Bring complex CG characters and worlds to life

3D animation uses computer graphics to make objects look like they’re moving in 3-dimensional space. Artists use 3D modeling software to build the objects. Next comes rigging, a virtual representation of an object or character’s skeleton. Animators pose the rig at strategic points so it appears to move. Newer methods of animation involve motion capture (US Site), which records an actor’s live movements for digital animation.

Autodesk offers a complete suite of tools for creating high-quality animated content.

• 3ds Max offers a rich and flexible toolset for modeling 3D assets and environments.
• From animating attributes of any object to transforming joints and bones, IK handles, and models over time, Maya has the animation toolset to bring 3D assets to life.
• Arnold is integrated with Maya and 3ds Max, enabling you to see high-quality previews and iterate changes quickly.
• Using MotionBuilder, you can capture, edit, and play back complex character animations.
• ShotGrid streamlines workflows for animation studios by unifying production management, creative reviews, and pipelines.

Autodesk software excels at making collaboration on 3D animation projects more efficient. The Media & Entertainment Collection includes all the tools necessary to build a powerful and scalable 3D animation pipeline. Add ShotGrid production management software to simplify animation reviews and project management and unify geographically dispersed teams.

Autodesk software drives efficiency in 3D animation workflows. From 3ds Max and Maya for modeling and animation to Arnold (US Site) for rendering and ShotGrid for production management, Autodesk software streamlines the entire process, from asset creation through final output.

Recent updates to both 3ds Max and Maya have focused heavily on helping animators work more efficiently. For example, Cached Playback in Maya drastically increases the speed of animation playback by enabling you to evaluate iterations of animation right in the viewport, rather than producing multiple playblasts.

Arnold is the default renderer in both 3ds Max and Maya, allowing you to see high-quality previews of animations and iterate changes fast.

Motion capture is the process where actors’ physical movements are captured and then recreated on digital character models. This allows actors to give realistic movement to CG creatures.

You can generate motion capture data from a live actor and import it into MotionBuilder. MotionBuilder provides animators and directors with an interactive environment for fine-tuning character movement.

Rokoko’s Motion Library is now also a native plugin in Maya, providing access to thousands of affordable, high-quality character animations from the world’s top motion capture studios. The plugin allows you to search, preview, and purchase motion assets natively, right in Maya.

3ds Max and Maya are both used by creative studios around the world for animation, modeling, visual effects, and rendering. 3ds Max offers a robust toolset for modeling, intuitive texturing and shading, and high-quality rendering while Maya offers powerful tools for character creation, lifelike animation, and detailed simulations. Read more about the differences between 3ds Max and Maya (US Site).