Autodesk Maya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Autodesk Maya

Original author(s)	Alias Systems Corporation
Developer(s)	Autodesk, Inc.
Initial release	February 1, 1998; 27 years ago (1998-02-01)
Stable release	2024.2 / November 2023; 1 year ago (2023-11)
Written in	C++, MEL, Python, C#
Operating system	RHEL/Rocky Linux 8.6 Windows 10 or later macOS Big Sur or later
Platform	x86-64, Apple silicon
Available in	English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese
Type	3D computer graphics
License	Trialware

Autodesk Maya, often called just Maya, is a powerful computer program. It helps artists create amazing 3D computer graphics. You can use Maya on computers that run Windows, macOS, or Linux.

This software was first made by a company called Alias. Now, it is owned and improved by Autodesk. Maya is used to build characters and worlds for video games. It also helps make animated movies, TV shows, and cool visual effects.

History of Maya

Maya started from different animation programs. These programs included The Advanced Visualizer and PowerAnimator. Developers combined these tools and added new animation features. The project was given the secret name "Maya."

Disney's Help with Maya

Walt Disney Feature Animation worked closely with Maya's creators. This happened when Disney was making their movie Dinosaur. Disney wanted the program to be easy for artists to change. They wanted to make it fit their own way of working. This idea helped make Maya very flexible and popular. Its design allowed artists to customize it easily.

Maya's Early Development

In the beginning, Maya used a scripting language called Tcl. A scripting language lets you write commands to control the software. Later, after some companies merged, Maya switched to a new language. This new language was called Maya Embedded Language (MEL). MEL was based on another scripting language called Sophia.

Maya version 1.0 was released in February 1998. In 2005, Autodesk bought the company that made Maya. After that, the software was renamed Autodesk Maya. But most people still just call it "Maya."

What Maya Does

Maya is a program used to create 3D models and scenes. These creations are used in movies, TV shows, games, and advertisements. When it first came out, Maya worked on a special computer system called IRIX. However, support for IRIX stopped in 2006.

Working in Maya

Users create a virtual workspace inside Maya. This workspace is called a scene. In a scene, you can build and change your 3D creations. You can save your scenes in different file types. The main file type for Maya is .mb.

Maya uses a special system called a node graph architecture. Think of it like a network of connected boxes. Each part of your 3D scene is a "node" or a box. Each node has its own settings and can be changed. All the nodes are connected. They depend on each other to create the final image. This network helps artists see how everything is linked together.

Maya and Games

Today, 3D models made in Maya can be used in popular game engines. Game engines are programs that help make video games. Some examples are Unreal Engine and Unity.

How Industries Use Maya

Maya is used a lot in the film industry. Its use became very well known after the movie Dinosaur came out in 2000.

Maya in Famous Movies

In 2003, the company that made Maya received a special award. It was an Academy Award for Technical Achievement. This award recognized Maya's important role in filmmaking. The software was used in many famous movies. These included The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Spider-Man. It was also used in Ice Age and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

By 2015, a magazine called VentureBeat said something amazing. They reported that all ten movies considered for the Best Visual Effects Academy Award used Autodesk Maya. They also said Maya had been used on every winning film since 1997. This shows how important Maya is in making movie magic!

Awards for Maya

Maya and its creators have won several special awards. These awards recognize their amazing work in technology for movies.

Technical Achievement Awards

On March 1, 2003, the company Alias received an Academy Award for Technical Achievement. This award came from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was for their scientific and technical work in developing Maya software.

In 2005, Jos Stam, who worked for Alias|Wavefront, shared an Academy Award. He shared it with Edwin Catmull and Tony DeRose. They won for inventing and using something called "subdivision surfaces." This is a way to create smooth 3D shapes.

Later, on February 8, 2008, more Maya creators received an Academy Award. Duncan Brinsmead, Jos Stam, Julia Pakalns, and Martin Werner were honored. They won for designing and making the Maya Fluid Effects system. This system helps create realistic water, smoke, and fire in movies.

See Also

In Spanish: Autodesk Maya para niños