. Die Festivalpässe werden von uns übernommen, Reise und Aufenthalt müssen individuell organisiert und finanziert werden.

1 BA: Annecy, mitte Juni, s. Modulplan

2 BA: Stuttgart FMX / ITFS, Ende April, Anfang Mai, s. Modulplan

Zu empfehlen in der Schweiz sind besonders auch das FANTOCHE (Anfang September), die Kurzfilmtage Winterthur (November) und das Animatou (Oktober). Eine grosse internationale Festivalliste findest du auf dem Aniwiki.

Finances

Sometimes life sends us through rough patches. Some of you might not come from a home that is able to support you financially during your studies. If you're struggling, please feel free to get in touch with our artistic associate anytime if you need help or just want to talk. We will gladly help you make a plan and assist you in the process. Here are a few options to check out:

- student jobs, such as taking care of the rental system, helping with updating excel lists, labelling and categorizing material/projects etc... contact our artistic assistant to find out if there's a job opening soon.

- The HSLU's "Unterstützungsfonds" (support fund) can give up to 2000.- for special acquiries or short-term help in exceptional cases

- Check out this list of stipends, which you might be eligible for as a student: https://www.hslu.ch/en/lucerne-university-of-applied-sciences-and-arts/campus/living-in-lucerne/stipendien-und-preise/

- Or contact the HSLU official student counsellor to a solution for you: https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/design-kunst/studium/informationen-fuer-studierende/studierendenberatung/studierendenberatung-finanzen/

Gotte / Götti

In der ersten Woche deines Studiums entscheidet das Los an der Willkommensfeier, welche Studentin oder welcher Student deine Erstehilf-Begleitung in der Anfangszeit ist. Deine Gotte/dein Götti bietet dir Unterstützung in der räumlichen Orientierung und steht dir Rede und Antwort zu allem was dir betreffend Studium unter den Nägeln brennt.

IDA-Module - Interdisciplinarity in Design and Arts

Die IDA-Module finden in der zwietn Hälfte des Frühjahrssemesters statt. Du bearbeitest spezifische Themenfelder und erweiterst über Disziplingrenzen hinaus deinen Gestaltungshorizont. Du wirst von einem fächerübergreifenden Dozierendenteam begleitet. Zur selben Zeit ist es möglich, ein Austausch oder ein Praktikum zu machen! (Siehe Punkt «Praktikum / Austausch»)

Infotage

Hier ist eure Mithilfe gefragt! An den Infotagen im November kommen neugierige Studieninteressierte in die Animationsabteilung und wollen vor allem eins wissen: Wie cool ist es Animation zu studieren? Kann man aktuelle Arbeiten sehen? Wie ist die Stimmung etc. Deshalb ist es super, wenn ihr zum Auskunftgeben, Tratschen, Begeistern und zum Vorbereiten da seid. Passion soll authentisch sein – die Infotage werden nicht entlohnt.

ISA-Modul - Interdisziplinäre Studienangebote

Die Hochschule Luzern bietet gemeinsam mit der Universität Luzern und der Pädagogischen Hochschule Luzern interdisziplinäre Studienangebote an. Ziel ist es, auf dem Hochschulplatz Luzern den Austausch unter den Studierenden und Dozierenden zu fördern. Hier ist es auch möglich, ECTS-Punkte für die Theorie zu erwerben. Entsprechende Module sind jeweils gekennzeichnet.

http://www.isa-campus.ch

Kunst- und Designbibliothek

Die Bibliothek befindet sich praktischerweise neu im Erdgeschoss der Viscosi. Im Theoriekurs erhältst du eine kompetente Einführung, wo und wie Bücher auszuleihen sind und wo sich die Animationsecke in der Bibliothek befindet. Bücher können im Buchrückgabekasten jederzeit zurückgegeben werden.

Öffnungszeiten: Montag – Freitag 10-17 Uhr

https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/design-kunst/ueber-uns/kunst-und-designbibliothek

Mentors in your 1.BA year

In your 1st BA year, you will receive a mentor (a teacher or core member of our staff) to guide you through your first steps. You will meet them in loose intervals to talk about how you're doing and how the studies are going so far. You can also pro-actively ask for a meeting, if there is something on your mind or questions you would like answers to. Although the official mentorship ends after the 1st BA year, you are very welcome to keep in touch generally!

Mitarbeit bei Abschlussprojekten

In der Animationsbranche beruflich tätig zu sein, bedeutet vor allem eines: Teamwork. Wir wünschen und fördern die Zusammenarbeit über die verschiedenen Studienjahre hinweg. Im Frühjahr veranstalten wir eine Mitarbeiterbörse, auf der jedes Abschlussprojekt seine Mitarbeiter-Bedürfnisse präsentiert. Bist du ein Crack in einem bestimmten Bereich, kannst du dich an ein oder mehrere Projekte andocken, sofern der Zeitaufwand und dein Energiehaushalt ausgeglichen bleiben bzw. deine Leistungsnachweise für die eingeschriebenen Module nicht auf der Strecke bleiben.

My Campus

Here you can find the most important documents of your studies. For which modules/courses did you register? Where do you still need ECTS points and how many? On My Campus you can also find your proof of admission, proof of studies and the contact addresses of your module teachers.

http://www.mycampus.hslu.ch

NAKUs - "Niveau-ausgleichende Kurse"

Nach dem Prinzip „Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe“ organisieren fortgeschrittene Studierende Hilfestellungen in folgenden Programmen: After Effects, Maya, ZBrush, ProTools, MARI...je nach Bedarf auch andere, wenn eine ausreichende Anzahl Interessiert zusammen kommen.

Die NAKUs finden nach Ankündigung normalerweise dienstags und donnerstags um 17.30 Uhr statt (Ort wird bekannt gegeben). Die Teilnahme ist freiwillig und lohnt sich! Die Anzahl Workstations definieren die max. Teilnehmerzahl.

Wenn du selbst ein Crack in einem Programm bist und dieses den Mitstudierenden näherbringen möchtest, meldest du dich bei der künstlerischen Mitarbeiterin.

NAKU-Leitende werden mit 25 CHF/h entlohnt.

Online Visibility

Having online-portfolios ready is important for animators-in-spe. Whether it's an oldschool facebook page, an instagram page for your work or a real website or blog: let us know where you're posting your work! We often repost our student's work (especially in our Insta-stories). Tagg @animationhslu and @animationluzern and let us know what you're up to.

In the first semester we gladly support you in creating your own online presence and encourage you to keep an archive of everything you create. This is an important step to professionalising your work. How can studios out there find out about your talent, if it's not documented?

Opening hours Viscosi 745

With your badge you have 24 h access to the building and to your respective allowed working rooms.

Plenum / Assembly

Jeweils zweimal im Semester - am Anfang und am Ende - treffen wir uns alle zum Plenum, der Vollversammlung. Dann informieren wir über wichtige anstehende Ereignisse, heissen z.B. Austausch-Studierende willkommen und jene, die im Erasmus waren, berichten von ihrem Auslandsemester.

Der Besuch des Plenums ist Pflicht und wird per Mail angekündigt. Bitte bring Notizmaterial mit.

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Twice per Semester we will meet for a general assembly. There, we will inform you of important events, welcome/say goodbye to exchange students, and hear from those students who were in an Erasmus semester.

Taking part in the assembly is mandatory and will be announced by E-mail. We recommend you take notes during the assembly.

Psychologische Unterstützung / Psychological help

Animation ist Bewegung. Bewegung kann in alle Richtungen gehen und manchmal auch nach unten. Wenn ihr merkt, dass es jemandem sichtlich nicht gut geht oder ihr dies an euch selbst feststellt, sucht jederzeit das Gespräch mit Jane, Daniela, Jürgen oder euren Mentoren. Die Luzerner Hochschulen bieten auch psychologische Beratung an: siehe Link unten.

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Animation is movement. Movements can go in all directions, and sometimes downwards too. If you notice that someone is not feeling well or you realise that you are feeling bad yourself, you can get in touch with Jane, Daniela, Jürgen or your mentors at any time. There is also the option of seeking official on-campus help:

https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/hochschule-luzern/campus/beratung/

Printing

Read the hslu printing manual. In order to print from the LAB Network, you need to login to the VPN and send your print to the print_public_dk queue or copy your prints to a FAT32 formated usb drive and connect it directly to the printer.

Projekt NEPTUN

Twice a year, at the start of the semester, the ETH Zürich makes a large batch order of computers, laptops etc. Students receive special discounts. It's worth having a look, if you're looking for something new:

http://www.projektneptun.ch

Praktikum & Austausch / Internships & Exchanges

It's in your and our best interest that you gather experiences outside our school, too. You can do this during a school exchange or through an internship. Both options are suggested to take place in the 4th semester. You will find more information to internship studios and to our Partnerschools here in the Aniwiki. The ASO is your go-to person for any wishes concerning internships/exchanges.

Rental

The Rental is similar to the "Videowerkstatt", a place to rent hardware and equipment. You can rent and bring back equipment in room U138 every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 - 13:30. The rental service is staffed by students from our department and count as a student job.

When you rent something, you will receive an e-mail. If you are late in returning it, you must pay a fee for every late returned object. Spontaneous rentals outside of opening hours are not possible. So please plan ahead when you need to have or give back a camera for example!

Rooms – Overview & Reservation

File:744-745.pdf An overview map of the buildings 744 & 745 (kind of a Marauder's Map).

If you need a room outside the animation department's locality for a specific event, for example a cinema evening in the REX cinema, tell our ASI. You can find an overview of the room's free slots on mycampus.

For reserving the sound studio, please contact Thomas Gassmann who has a separate calender with an overview of who needs it when.

Semester Overview

You usually receive your semester-overview by E-mail shortly before the end of the last semester. The most up-to-date version can also be found on our Bulletin Board. In it, you will see the duration of the modules, heads of modules, and the rooms they will take place in. Make note of the important events such as the SEP, the Werkschau, Festivals, etc... We also keep a version of the semester overview online, see: Programs and courses.

SEP - Semester end presentations

The SEPs take place at the end of the 1st - 4th semester. Every student presents for 8 minutes with a following 2-minute Q&A/feedback round.

Content: With the goal of not only showing the audience your work process and selected results but also offering an entertaining presentation, you should make a short, sweet and visually appealing summary of your past semester! Of course you can include animation-related work from your spare time in the SEP, for example if you were sketching during travels or made visuals for a friend. You must, however, show and give context to at least 1 example from each practical module.

Technical: The SEPs are divided into blocks of ca. 1h, separated by breaks. Use only one computer per block unless absolutely necessary! Decide with the other students from your block who will offer their computer and check one day beforehand that all your files can really be opened on that computer. (i.e. does the computer have Keynote/Powerpoint? Does all the music/sound within the presentation work? Are the videos linked correctly etc...) Prepare your presentation in keynote/powerpoint, as they are the most reliable. No clicking through folders to find the right files, please!

The heads of the modules are present and can, on request, give a short personal feedback to your presentation. Taking part in the SEP is mandatory! If you can't come because you are still in an internship or abroad in an exchange semester, let Jürgen Haas and the ASO know and send them a digital videopresentation (deadline 1 day before the SEP). If you can't take part for health reasons, you must let them know too and bring a letter of proof from your doctor.

Server

On the server you can work with your teammates and you can find useful files for your projects: f.ex Logos, Sounds etc.

On OSX / Linux connect to server: smb://10.180.128.20

(On OSX you can do this by going to a finder window and clicking: command + k and then entering the server adress above.)

On Windows: \\10.180.128.20

On Windows open the "File Explorer" and enter the address above into the addressbar.

With the username hslu and the usual password. (ask an older student if you don't know it yet)

We have multipe mountpoints:

• bermuda: this is the place to quickly transfer data to another person, the data here could disappear at any time!
• tonarchiv: our sound library
• animation: the archive of all our films, and a student server with lots of information for you (have a look!)
• projects: the place you can work with your teammates.
  • Name your folders on "projects" and "bermuda" according to the following pattern:
  • "[YEAR]_[PROJECTNAME]_[RESPONSIBLE]"
  • f.ex: 2018_My-very-important-film_Juergen-Haas, 2018_Bring-cake_Otto-Alder
  • Avoid using any special characters (umlaut, accents, etc.) or spaces if you need maximum compatibility.
  • Use one folder per project and do not put multiple projects or backups in one folder. The space on the server is limited and it should be used for projects currently in progress.
  • Backup your projects on a weekly basis to an external hard drive.
  • Attention: We will delete any folder not following the naming convention and if we run out of space we will also delete folders that were not touched for a certain time. Normally we notify the responsible person before deleting any folder.

Responsible for the server: Jean First

Social Media

We obviously encourage you to follow us and like our posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages, where you can find news of exciting events happening at school, which of our student/alumni films wins a prize, or what our students are up to in general!

Software

You can get most of your required software here: https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/helpdesk/software/ Software for animation-specific courses can be received either through your module leader or by contacting technical support. If you are interested in buying your own TVpaint licence (as an enrolled student, you receive a special discount!) please also contact technical support or ASI / ASO.

Student Calendar (iCal)

In our Students Events Calendar you'll find special events, deadlines and extracurricular modules from our department, as well as festival-dates and important milestones. It's read-only, to avoid any confusion.

Click the above link to see it in your Webbrowser or copy+paste the following link directly into your Google Calendar to stay up to date:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=YW5pbWF0aW9uaHNsdUBnbWFpbC5jb20

Copy this link to subscribe to the calendar using the Calendar App on Apple devices:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/animationhslu%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics

Students council

It's important to us to be in constant exchange with our students and to find out if there are any problems. That is why each BA-year tasks 4 reliable and socially involved students to keep their eyes and ears open for things that could be improved, and tell us about it in ~4 yearly meetings, in which the head of study and the ASO take part. In these meetings, we will try to figure out solutions together. 2 of these members from each year are chosen by the department, and 2 further ones are nominated by their classes directly. The student council members are tasked with informing their year about the solutions decided upon.

Student Jobs

There are many opportunities to work in and around the animation department. From taking turns at the school's official stalls at festivals, supporting teachers, to cleaning up the kitchens... If you are tasked with a job, write down how many hours you worked for it. You will then receive a student-fee form to fill in. However, we are very grateful and rely on your spontaneous and good-will help for spontaneous events and tasks!

Technical Recommendations

Backups

If your work is important to you: buy an external harddrive and backup your files on a daily basis. Make it your end-of-day routine. If you plan on working in the field professionally, also get a second harddrive which is kept in a different location for weekly backups. We are not responsible for lost data which was only saved on the "projects" or "bermuda" folder of the Server! (hence the name: bermuda)

Adapter

Get a good DVI/HDMI adapter for your laptop. You'll need this to connect our Cintiqs in case you borrow one for at home.

Laptop / Workstation

In school we run a fleet of Linux and Mac Workstations that you can rent for heavy workloads or special tasks and we have an expertise to support those operating systems.

You should have a personal Laptop that is adapted for artistic/graphic work. We do not give specific general recommendations because it depends heavily on the technique you choose to specialize in. As long as your laptop is less 5 years old (and cost more than ~1'500 CHF to begin with), you can start working with that here, and then see whether you really need a more expensive one once you choose a technique.

Keep in mind: not all software works on all operating systems (Linux / MacOS / Windows) but there are always workarounds or alternative applications we can help you with. Easiest thing to do is: come see our IT team once you are on campus!

VPN

If you want to work with our server or our program licences from home, be sure to download and read the hslu vpn manual and register your mobile phone number on the mfa portal. The HSLU's VPN server uses an SMS-code authentication procedure.

Werkschau

The Werkschau ("work exhibition") is the grand finale of your studies, together with our animation department's premiere. Every year in June, the graduation works of all the bachelor and master degrees are presented in a public exhibition. 1.BA students can enjoy the exhibition as guests. For 2.BA students it is mandatory to help with the construction of our "animation box" in which we screen the films. For 3.BA students it is mandatory to help stand guard and answer visitors' questions during the exhibition week, and to help with the deconstruction. The Artistic Assistant is responsible for the planning and organisation of helpers.

Wording

When you publish your work online or mention us in your credits or CVs, it's important for us that you use the correct wording.

The correct name of our department is:

Animation Luzern

The correct name of our school is:

DE: Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst (langer Bindestrich sowie das & Zeichen), Studienrichtung Animation.

EN: Lucerne School of Art and Design, Animation Department

The use of "HSLU" is not recommended, unless you are writing a text with a frequent use of our name. (like in this AniWiki)

The use of the school's logo and our "Bergli"-Logo is defined in the CI-information on the server. (studierende > Vorlagen > Logos)