Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Maya

Company type	Software
Industry	Computer graphics, 3D modeling, animation
Predecessor	Alias Systems Corporation
Founded	February 1998 (1998-02)
Founder	Alias Systems Corporation
Fate	Acquired by Autodesk in October 2005
Area served	Worldwide
Products	3D computer graphics software
Owner	Autodesk
Parent	Autodesk
Website	www.autodesk.com/products/maya

Autodesk Maya, often referred to simply as Maya (; ), is a 3D computer graphics software compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. Initially created by Alias Systems Corporation and currently under Autodesk's ownership, it is utilized for generating assets in interactive 3D environments such as video games, animated movies, television productions, and visual effects.

History

Maya began as an animation tool that integrated code from several sources: Wavefront Technologies' The Advanced Visualizer, Thomson Digital Image's Explore, Alias’s PowerAnimator, and Alias Sketch!. These IRIX-based projects were consolidated and enhanced with additional animation capabilities under the codename Maya. During the development of Dinosaur (2000), Walt Disney Feature Animation worked closely with the development team, influencing the design of Maya’s highly customizable user interface—a significant factor contributing to its widespread adoption in the industry.

Following Silicon Graphics Inc.'s acquisition of Alias and Wavefront Technologies in 1995, Wavefront's technologies were incorporated into Maya. This move was a strategic response to Microsoft’s acquisition of Softimage 3D in 1994. The merged entity was branded as "Alias|Wavefront".

Initially, Maya employed Tcl for scripting purposes but later adopted the Maya Embedded Language (MEL) after merging with Wavefront; MEL was derived from Sophia, a component of Wavefront’s Dynamation software.

The first official release, Maya 1.0, debuted in February 1998. After several corporate acquisitions, Autodesk purchased Maya in October 2005 and renamed it Autodesk Maya, although the product is still commonly known simply as "Maya".

Release history

Major Version Name	Release Date	Sub-versions	Key Updates	Supported Platforms
A|W Maya 1.0	February 1998	1.0.1 (June 1998)		SGI IRIX Windows
A|W Maya 1.5	October 1998		Available exclusively on IRIX	SGI IRIX
A|W Maya 2.0	June 1999			SGI IRIX Windows
A|W Maya 2.5	November 1999	2.5.2 (March 2000)
A|W Maya 3.0	February 2000	3.0.1 (January 2001)	Introduced first Linux-compatible version	SGI IRIX Windows Linux
A|W Maya 3.5	October 2001	3.5.1 (September 2002)	Released solely for macOS	macOS
A|W Maya 4.0	June 2001	4.0.2 (May 2002)	No macOS edition available	SGI IRIX Windows Linux
A|W Maya 4.5	July 2002			SGI IRIX Windows Linux macOS
A|W Maya 5.0	May 2003	5.0.1 (October 2003)	Added Mental Ray renderer integration
Alias Maya 6.0	May 2004	6.0.1 (August 2004)
Alias Maya 6.5	January 2005	6.5.1 (December 2005)	Last version supporting IRIX platform
Alias Maya 7.0	August 2005	7.0.1 (December 2005)		Windows Linux macOS
Autodesk Maya 8.0	August 2006		First release under Autodesk branding and initial support for 64-bit systems
Autodesk Maya 8.5	January 2007	Service Pack 1 (June 2007)	Introduced Intel-based macOS compatibility, Python API addition, and Nucleus Solver
Autodesk Maya 2008 ver. 9.0	September 2007	SP1, ver. 9.0.1 (March 2008) Extension packs late 2007–early 2008	Adopted year-based naming convention for clearer market positioning
Autodesk Maya 2009 ver. 10	August 2008	Service Pack 1, ver.10 (April 2009)	'Complete' and 'Unlimited' editions merged to streamline product lineup
Autodesk Maya 2010	August 2009
Autodesk Maya 2011	April 2010 Numerous service packs and subscription advantage packs released during the year Implemented PyMel scripting and transitioned to a Qt-based user interface for improved customization and usability
Autodesk Maya 2012 March 2011 Service packs and hotfixes rolled out through early 2012 Integrated Nvidia PhysX engine, Viewport 2.0 technology, and Python API 2.0 for enhanced performance and development flexibility
Autodesk Maya 2013 March 2012 Multiple updates and fixes throughout the year Added NHair system, Bullet Physics integration, Alembic file format support, and Node Editor to expand simulation capabilities and pipeline efficiency
Autodesk Maya 2014 March 2013 Mid-year service pack releases focused on stability improvements and incremental enhancements
Autodesk Maya 2015 August 2014 Service Pack 2 issued in May 2014 Upgraded scripting environment to Python 2.7.x for better compatibility
Autodesk Maya 2016 March 2015 Multiple extensions and service packs delivered through May 2019 Introduced XGen for procedural grooming workflows and Bifrost visual programming system for effects creation, advancing content development tools
Autodesk Maya 2017 July 2016 Five updates released until November 2017 Focused on refining core functionalities and enhancing performance
Autodesk Maya 2018 July 2017 Several incremental updates up to April 2020 Launched MASH toolkit for motion graphics workflows to broaden animation market reach
Autodesk Maya 2019 January 2019 Ongoing updates through April 2020 Emphasized pipeline optimization and software stability
Autodesk Maya 2020 December 2019 Updates continued through December 2020 Maintained leadership position with consistent feature advancements
Autodesk Maya 2022 March 2021 Multiple releases including support for Universal Scene Description (USD), OpenColorIO color management, and Python version updated to 3.7.x Enhanced interoperability alongside modernization of scripting environment suited for enterprise use cases
Autodesk Maya 2023 September 2022 Updates introduced Boolean operation overhaul and Sweep mesh functionality Improved modeling tools aligned with evolving industry requirements
Autodesk Maya 2024 March 2023 Incorporated LookdevX renderer integration, Substance plugin support, and native Apple silicon compatibility Optimized performance on current hardware platforms expanding creative industry adoption
Autodesk Maya 2025 August 2024 Latest updates continue to evolve the platform focusing on improving user experience
Autodesk Maya 2026 March 2025 Upcoming release planned with OpenPBR materials enabled by default, aligning with physically based rendering standards widely adopted across the industry

Overview

Maya is a software tool designed for creating 3D models and assets utilized across the film, television, video game, and advertising sectors. Initially launched on the IRIX platform, its support was discontinued after version 6.5 in August 2005. Up until August 2008, Maya was available in two editions, "Complete" and "Unlimited," before being merged into a unified package.

Users work within a virtual environment known as a scene to build and modify digital content. These scenes can be stored in multiple file types, with the primary format being .mb (Maya Binary). Maya operates on a node graph architecture, where each component in the scene is represented as nodes with adjustable properties. The visual layout of the scene depends on these interconnected nodes, which are governed by a dependency graph and a directed acyclic graph.

Assets produced using Maya are compatible with game engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity.

Industry usage

Maya gained significant traction in the film industry starting with Disney and The Secret Lab’s production of Dinosaur. Alias|Wavefront earned an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 2003, acknowledging Maya’s involvement in notable 2002 films like The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Spider-Man, Ice Age, and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. By 2015, every film nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards had utilized Maya, and it was featured in all winning entries since 1997.

Leading studios such as Illumination Studios Paris and Walt Disney Animation Studios depend on Maya for their animated projects, including titles like Frozen and Frozen II.

Awards

On March 1, 2003, Alias was honored with an Academy Award for Technical Achievement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its work on developing Maya.

In 2005, Jos Stam, while at Alias|Wavefront, shared an Academy Award for Technical Achievement alongside Edwin Catmull and Tony DeRose for their creation and application of subdivision surfaces.

On February 8, 2008, an Academy Award for Technical Achievement was presented to Duncan Brinsmead, Jos Stam, Julia Pakalns, and Martin Werner in recognition of their design and implementation of the Maya Fluid Effects system.