Rob Clark

Texas A&M University is again ranked the No. 1 animation school in Texas and No. 2 among public schools in the nation, according to new rankings by Animation Career Review.

Innovation has been a consistent theme throughout Tim McLaughlin’s career, both in higher education and the visual effects industry. The Longview native’s degrees at Texas A&M University helped to take him to Industrial Light & Magic, where he played a major role in how digital creatures look and move in films including “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace,” “Mars Attacks!” and “Jumanji,” along with a prototype project for “Avatar.”

A doctorate in Visual Computing and Interactive Media will debut in the fall semester to complement the programs in Visualization. It is the first doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in the Texas A&M College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts.

The Virtual Production Institute at Texas A&M University was honored by the Advanced Imaging Society on Friday for advancement of virtual production education.

The inaugural class in virtual production in the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts featured a classic fairy tale re-created in an immersive world. Virtual production incorporates large LED walls that display computer-generated virtual environments. These digital environments are created using real-time game engines. The Virtual Production Institute, funded as a special item by the 88th Texas Legislature, was created in 2024 as part of the college, and a Virtual Production minor began in the fall semester.

The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University has selected Sony Electronics Inc. and its state-of-the-art equipment and technology for the emerging Virtual Production Institute.

Aaron Thibault’s passion for video games goes back as far as he can remember. As a child growing up in Rhode Island, he learned how to program his own games on a TRS-80 — back before saving such games was even possible. 

August 19 marks not just the first day of the fall semester for the College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, but also the college’s first day of classes in Fort Worth.

The Texas A&M College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts will add a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance degree starting in the fall semester. The major was recently approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The College of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts at Texas A&M University will partner with Synapse Virtual Production to build four virtual production stages as part of its emerging Virtual Production Institute.