Like father, like daughter. Following in her father 麻豆精品 S檚 footsteps, Ana Beltran 麻豆精品 S�19 fell in love with the arts from a young age. Some of her earliest memories include watching her father bring concepts to life for his post-production company in Venezuela. The introduction to the world of animation, post-production, and broadcast television fostered her creative expression and passion for visual storytelling.
麻豆精品 S淚 saw how much fun my dad had. And while I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what I wanted to go into at the time, I knew it would be a creative field, 麻豆精品 S� says Beltran, who is currently completing a master 麻豆精品 S檚 in animation and visual effects at UCF.
Immigrants from Venezuela, Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 family came to the United States to provide her with a better life and more opportunity. It 麻豆精品 S檚 something that keeps her grounded and motivates her to follow her dreams. She attributes many of her successes to her family 麻豆精品 S檚 unwavering support and her experiences at UCF 麻豆精品 S� home to some of the top digital arts and entertainment programs in the nation.
Most recently, Beltran helped turn visions into life for Walt Disney World 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary celebration. And just shortly before the scheduled Oct. 1 celebration, she had another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: working with her inspiration, her father. Javier Beltran was added as an animator on one of the projects she was part of to help with the show 麻豆精品 S檚 final touches.
麻豆精品 S淚t was such a sweet moment that I 麻豆精品 S檒l always cherish, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 watched him work on cool projects growing up, and now I had the opportunity to work with him on something so significant. It was very special and something I didn’t think I 麻豆精品 S檇 ever get to share with him. He 麻豆精品 S檚 been a big inspiration in my life. 麻豆精品 S�
Creating Magical Experiences
After graduating with her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 of fine arts in experimental animation and bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in game design, Beltran packed up and headed to New York City where she got her start at ABC News. While broadcast television gave her first-hand industry experience, she remained focused on forging a path within animation. So, when an opportunity to create magical moments for Walt Disney World became available, she jumped at the chance to return home.
麻豆精品 S淚 believe it was the right opportunity at the right time, and I was so happy to be close to family again, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
In January 2020, she started one of her first big projects: Beacons of Magic for Walt Disney World 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary. The beacons light up the four park icons 麻豆精品 S� three of which she worked on 麻豆精品 S� to welcome the magic that inspires guests. She helped Cinderella 麻豆精品 S檚 Castle, the Tree of Life and the Tower of Terror at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, respectively, all come to life as the sun sets each day.
Creating the beacon for the castle was one of Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 favorite memories. She was part of the previsualization process and modeled all the decor on the castle for the projection show purposes. And, today, the magic extends beyond just the parks. An image from the creative currently appears on McDonald 麻豆精品 S檚 Happy Meal boxes.
麻豆精品 S淚t was an unexpected bucket list item for me, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 never expected to have my work appear on a Happy Meals box, but it was very cool and surprising to see it. 麻豆精品 S�
Disney Enchantment was another project that Beltran was part of in preparations for the momentous celebration. The projection showcase adds touches of magic from Cinderella 麻豆精品 S檚 Castle all the way down Main Street USA 麻豆精品 S� the first time that lighting effects encompass more than just the castle.
She relished the chance to animate on the same surface that she once walked down as a little girl, captivated by the magic. It 麻豆精品 S檚 something that still provides a sense of nostalgia.
“Being on the other side and getting to create some of that magic is just incredible.”
麻豆精品 S淏eing on the other side and getting to create some of that magic is just incredible, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
The opportunity to work on new shows and experiences to kick off the festivities for Walt Disney World 麻豆精品 S檚 50th anniversary is a dream come true for Beltran. From visiting the parks with her family growing up to now creating some of that magic is something she never thought she would accomplish, especially at such a young age. Throughout each week, she still takes time to reflect on the impact of her work 麻豆精品 S� ensuring that she never loses sight of the magic that embraces families at the parks every day.
It was an incredible experience to be part of. And being able to celebrate that moment with my dad? It 麻豆精品 S檚 something I 麻豆精品 S檒l always treasure.
麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 think the magnitude of what we were working on hit me until I was in the park on Oct. 1 and had the chance to see people 麻豆精品 S檚 reactions. I thought about how this will be a special memory for everyone 麻豆精品 S� especially the kids. Seeing their faces light up as they watched the show is something I 麻豆精品 S檒l never forget. 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was an incredible experience to be part of. And being able to celebrate that moment with my dad? It 麻豆精品 S檚 something I 麻豆精品 S檒l always treasure. 麻豆精品 S�
A Path to a Better Future
Beltran and her family came to Celebration, Florida, when she was 4. And while Beltran acclimated quickly, it took her parents some time to adjust to their new life.
麻豆精品 S淢y parents had to learn the language from scratch. They had to restart their careers, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was a sacrifice they were willing to take, though, to give me the best life possible. 麻豆精品 S�
Commitment to providing better opportunities for future generations is something that runs deep in Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 family. Her grandparents moved from Spain to Venezuela to escape Francisco Franco 麻豆精品 S檚 rule during the Spanish Civil War.
麻豆精品 S淢y grandmother didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have much of a formal education. She didn 麻豆精品 S檛 grow up reading or writing, 麻豆精品 S� Beltran says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut she always instilled in me the value of education. She wanted to ensure I had the chance to accomplish my dreams. 麻豆精品 S�
With her grandmother 麻豆精品 S檚 advice in mind, Beltran was motivated to succeed inside and outside of the classroom. And when it came time to applying for college, she turned to a high school guidance counselor 麻豆精品 S� a UCF grad 麻豆精品 S� to help navigate the process. Beltran was in the top 10% of her high school graduating class, so attending a university with a good design and animation program was one of her priorities. After narrowing down her college list, it was time to start visiting each school. And it so happened that one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top animation programs was right in her backyard: UCF.
麻豆精品 S淚 loved the idea of staying close to home, 麻豆精品 S� Beltran says. 麻豆精品 S淏ut it was during a campus tour with one of my friends who attended UCF that sealed the deal. 麻豆精品 S�
“UCF’s ties to space are ingrained in its core … I really enjoy stories that are so thought out and knew this was the school for me.”
While touring campus, Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 friend told her the story of how UCF was founded 麻豆精品 S� the university 麻豆精品 S檚 roots in space exploration and its mission to support the growing space industry. The motto 麻豆精品 S淩each for the Stars 麻豆精品 S� also hit home for Beltran as it was the slogan of her elementary school.
麻豆精品 S淯CF 麻豆精品 S檚 ties to space are ingrained in its core. The entire campus was built with that idea in mind. The street names, the on-campus housing communities, the Pegasus 麻豆精品 S� it 麻豆精品 S檚 in every fiber, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 really enjoy stories that are so thought out and knew this was the school for me. 麻豆精品 S�
Pursuing a Creative Calling
From the moment Beltran was accepted to UCF and started her first day of classes, she was eager to get involved. Throughout her undergraduate career, she was part of LEAD scholars, President 麻豆精品 S檚 Leadership Council, GameDev Knights, among other clubs and organizations on campus. She credits UCF and the opportunities provided to students for her success.
麻豆精品 S淯CF helped shape my creative and hard skills, but also my soft skills. For instance, I had the chance to get hands-on experience with presenting to various panels and groups 麻豆精品 S� something that transferred to what I do today, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 remember the phrase 麻豆精品 S楿CF Stands for Opportunity 麻豆精品 S� and I truly believe that. Many of my opportunities started at the university and I 麻豆精品 S檓 so thankful for that. 麻豆精品 S�
She still looks back on the football team 麻豆精品 S檚 undefeated seasons, attaining the Order of Pegasus 麻豆精品 S� UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 highest student honor 麻豆精品 S� and her graduation day as some of her all-time favorite memories as a Knight. Beltran hopes that receiving the Order of Pegasus as someone in the arts inspires those that come after her.
麻豆精品 S淗aving that acknowledgement especially as someone in the arts means so much to me, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 want to show other creatives that they can get there, too …. that it is possible. 麻豆精品 S�
When graduation day approached, Beltran 麻豆精品 S檚 family gathered together in the arena to watch her cross the stage. It was momentous for each of them as she became the first person in the family to achieve a college degree. She vividly remembers walking across the stage and looking up at her grandmother in the stands 麻豆精品 S� the tears rolling down her cheeks and the smile that lit up her face.
麻豆精品 S淎fter the ceremony, my grandmother gave me an orchid lei and said 麻豆精品 S榊ou have no idea how much I thought I 麻豆精品 S檇 never get to see this moment, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淪eeing her smile and how happy my parents were met the world to me. I work so hard every day to live up to the sacrifices they made for me 麻豆精品 S� I want to make them proud. 麻豆精品 S�
Thinking About the Future
Beltran often thinks about the future and what 麻豆精品 S檚 next. She understands the competitiveness and challenges that arise in the world of animation and wants to ensure she stays current with the latest techniques 麻豆精品 S� which is why she enrolled in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 master 麻豆精品 S檚 in animation and visual effects program, part of the .
麻豆精品 S淎t the time, the MFA in animation and visual effects program was just getting started but was already well-ranked. I think that 麻豆精品 S檚 a testament to the professors and people in the program at the time, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
“Being part of something so special every day is out of this world. I owe it all to my family who have been there to support me every step of the way.”
Along with taking graduate classes, she is currently working on her next big project. She can 麻豆精品 S檛 say what it is yet but is excited to see her next creation come to life.
麻豆精品 S淏eing part of something so special every day is out of this world. I owe it all to my family who have been there to support me every step of the way, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 excited for the future and for all the experiences still to come. 麻豆精品 S�
