Mariana Morales had put her hopes of a career in the film industry on hold after high school because of the high cost of college. Now 34, as a senior graduating from New Mexico State University’s top-ranked animation program, Morales has the skills to help her pursue her dream job.
“When I was at a point in my life where I felt I needed to reach for this dream again, I came across NMSU’s Creative Media Institute animation program and thought that this was my second chance,” Morales said. “It opened a floodgate of rediscovering my love for art and teamwork.
”NMSU’s animation program continues to be ranked among the top programs in the country for the 13th year in a row. Animation Career Review evaluated nearly 200 programs across the United States. In the 2024 rankings list, NMSU’s animation program rose from 19th to 17th nationally. The program remains ranked first in New Mexico and seventh regionally.
“What makes our program attractive to students is creative freedom and affordability,” said Derek Chase, professor in NMSU's Creative Media Institute who specializes in 3D animation. “We encourage our students to tell their own stories and share their unique experiences through each project. NMSU is a great school. It's competitive while still affordable compared to other institutions.”
“The Animation and Visual Effects program has steadily grown since it started,” said Amy Lanasa, CMI professor and department head. "Since 2018, the number of majors has grown 40%, and the number of degrees we're awarding in animation has grown 50%. That growth can be contributed to an additional faculty line and new classroom space we received during that time. We would love to have enough resources to accept every student who wants to learn in this dynamic and growing field, which we know attracts new jobs to our region and strengthens our local economy.”
“We've had the opportunity to add skilled faculty and staff to our team, enabling us to solidify a foundational curriculum while also offering the ability to expand in other areas,” said Eddie Bakshi, who specializes in teaching 2D animation production in CMI. “Our graduates continue to branch out into various creative fields. We've also recently been recognized as a Centre of Excellence by Toon Boom, our primary 2D Animation software provider.”
Animation Career Review considers animation programs in degree-granting institutions with the exception of two-year community colleges. The criteria evaluated include academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of program faculty, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, graduation rate, geographic location and employment data. Since 2020, the employment data has been given significantly more weight in the ranking formula than in previous years.
“Our program focuses on teaching creativity using industry-standard technology,” Chase said. “Courses are developed with an emphasis on creating opportunities for students to express their individuality using story-driven, project-based learning. We emphasize fundamentals in foundational courses and gradually guide students towards specializations as they progress toward graduation.”
Morales is part of a four-person team working on a senior-animated film about a baby dinosaur named Lucia and the world she tries to navigate without wanting to ask for help. “After some harsh lessons, Lucia learns that it’s okay to ask for help from those who are knowledgeable to do so,” Morales explained the storyline.
Bakshi explained that the students who graduate from the animation program can apply the skills they have learned to a wide variety of fields. The skillset is not limited to entertainment but can be useful in almost any profession dealing with visual media.
“The majority of our working graduates find success in a range of media-related jobs,” Bakshi said. “We have former students who have worked on movies, commercials and video games as well as creating simulations and graphics in other fields such as medical and military.”
“My professors have been extremely helpful and supportive not only in their knowledge but their passion and love for the craft and teaching it,” Morales said. “I entered the program not knowing how to use a tablet or what programs artists in the industry used and how to navigate through them. It was with their knowledge, patience and support that I can confidently use these programs today.”
Looking beyond graduation in May, Morales plans to pursue a job working in a studio or a small team designing 3D model assets.
See examples animation and visual effects projects by other students in CMI's animation program.
The full article, additional photos and a video of the animation can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-animation-program-ranking-moves-up-among-top-20-nationwide/s/4a1e1b00-38dd-4154-a4d6-6ff806266424