diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 99c96eda6..9f18a71da 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v2.0.0-15-g3898fb2
+v2.0.0-19-g80d2bdb
diff --git a/lib/damask/util.py b/lib/damask/util.py
index 77bc30403..9ce42759a 100644
--- a/lib/damask/util.py
+++ b/lib/damask/util.py
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ class extendableOption(Option):
 class backgroundMessage(threading.Thread):
   """reporting with animation to indicate progress"""
 
-  choices = {'bounce':   ['_','o','O','°','¯','¯','°','O','o',],
+  choices = {'bounce':   ['_',      'o',      'O',      u'\u00B0',
+                          u'\u203e',u'\u203e',u'\u00B0','O','o','_'],
              'circle':   [u'\u25f4',u'\u25f5',u'\u25f6',u'\u25f7'],
              'hexagon':  [u'\u2b22',u'\u2b23'],
              'square':   [u'\u2596',u'\u2598',u'\u259d',u'\u2597'],