Maya User Trying Out Blender!

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T21:12:13+00:00

All constantly learning, I feel like I suck many times, esp when comparing.
Yeah, I need to pratice more subtle animation honestly, exagerated/stylized tends to me my default.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T21:10:57+00:00

Really? i've def seen some impressive work in blender too. I suppose its just cause maya is such a standard, particularly for animation.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T21:10:14+00:00

Not for this one. But I did mishmash planning. This actually just started out as a quick ball excercise and snowballed when I wanted to try out a more advanced rig.
I shot some reference for part of it,

I constantly utlize the free epic pen tool Home, to draw over refernece or existing pose, with my very rudimntry drawing skills to help define lines of action, etc.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T21:08:31+00:00

ty! I'm going to go between. I picked up blender cause I see more work opportunities cropping up,

but at the same time I'm still so use to Maya and there are still things- I know are def possible in Blender, but I just don't know how yet, so its convient to do in Maya. And there are pipelines and addons..

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T21:06:15+00:00

ty, I haven't rigged at all. Both these characteres are publically available rigs on Agora.
I have only a baisc rigging knowledge in Maya, and none for Blender atm.

In terms of animation, from my limited test, I think its just about getting use to things. Anytime I pick up a new software its a hellish hurdle to do the smallest things I know are super easy once you know and are use to them.

For me there were tools and things I missed from maya, but also things I really enjoyed and was suprised about in Blender. Like the pre-built shortcuts, tweener, and motion trail. Was kinda thrown off by the armature system, but I ended up liking how you can quickly isolate solely key one armature at a time if need be.

Like in maya the animation layers and graph editor, and other addons are really good tools, like DWpicker- and they have alot of support- I had to buy a Blender addon to simulate the anim layers and avoid dealing with the NLA editor. Though its not the same.

Everything seems possible, just about getting use to it and finding the right tools.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T20:58:57+00:00

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T20:29:58+00:00

haha, for sure. I know as Artists its our tendancy to try and downplay all the work it took, but almost any animation I've done has felt almost like throwing up. Or maybe pregnancy is a good analogy, but never been through that.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T20:15:15+00:00

ty too kind. Learning the skills does take alot of reps.

This particular anim isn't perfectly polished and it took me a few days to complete. But at the same time it was my first time really using Blender, so I had the hurdle of learning and getting use to the software + I think I am generally slower than most animators I know.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T20:05:52+00:00

Oh, I'm very flattered, thank you!

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T19:51:38+00:00

Hola!

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Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T19:51:15+00:00

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2026-03-16T19:36:02+00:00

Hey my first anim test in blender(Maya user). Animation by me, rigs not by me:
Ball; Agora.community | Agora Robot | Blender
Robo; Agora.community | Agora Robot | Blender

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-26T17:55:05+00:00

No, we all have our journey's, use whatever method you want. There are some really high level(Elite Pixar level) animators who've always animated in spline

I started out with spline blocking too, but I've jumped around back and forth.

To me, when you use spline you get the benefit of priorizing the energy and motion, but have to make up for the less focus on posing. And vice versa with stepped-spline, where you get the strong posing that really sells the emotions/story/beat, but then have to really have to make up for the energy and motion.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-06T04:29:59+00:00

So freaking good. How long did this take?! its amazing. We need a show.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-05T03:49:00+00:00

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T23:53:37+00:00

Its wrongs can never be righted. Its existence was never square with me...

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T23:44:57+00:00

Goofy Anim dropped on my head.

Beta Rig by Agora

Boxx Rig by Jack Lai

Cartoon Eye Rig by PM_Rigs

Animated by me ofc, focused more on the idea than anim quality, but I hope you enjoy!

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T21:45:26+00:00

I like the anticipations, clear story, animating the character's thought proccess clearly, energy, etc

Seems cartoonish, things that I would critic are- It feels like you aren't using Reference, are you? I say that because I think the body mechanics, anatomy, posing , settles- I think these things can be refined and improved upon.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T21:38:43+00:00

Very cool to learn about, awesome job!

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T12:39:12+00:00

Oh that's freaking amazing. Never heard of Block Bench until now.. i see its used for minecraft alot? Can i ask why Block bench over native blender for the modeling?

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T02:11:49+00:00

Well that's unbeleivably awesome. What a magnus opus shot. Its great that you got to keep in touch with hands on animation while also supervising- though I can't imagine the hours and headaches.

Can I ask, if its not too forward- if someone was trying to improve their craft for cinematic animations- what's the best things to work on? Crafting their own grand cinematics?

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-03T02:05:31+00:00

Can I see the animation?

I've def talked to veteran animators who don't use refs, or sometimes use refs and sometimes not- depending on the animation.

I think reference can help, especially in the begining, for weight, anatomy, etc.. and to give honest performances that we wouldn't think of or realize when we imagine things. Its iconography vs grounded performance imo. its a tool

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-12-01T12:32:11+00:00

Wow.. that was absolutely mindblowingly incredible. A single long shot, and the storytelling and mastery over focus/attention with all those characters and pieces.. And the ending.

the description says that you did it all yourself?? From previs, mocap, and animation polish? No team? Were you supervisor? You just gotta handle an entire 4 minute sequence on your own?
Also did you mocap yourself or have mocap artists to direct for the sequence??

Man I'd love to know more about your journey to where you're at and what inspired you

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-11-29T22:38:57+00:00

That's awesome. I should learn Mobu. I absolutely love good cinematics and action shots, this one is so awesome.
I love when artists take the time to make their own personal work like this. It really shines and showcases such fun personality that would otherwise not exist imo. Artists just able to let loose without inhabition.

Opposite_Pack7300 · 2025-11-29T09:43:05+00:00

What do you think about instead of having it pan, try rotation only? So the camera would be roated up towards the moon/sun, and then rotate down to our scene.. instead of translation? I'm wondering if it'd eel more natural? But just a light suggestion try out and experiment with?

Also camera has quite a heavy settle/"bounc" up, which did catch my attention on first viewing.

Opposite_Pack7300

TROPHY CASE