I'm passionate about plants and crazy about dogs! But I can draw other things as well.

Hi there! I'm Aira Joana (she/her) and I'm an animation director and illustrator based in Lucerne, Switzerland. //POC, thai and swiss
I love creating visual worlds and stories that are all around and inside of us - and bring them to life. I'm also very passionate about combining different styles and media, such as 2D animation with live action footage and analogue techniques, always striving to create something unique.
Also I'd like to offer my skills to contribute and bring awarness to the following topics:
climate crisis, sustainability, vegan & low waste lifestyle, feminism, anti-racism work, anti-capitalism or in general: how we can build a more justice and sustainable future!
as for LGTBQIA+ matters, I'd love to amplify their own voices and send illustrators/animators from the community your way, if you're looking for someone just let me know!
Please feel free to contact me for any potential collaborations or commissions, or just to say hi :) 

Here's a real picture of me, ofc with a plant :') it dead tho.

Toolset
TVPaint Pro 11, Toon Boom Harmony, Toon Boom Storyboarder, Photoshop, Indesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects
Skillset
2D animation frame by frame, illustration, visual development, storyboarding

Since 2017 - Freelance
Animation direction, 2D animation, illustration
Work experience
2020 February - May, animation & fx animation at YK Animation Studio
for shortfilm "Mr. Pete & the Iron Horse" by Kilian Vilim

2019 January - June, Layout and animation at YK Animation Studio 
for shortfilm "Little Miss Fate" by Joder von Rotz

2017 April - August, 5 month internship at YK Animation Studio
Animation & FX creation for shortfilm "Coyote" by Lorenz Wunderle and other inhouse projects

Education
2015 - 2018 BA Animation, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences & Arts
2013 - 2015 Art foundation course, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences & Arts
2006 - 2012 Kantonsschule Glarus (academic high school) with specialisation in music

*24.09.1993​​​​​​​


Clients
Remy & Remy 
MFK, Museum für Kommunikation (BIG DATA, additional 2D animation for Team Tumult)
SRF; We, Myself & Why (Instagram)
Burki Scherer; JURA (Rubia Coffee Ride)
enpointe (explainer)

Niculin Janett
Like Lovers
LUMAE
Photo Fire
Cold Reading
Oakhands

Filmography, Director & Freelance Animator

2021 Eduardo Spelterini by Jonathan Müller
Yet to be released
Produced by Zeitraum Film 

2020 - Mountain Spirit (Animadvent, animated Advent calendar on Instagram)
2D animation & direction: Aira Joana
Footage: Anouk
Music: Marc Breitenmoser, Mike Portmann, Jonas Nissen

2020 Insane - LUMAE (Official Video)
2'41'' 2D animated music video
2D animation & direction: Aira Joana
Additional 2D Animation: Sarah Rothenberger

2020 SAMSA (Or, the Lack of Constant Lack) - Oakhands (Official Video)
3'25'' 2D graphic animated music video
2D animation & direction: Aira Joana

2020 Mr. Pete and the Iron Horse by Kilian Vilim
xx'xx'' digital animation, produced by YK Animation studio
2D Animation: Fela Bellotto, Aira Joana, Lara Perren, Etienne Mory, Kilian Vilim

2020 Little Miss Fate by Joder von Rotz
8'15'' digital animation with an analogue look, produced by YK Animation studio
2D Animation: Fela Bellotto, Aira Joana, Martine Ulmer, Lorenz Wunderle, Kerstin Zemp
Lukas Pulver, Joder von Rotz

2019 Snow Angel (Animadvent, animated Advent calendar on Instagram)
2D animation & direction: Aira Joana
Additional 2D Animation: Andrea Giovanni Sidoti
Sounddesign & Music: YK Animation, Lukas Pulver

2019 Fall - Like Lovers (Official Video)
6'12'' 2D/3D/footage mixed technique music video
2D animation & direction: Aira Joana
Clouds: Daniel Strohhäcker
Compositing: Nicolas Roth
Additional 2D animation: Hannes Oehen

2018 CONCRETE in co-direction with Luca Struchen, Nicolas Roth, Pirmin Bieri
7'34'' 2D/3D mixed technique graduation film
2D animation: Aira Joana, Fela Bellotto
3D Animation: Pirmin Bieri, Nicolas Roth
VFX: Luca Struchen

2018 Coyote by Lorenz Wunderle
9' 2D digital animation, produced by YK Animation Studio
Animation: Lorenz Wunderle, Etienne Mory, Fela Bellotto, Julia Munoz, Aira Joana
FX Chefboss: Aira Joana (it really does say so in the credits)

2018 OOZE by Kilian Vilim
5'28" 2D digital animation, graduationfilm by Kilian Vilim
Animation: Kilian Vilim, Etienne Mory, Fela Bellotto, Aira Joana

2018 "Oh you don't know the blues"
47" 2D analogue stamp animation in collaboration with Andrea Giovanni Sidoti