Lisa S. Rackwitz, featuring work from the ‘Comics and Animation / Visual Storytelling’ course at the Magdeburg Youth Art School

I am a illustrator (diploma), animation artist and lecturer in illustration, comics and animation. In film productions, I work as an art director, key background artist and set and prop designer. Since 2003, I have been working as a freelancer in the field of illustration and the design of animated films, as well as teaching university and school students, to whom I pass on my many years of experience. I live with my family in Halle (Saale).

You can also find more information about me and my work at LinkedIn and on the International Movie Database.

Projects, teaching and exhibitions

since 2026

Illustrator and course leader for ‘creative media and animation projects’ at the“ at the Kreativwerkstatt – Workshops for Art and Science, Aschersleben

2026

Set- and prop design for the film ‘Weihnachtsland 2’ by toon vision/nfp
Illustrations for ‘Susi & Tino – The MWG’s children’s magazine’
Illustrations for children’s magazine Gecko
Illustrations for schoolbook ‘Kolibri Musikbuch’ (Bavaria) (Schroedel Verlag / Westermann Group)
Concept, script, text, illustration ‘Professor Kunkels and Julian – whimsical tales of everyday life’ from story to comic (grant from the Saxony-Anhalt Art Foundation)

since 2025

Lecturer in ‘Comics and Animation / Visual Narrative’ at the Magdeburg Youth Art School

2024/2025

Art direction, character and set design for the film ‘Weihnachtsland’ (to mark the designation of the Erzgebirge craft tradition as intangible cultural heritage) by toon vision/nfp
Key background artist and prop designer for ‘Mias Maschine’ (TV series) by Traumhaus Studios
Illustrations for schoolbook ‘Kolibri Musikbuch’ (Bavaria) (Schroedel Verlag / Westermann Group)
Illustrations for ‘Susi & Tino – The MWG’s children’s magazine’
Illustrations for children’s magazine Gecko

2022/2023

Key background artist and set designer for the second season of ‘Tilda Appleseed’ (TV series) by Mideu GmbH Halle (2022-2024)
Colour schemes for the children’s series ‘Labyrinth of Lies’ (TV series) by Mideu GmbH Halle based on the book of the same name by Ute Krause, winner of the 2025 TeleVisionale Children’s Series Award
Illustrations for schoolbook ‘Kolibri Musikbuch’ (Bayern) (Schroedel Verlag / Westermann Group)
Illustrations for children’s magazine Gecko
Illustrations for ‘Susi & Tino – The MWG’s children’s magazine’
Joint exhibition ‘Radewell Art Weeks’ and workshops with ‘Künstlerhaus Goldener Pflug e.V.’

2021

Key background artist and set designer for the first season of ‘Ach du heilige Scheibe’ (TV series) by MotionWorks GmbH Halle
Illustrations for children’s magazine Gecko
Founding member of the ‘Künstlerhaus Goldener Pflug e.V.’ in Halle (Saale)

2020

Exhibition ‘Winterlinge’ in the Halle Art Association (e.V.)
Background artist for the feature film ‘Karlchen – Best birthday ever’ (MotionWorks GmbH Halle), Rated ‘valuable’: (German Film and Media Rating, 2021), Audience Award at the Schlingel Children’s Film Festival.

2019/2020

Background artist for the multi-award-winning feature film ‘Coppelia’ (MotionWorks GmbH Halle)
Working on own projects

2018

Birth of son Julian

2017/2018

Key background artist and storymation designer for the second season of ‘The Adventures of Young Marco Polo’ (TV series) by MotionWorks GmbH Halle

2016

Background artist and key background artist for the Grimme Prize-nominated TV series ‘Tilda Appleseed’ (MotionWorks GmbH Halle, Wunderwerk)
Illustrations for schoolbook ‘Pusteblume Sprachbuch’ (Saxony) (Schroedel Verlag / Westermann Gruppe)
Cardboard picture book ‘Hänschen Klein’ for the Eulenspiegel-Kinderbuchverlag

2015

Illustrations for children’s magazine Gecko and own projects

2014

Illustrations for schoolbook ‘Pusteblume Sprachbuch’ (Schroedel Verlag / Westermann Gruppe)

2012/2013

Set design (stage design) and storymation design for ‘The Adventures of Young Marco Polo’ (TV-Serie) by MotionWorks GmbH Halle
Illustrations for children’s magazine Gecko

2013

Birth of daughter Emma

2012

Lectureship in Illustration at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences (FH)

2011/2012

Background artist for Cartoon-Saloon Ireland for the feature film ‘Moon Man’ based on Tomi Ungerer’s book, awarded the rating ‘Particularly Valuable’ (German Film and Media Rating, 2012), and winner of an award in the ‘Animation’ category at the German Children’s Media Festival ‘Goldener Spatz’ (2013)

2010

Art Director & Background Supervisor for the project ‘Princess Lillifee’ (TV series) at MotionWorks GmbH Halle

2009 – 2011

Member of the Executive Committee of the Professional Association of Visual Artists of Saxony-Anhalt

2009

Illustrations for schoolbook ‘Piri Sprachbuch‘ (Ernst-Klett-Verlag)

2008

Background artist and merchandising product designer for the feature film ‘Mullewapp – Friends Forever’ based on the book by Helme Heine, at MotionWorks GmbH Halle

2007

Book design and illustrations for ‘The Story of the Blue Planet’, written by Andri Snaer Magnason, leiv – Leipziger Kinderbuchverlag GmbH
Participation in the ‘European Animation Masterclass (EAM)’ at the International Academy of Media and Arts (IAMA) in Halle (Saale), final film ‘Fishing for Ideas’.

2004 – 2007

Graphic design, etching, printmaking, illustration, various exhibitions and markets throughout Germany

2004

Book design and illustration for ‘In the South  Pacific’ by E. O. Wilson, final project (diploma) at the Academy for Visual Arts, Leipzig

2003

Clean-ups for the feature film ‘Laura’s Star’ (work placement at MotionWorks GmbH Halle)

Participation in several exhibitions in Halle (Saale), Leipzig and the surrounding area