Graduation Spotlight: Anna Berry, Visualization
Anna Berry grew up just outside of Ennis, but made her way to Aggieland to pursue a degree and continue a generation of Aggies.
“I am a fourth-generation Aggie,” Berry said. “I looked at other schools and I set up some tours, but A&M was the only one that truly felt like a second home with the friendliest people.”
Berry said she enjoyed art as a child. When her grandparents stumbled upon information about Viz-a-GoGo, the Visualization program’s annual showcase, they shared it with her. She chose Texas A&M and earned an undergraduate degree in Visualization.
She is set to graduate Friday with a Master of Science degree in Visualization. Berry will also be honored as a distinguished student in the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts’ Graduation Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday.
“Being selected for the Distinguished Student Award is such an honor,” she said. “I never set out to earn an award for my work, I always just try to do my best and have fun. I truly could not have done it without the teammates, friends and professors I had along the way.”
With an introduction to the basics of art in her first year, Berry said she soon started animation projects as a sophomore. Her first animation project was a robot commercial titled “Low Battery.”
“I remember that semester, everything seemed so advanced,” Berry said. “Creating animated hair was impossible to complete in Viz films not long ago, and they are in so many shorts now. I even had a team help me add a ‘hair groom’ and simulation to my final capstone project. It is amazing to see how far the Viz program has come just since I have been here.”
Berry said professors who were pivotal in her time at the school include Krista Steinke, assistant professor; Michael Walsh, associate professor of practice; and Interim Dean Tim McLaughlin.
Steinke’s enthusiasm and passion for traditional arts was encouraging throughout each semester, Berry said. Walsh was honest and open with his students, and offered helpful insight into the industry, she said. McLaughlin instructed Berry in an introductory course in Visualization and continued to guide her studies as a committee chair for her graduate school capstone course.
“I wanted Tim as my chair because I valued his feedback,” Berry said. “Because of him, I pushed the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of in my final project, and I am incredibly proud of the final outcome.”
Berry said she found a passion for rigging in animation, which is adding joints and controls to characters to make movement possible, she said. Berry plans to find a job in that field after graduation, with the goal of moving up to a project management position.
“I love organizing, and I feel comfortable enough with each step of the animation process to understand timeline,” she said. “Working as a professor would be my dream job, but I feel that I owe it to the students to gain some real-world experience first.”
Photo by Sam Addington.
