Why do all use Maya in animation and not Blender?

The preference for Maya over Blender in animation, especially in professional settings, is influenced by a variety of factors that contribute to its widespread adoption and industry standard status.

Industry Standard and Job Market

Adoption in Professional Studios: Maya is widely adopted in professional studios, particularly in the film, television, and game industries. This makes it a higher standard for many jobs.

Training and Certification: Formal education programs and certifications often focus on Maya. This creates a workforce that is more familiar with Maya, thus making it a preferred choice for professionals.

Specific Features and Tools

Advanced Animation Tools: Maya offers advanced character animation tools such as the HumanIK rigging system and sophisticated rigging options which are favored by some animators.

Simulation Capabilities: While Blender has robust simulation tools, Maya’s Bifrost and nDynamics systems are highly regarded for complex simulations.

Pipeline Integration: Maya integrates seamlessly with other Autodesk products and popular VFX and game development pipelines, making it more versatile for workflows in professional environments.

Established Workflows and Pipelines

Existing Infrastructure: Many studios have established workflows, custom scripts, and plugins tailored to Maya. Switching to Blender could disrupt these workflows and require significant retraining and redevelopment of tools.

Legacy Projects: Studios with a backlog of projects created in Maya might find it challenging to switch to Blender without compatibility issues, making it less flexible for existing work.

Support and Reliability

Technical Support: Autodesk provides professional support services for Maya which can be crucial for studios needing reliable assistance. Blender relies on community support which, while extensive, may not meet the needs of larger studios.

Stability and Updates: While Blender has frequent updates, some studios prefer the stability of Maya’s release cycle and the assurance of Autodesk’s long-term support and development.

Plugin Ecosystem

Third-Party Plugins: Maya has a rich ecosystem of third-party plugins that extend its functionality. This means it is extremely versatile for certain specialized tasks and offers more advanced customizations.

Proprietary Software Integration: Maya often integrates better with proprietary software used in various industries, providing a smoother workflow and compatibility.

Perception and Tradition

Brand Recognition: Autodesk has established itself as a leading brand in the 3D software industry, which influences decision-makers due to its reputation.

Tradition and Familiarity: Long-time users and professionals may prefer Maya simply because they are accustomed to its interface and workflow.

Specialized Needs

Customization and Scripting: While Blender supports Python scripting, Maya's MEL and Python scripting capabilities are often seen as more mature and versatile for complex customizations and automation.

Specific Industry Requirements: Certain industries or projects may have specific requirements that Maya handles more effectively than Blender. For example, specific gaming engines or VFX software may require Maya's integration for optimal results.

While Blender is gaining popularity due to its powerful features, open-source nature, and no-cost barrier, it is still perceived as less common in high-end production environments compared to Maya. However, many independent artists and smaller studios prefer Blender for its versatility and accessibility.

Ultimately, the choice between Maya and Blender depends on the specific needs of the project and the preferences of the team. The key factors include industry standard, advanced features, integration with other software, support and resources, customization, and established workflows.