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3D Animation is tough to get into, besides making my own on Source Film Maker and Blender, What would be a good program to learn?

I have been learning to animate in Source Film Maker and have done a little of Blender, the two best free programs I could get my hands on. I still want to learn more about programs that the bigger companies use such as Dreamworks, Disney, Microsoft, etc.

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Alec’s Answer

Hey Dorian! You're absolutely making the right choice by diving into Blender—it's an incredible program to learn and grow with! Its robust features rival those of more expensive and complex 3D programs used by professionals, and guess what? Many professionals indeed rely on Blender. As you master the texturing, rendering, and modeling tools, you'll set yourself up for success in exploring other programs too.

Here are a few more exciting programs that you might find interesting:

1. Autodesk Maya: A powerhouse for 3D animation and modeling, Maya is widely used in the film and video game industries. Get ready to discover extensive tools for character animation, rendering, and simulation with this software.

2. 3ds Max: Another popular Autodesk creation, 3ds Max is a go-to choice for architectural visualization, product design, and video game development. Embrace the world of 3D modeling, animation, and rendering through this dynamic software.

3. Cinema 4D: Developed by Maxon, Cinema 4D is a professional 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software. Expect its amazing features to fuel your passion for motion graphics, visual effects, and product visualization.

4. ZBrush: A digital sculpting marvel, ZBrush helps artists create highly detailed 3D models, widely implemented in the film, video game, and toy industries.

Keep pursuing your passion, Dorian! Remember that your creative journey will be full of discovery, growth, and accomplishment. I'm here to help and support you every step of the way! Best of luck! – Alec
Thank you comment icon Thank you, I will check those pieces of software out Dorian
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T.J.’s Answer

Hello Dorian!

Maya is a great software to learn, especially since you you want to enter the 3D Animation industry!

To echo what other's said, it is commonly used in video game design, television series, and films. While the features are complex, mastering Maya will give you strong technical skills for these industries.

Another software I'd recommend - since you mentioned DreamWorks - is MoonRay.

Recently, DreamWorks made their production renderer open-source. So, you can use their software for FREE!
Here's the link to MoonRay: https://openmoonray.org/

Both Maya & MoonRay would set you up well, especially for top studios.

Also, once you know how to render in one 3D program, you can transfer your skills into other programs very easily (because you'll have that muscle memory).

Sending you encouragement as you learn 3D :)
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for sharing the software with me, I will definitely take a look at MoonRay Dorian
Thank you comment icon You're welcome! T.J. Worthy
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Jamie’s Answer

If you're focus is solely on animation I would download the learning edition of Maya.

Check out this link
https://www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software/overview?sorting=featured&filters=individual

You may need to "prove" you are a student so you might need a teacher or some sort of documentation to help with that (it's been ages since I was a student so I don't remember :) ) but the education edition is free and will give you all the same things the full edition gives you.

Maya is still the industry standard for animation. NOW... Blender is awesome and it's being used more and more... BUT if you're looking to land a job in animation, being experienced in Maya will go a lot further to helping you with that.

Good luck!
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Devin’s Answer

Hi Dorian, you have some great advice already but I thought I would add Unity to the list of software to learn (also free). You can go a long way with the free software available these days (I frequently use Blender for professional work), and I firmly believe you can create an animation reel that will get you hired without spending a fortune on software. As someone pointed out, once you learn one animation program, transitioning to another one is not that difficult. Employers like Pixar and Dreamworks will be more interested in your reel than what software you currently know how to use.
You are very wise to seek advice at your age and I wish you great success in your future career!
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Mihaela’s Answer

Hey Dorian!

Firstly, it's fantastic that you're exploring different animation and film industry aspects. In addition to the advice provided above, I highly encourage you to check out Nuke. While not specifically an animation software, Nuke is an incredibly powerful and popular tool for compositing and editing within the cinema world. As you continue your journey, remember that expanding your skillset and mastering various tools opens doors and helps unleash your full potential.

Best of luck, Dorian! You're going to do great things!
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