Should Animators Learn Blender, Maya, or Both?

Should Animators Learn Blender, Maya, or Both? If you’re just starting out in animation, one of the first big questions is: Which software should I learn? For most students, that means choosing between Autodesk Maya and Blender. Both are powerful, both are widely used, and both have strengths — but the right choice depends on your goals.

Maya: Still The Industry Standard
Maya is still the key software in most major animation and VFX studios.  If your dream is to work at places like Pixar, DreamWorks, or Framestore, then knowledge of Maya is essential.  I first learned Maya back in 1997 on "The Iron Giant", and it's still basically the same piece of kit - but with a lot more buttons. 

Tutorials at Animation Apprentice

Recruiters expect to see Maya on your CV, and most professional pipelines are built around it. It's the software I personally know best, and all our tutorials at Animation Apprentice are built around Maya. 

Blender: Free, Flexible, and Growing Fast
Blender, meanwhile, has exploded in popularity in recent years.  Blender is open-source, free to download, and constantly evolving.  Indie studios, freelancers, and even some big productions are adopting Blender because it’s cost-effective and powerful. Plus, it’s easier for beginners who don’t want to commit to expensive subscriptions. The downside of Blender is this: because the global talent pool still primarily uses Maya, big productions still tend to run Maya for their pipelines. 

So, Which Should You Learn?
If your aim is a career in big studios: Learn Maya first. It’s the industry standard. If you’re freelancing, indie, or testing the waters: Blender is a brilliant entry point.

Best of both worlds:
Learning both is ideal. The principles of animation are the same, and knowing two pipelines makes you more versatile.

In the end, don’t get stuck worrying too much about software.  Employers hire you for your animation skills, not the buttons you can push.  Software changes — good animation doesn’t.

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.