

Having been around in the industry for quite some time, Maya’s many plugins have stood the test of time to be essential and valuable for creating high-quality theatrical animation. The rendering tools within Maya are remarkably robust and save quite a bit of time. The interface for Blender has made vast improvements over time that has allowed it to be one of the friendliest of work environments.

Winner: Blender.Thanks to a host of improvements, Blender’s animation process is relatively smooth when it comes to getting your rigged models moving.

Winner: Maya.With a host of different plugins to aid in the process, Maya’s intricate rigging system offers excellent range and control. The surface and texturing tools are just a bit more simplified in Blender than in Maya. While Blender’s modeling environment may take some getting used to at first, its process for creating models is a relative breeze. Though Maya offers a wealth of industry-standard features, Blender stands tall as the superior program not just for its cheaper cost (free is a good price) but for the friendly interface, a multitude of tools, and ease of use.
