Autodesk Maya

Short description: 3D computer graphics software

Autodesk Maya

Original author(s)| Alias Systems Corporation
Developer(s)| Autodesk, Inc.
Initial release| February 1, 1998; 26 years ago (1998-02-01)
Stable release|

2024.1[1] / April 2023; 1 year ago (2023-04)

Written in| C++,[2] MEL, Python,[3] C#
Operating system|

* RHEL/Rocky Linux 8.6
* Windows 10 or later
* macOS Big Sur or later[4]

Platform| x86-64, Apple silicon
Available in| English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese
Type| 3D computer graphics
License| Trialware
Website| www.autodesk.com/products/maya/overview

Autodesk Maya, commonly shortened to just Maya (/ˈmaɪə/; MY-ə[5][6]), is a 3D computer graphics application that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, originally developed by Alias and currently owned and developed by Autodesk. It is used to create assets for interactive 3D applications (including video games), animated films, TV series, and visual effects.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Overview
* 3 Industry usage
* 4 Awards
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## History

Maya was originally an animation product based on code from The Advanced Visualizer by Wavefront Technologies, Thomson Digital Image (TDI) Explore, PowerAnimator by Alias, and Alias Sketch!. The IRIX-based projects were combined and animation features were added; the project codename was Maya.[7] Walt Disney Feature Animation collaborated closely with Maya's development during its production of Dinosaur.[8] Disney requested that the user interface of the application be customizable to allow for a personalized workflow. This was a particular influence in the open architecture of Maya, and partly responsible for its popularity in the animation industry.

After Silicon Graphics Inc. acquired both Alias and Wavefront Technologies, Inc., Wavefront's technology (then under development) was merged into Maya. SGI's acquisition was a response to Microsoft Corporation acquiring Softimage 3D. The new wholly owned subsidiary was named "Alias[math]\displaystyle{ | }[/math]Wavefront".[9]

In the early days of development Maya started with Tcl as the scripting language, in order to leverage its similarity to a Unix shell language, but after the merger with Wavefront it was replaced with Maya Embedded Language (MEL). Sophia, the scripting language in Wavefront's Dynamation, was chosen as the basis of MEL.[10]

Maya 1.0 was released in February 1998. Following a series of acquisitions, Maya was bought by Autodesk in 2005.[11][12] Under the name of the new parent company, Maya was renamed Autodesk Maya. However, the name "Maya" continues to be the dominant name used for the product.

## Overview

Maya is an application used to generate 3D assets for use in film, television, games, and commercials. The software was initially released for the IRIX operating system. However, this support was discontinued in August 2006 after the release of version 6.5. Maya was available in both "Complete" and "Unlimited" editions until August 2008, when it was turned into a single suite.[13]

Users define a virtual workspace (scene) to implement and edit media of a particular project. Scenes can be saved in a variety of formats, the default being .mb (Maya D). Maya exposes a node graph architecture. Scene elements are node-based, each node having its own attributes and customization. As a result, the visual representation of a scene is based entirely on a network of interconnecting nodes, depending on each other's information. For the convenience of viewing these networks, there is a dependency and a directed acyclic graph.

Nowadays, the 3D models can be imported to game engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity.[citation needed]

## Industry usage

The widespread use of Maya in the film industry is usually associated with its development on the film Dinosaur, released by Disney and The Secret Lab on May 19, 2000.[14] In 2003, when the company received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement, it was noted to be used in films such as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Spider-Man (2002), Ice Age, and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.[15] By 2015, VentureBeat Magazine stated that all ten films in consideration for the Best Visual Effects Academy Award had used Autodesk Maya and that it had been "used on every winning film since 1997."[16] In January 2018, it was described how the web series RWBY used the software, beginning with Volume 4.[17]

## Awards

On March 1, 2003, Alias was given an Academy Award for Technical Achievement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for scientific and technical achievement for their development of Maya software.[15]

In 2005, while working for Alias|Wavefront, Jos Stam shared an Academy Award for Technical Achievement with Edwin Catmull and Tony DeRose for their invention and application of subdivision surfaces.[18]

On February 8, 2008, Duncan Brinsmead, Jos Stam, Julia Pakalns and Martin Werner received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement for the design and implementation of the Maya Fluid Effects system.[19][20]

## See also

## References

1. ↑ Maya 2024.1 Update Release Notes
2. ↑ "C++ Applications". stroustrup.com. http://www.stroustrup.com/applications.html.
3. ↑ Baas, Matthias (May 8, 2006). "Python/Maya: Introductory tutorial". cgkit.sourceforge.net. http://cgkit.sourceforge.net/maya_tutorials/intro/.
4. ↑ System Requirements for Autodesk Maya 2024
5. ↑ "Maya 2017 Overview". Autodesk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1M4t73L4EE.
6. ↑ "Maya LT 2018 – Overview". Autodesk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF6LJUJ9fxk.
7. ↑ "History". Maya books. http://www.mayabooks.org/.
8. ↑ Muwanguzi, Michael J (July 1, 2010). "Maya 2011" (Software Review). Microfilmmaker Magazine. http://www.microfilmmaker.com/reviews/Issue56/Maya11_1.html. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
9. ↑ Weisbard, Sam (December 13, 2002). "Wavefront Discontinued Products and Brands". Alias. Design engine. http://www.design-engine.com/alias/history.html.
10. ↑ Sharpe, Jason; Lumsden, Charles J; Woolridge, Nicholas (2008), In silico: 3D animation and simulation of cell biology with Maya and MEL, Morgan Kaufmann Martin, p. 263, ISBN 978-0-12-373655-0
11. ↑ Autodesk (October 4, 2005). "Autodesk Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Alias". http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=5983502&linkID=14271593.
12. ↑ Wikinews:Autodesk to buy Alias
13. ↑ "Autodesk Maya Features – Compare". http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/compare/index?siteID=123112&id=13583751.
14. ↑ Warren, Scott (16 June 2017). Learning Games: The Science and Art of Development. Springer. p. 77.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Sellers, Dennis (14 January 2003). "Maya gets Oscar for Technical Achievement". Macworld. https://www.macworld.com/article/1008800/oscar.html. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
16. ↑ Terdiman, Daniel (15 January 2015). "And the Oscar for Best Visual Effects Goes to… Autodesk's Maya". media. VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/2015/01/15/hollywood-fx-pros-i-want-to-be-an-oscars-maya-winner/.
17. ↑ "Look behind the scenes of RWBY". Autodesk Maya. https://area.autodesk.com/inspire/articles/rwby-takeover.
18. ↑ "PIXAR Awards". http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/press_box/awards.htm.
19. ↑ "Scientific & Technical Awards Winners". January 6, 2003. http://www.oscars.org/awards/scitech/winners/2007.html.
20. ↑ "Technical Achievement Award". January 6, 2003. http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/about/awards/technical.html.

## External links

Motion graphics and animation software v * d * e

| 2D | 3D | Mix
Open-source |

* Ajax Animator
* Animator Pro
* TupiTube
* SWFTools
* Synfig
* OpenToonz
* Papagayo
* Krita

* Art of Illusion
* OpenFX
* Seamless3d
* Toonloop

* Blender

Closed-source | Freeware |

* Pivot Animator

* Clara.io, DAZ Studio

Commercial  |

* Adobe Animate
* Antics 2-D Animation
* Clip Studio Paint EX
* DigiCel FlipBook
* Moho (Anime Studio)
* ParticleIllusion
* CrazyTalk
* Toon Boom
* Toonz
* TVPaint

* Autodesk 3ds Max
* Autodesk Maya
* Autodesk MotionBuilder
* Bryce
* Carrara
* Cinema 4D
* Houdini
* LightWave 3D
* MASSIVE
* Moviestorm
* Nuke
* Shark 3D
* Strata 3D

* Adobe After Effects
* Adobe Photoshop
* Blackmagic Fusion
* Motion

Discontinued / Legacy  |

* Autodesk Animator
* Animo
* DrawPlus
* Fantavision
* Gryphon Software Morph
* iAd Producer
* Mediator
* SWiSH Max
* RETAS
* USAnimation

* Autodesk Softimage
* Dynamation
* Messiah
* Softimage 3D
* Swift 3D

* Adobe Director
* Avid Elastic Reality

* v
* t
* e

3D computer graphics software

Open-source|

* Blender
* LuxRender
* MakeHuman
* MeshLab
* OpenFX
* OpenSCAD
* Point Cloud Library
* POV-Ray
* Seamless3d
* Wings 3D
* YafaRay

Closed-source|

* 3D-Coat
* AC3D
* Autodesk 3ds Max
* Autodesk Alias
* Autodesk Maya
* Autodesk Mudbox
* AutoQ3D Community
* Blackmagic Fusion
* Bryce
* Carrara
* Cinema 4D
* Clara.io
* DAZ Studio
* Electric Image Animation System
* E-on Vue
* Golaem Crowd
* GigaMesh Software Framework
* Hexagon
* Houdini
* Indigo Renderer
* Kerkythea
* LightWave 3D
* MASSIVE
* Messiah
* Modo
* Nuke
* Paint 3D
* Pixar RenderMan
* Poser
* Remo 3D
* Rhinoceros 3D
* Sculptris
* Shade 3D
* Shark 3D
* Silo
* SketchUp
* Strata 3D
* Terragen
* ZBrush

Defunct|

* Amapi
* Autodesk Softimage
* Cyber Studio CAD-3D
* Dynamation
* Imagine
* N-World
* PowerAnimator
* Sculpt 3D
* Softimage 3D
* StrataVision 3D
* Swift 3D
* TrueSpace
* TurboSilver
* VistaPro

Core technologies|

* ACIS
* C3D
* HOOPS 3D
* KernelCAD
* Open Cascade Technology
* Parasolid
* Romulus
* RGK
* ShapeManager
* Teigha
* IntelliCAD

* Comparison
* Category
* List
* 3D modeling
* 3D rendering

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