| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art | Lucerne |
| 2 | Les Maîtres du Monde | Nyon |
For this ranking we only consider formal degree programs (bachelor's degree or equivalent). For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art is oldest College of Art and Design in Central Switzerland. Part of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), the school provides two paths to study animation. At the undergraduate level, students can earn a BA in Film with a specialization in Animation. Students may focus in Animation 2D or 3D.
At the graduate level, Lucerne has an Animation MA that combines hands-on workshops, seminars, and coursework that explores format development, production processes, story development, virtual reality (VR), film history, experimentation, animation history and theory, artificial intelligence (AI), concept and design, and media history. Throughout the program, students will also have opportunities to work with mentors and interact with guest lecturers from the industry. Trips to festivals and professional conferences are also part of the program.
Graduates of the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art MA program have gone on to become Animation Filmmakers, Game Artists, Film Directors, Researchers, Art Directors, and Professors. Program alumni work at major film and animation studios, game design studios, television networks, advertising agencies, museums, and universities.
The Lucerne Film BA with a specialization in Animation covers the 12 Principles of Animation. The curriculum also consists of modules, team-building projects (short films), workshops, individual projects (short films), lectures, and a professional internship.
Course examples and topics for the program include Animatic; Narration by Animation; Character Design, Background Design, Layout; Animation I-III; Compositing; Dramaturgy in Short Formats, Leading a Team; Expanded Animation I-II; Motion Graphics; Experimental Narration; VFX I-II; Stop Motion: Motion Control; Simple Animations in CGI; and Research of a Visual World.
The Animation BA program culminates with a thesis project and a portfolio of the student's best work. Graduates of the program are 2D Animators, Directors, Producers, Illustrators, and Game Artists.
Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art was founded in 1877 as Lucerne School of Arts and Crafts, making it the oldest College of Art and Design in Central Switzerland. The school became part Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in 1997. Today, Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art serves more than 900 students enrolled in 20 programs leading to a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Serving more than 8,300 degree-seeking students and 12,000 continuing and executive education students, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is the largest university level institution in Central Switzerland. Founded on January 1, 1997, Lucerne employs approximately 2,000 professionals, which also makes it one of the largest employers in Central Switzerland. Programs at Lucerne are provided across the following areas: Engineering and Architecture; Design, Film and Art; Music; Computer Science; Social Work; Health Sciences; and Business.
Les Maîtres du Monde (MDM) is the first Swiss digital arts school to provide training in motion design, building virtual worlds, and special effects. Sponsored by John Howe, Artistic Director for The Lord of the Rings, MDM provides programs taught by artists who have worked on games and films such as Call of Duty, The Hobbit, and Rayman.
Programs include the Bachelor and Master of Digital Art. The bachelor’s program has specializations in Virtual Worlds and Motion Design & Special Effects. Both programs begin with the common core, which takes two years to complete. Year one explores the fundamentals of traditional and digital drawing. Course examples include Environmental Drawing; History of Cinema; Observational Drawing; Screenplay and Storyboarding; Illustration; Zoological Drawing; Creature Drawing; and Character Drawing.
In year two, students will explore organic sculpting, 3D techniques, and 3D animation using Zbrush, Maya, and Photoshop. The third year of the program students will select choose a specialization. Projects and coursework during this time will take place through workshops. By the end of the program, students will have the skills needed to create animations like AAA studios such as Electronic Arts (EA), Blizzard and Pixar. The MDM Bachelor of Digital Art program culminates with a final project.
The Master of Digital Art at Les Maîtres du Monde features 11 masterclasses led by recognized industry professionals during the first year of the program. During this time, students will begin working on their final projects. At the end of the first year, students will be at the halfway mark. In year two, students will have additional opportunities to participate in masterclasses that cover topics such as project management, business communication, marketing, and business strategy.
Students will also complete their final projects, with the opportunity to present it to a jury of experts at the end of the year. Graduates of the Digital Art programs at Les Maîtres du Monde are prepared to pursue careers in the animation, film and television, and video game industries. Other industries for graduates include advertising, software publishing, architecture, science and medicine, legal, virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR), education and training, aviation, the military, and aerospace engineering.
Founded in 2017, Les Maîtres du Monde is the sister school of Les Maîtres du Monde, which focuses on web development and design. MDM provides several programs leading to a bachelor’s or master’s degree. All programs at Les Maîtres du Monde are accredited by the Federation for Education in Europe (FEDE). The FEDE is a partner of several international organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Council of Europe (COE), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
