6 Best Maya Tutorials For Beginners in 2024
Maya is one of the best 3D software used by studios for modeling and animation all over the world. It has a large library of animation tools that you can use to create movies and video games.
Although it was one of the last 3D software to come on the market compared to the other large 3D packages we have today, it has found its place in many industries such as VFX and video game development studios as it has not been taken out of thin air.
It is the result of the many advances in animation technology and many other events that occurred before Maya became what it is today. It has been a leader in the animation and film industry for several years and continues to be used by the world's leading artists to deliver rich and innovative digital content.
Although it had a major impact on the VFX industry, it also plays an important role in the game development industry.
Keeping this in mind, here at Coursesity, we have curated some of the Best Online Maya Tutorials and Courses with certification. Hoping that you will find the best Maya tutorial for you that will help in enhancing your knowledge & skills in the field of modeling and animation.
Top Maya 3D Tutorials and Courses List
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1. Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya
Learn everything you need for 3D animation in Autodesk Maya: Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Rigging, Animation, and Dynamics.
In this Maya tutorial, you will learn how to:
- use Autodesk Maya to model, texture, rig, animate, dynamics, light, and render.
- build and design your 3D objects.
- animate your 3D objects with keyframes.
- perform modeling, shading, texturing, and lighting beautiful designs.
- render your projects for high-quality playback.
- Rigg a 3D character for animation.
- simulate dynamic effects like water, cloth, and smoke.
- put together an entire 3D animated scene.
Throughout this entire course, you'll be working on a 'Dia de Los Muertos' inspired scene with a complete animated skeleton. By the end of the course, you will be inspired by your skills, and confident in using Autodesk Maya.
You can take Maya for Beginners: Complete Guide to 3D Animation in Maya certification course on Udemy.
- Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 ( 7,943 Rating total)
- Duration: 26 h 5 m
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
2. Maya Essential Training Online Class
Learn to create high-quality 3D models and animations in Maya 2022. Learn core Maya skills—modeling, texturing, rendering, and animation—in a real-world project-based workflow.
The Maya tutorial includes:
- The Maya Interface
- Select and Manipulate Objects
- Organize Maya Scenes
- Create Polygonal Models
- Modeling Polygonal Meshes
- Additional Modeling Techniques
- Work with Curves
- Create Materials
- Apply Materials and Textures
- Render in Arnold
The course covers the core skills of Maya, such as modeling, texturing, rendering, and animation, in a project-based workflow that applies equally well to film, motion graphics, and game design.
You will learn how to select and manipulate objects, organize scenes, and customize the interface. In the next section, you will discuss polygonal design, creating and refining meshes, sculpting, and NURBS modeling.
Additionally, you will learn how to create and apply materials to surfaces - adding color, texture, and reflectivity. Then integrate cameras, lighting, and depth-of-field effects using the Arnold for Maya renderer.
Finally, the Maya course will show how to add movement and life to your work with the Maya animation tools.
You can take Maya 2022 Essential Training Online Class certification course on LinkedIn Learning.
- Course rating: 1,536 total enrollments
- Duration: 11 h
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
3. 3D Modeling & Animation with Maya
Learn how to create anything you want in Maya.
In this Maya tutorial, you will learn:
- Polygonal Modeling, Texturing, Rigging, Animation, Lighting, and Rendering in Maya.
In this Maya course, you will learn how to use Maya. You will start by learning polygonal modeling, then you will learn texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering. Plus, you will also be doing simple character and creature modeling & animation.
You can take 3D Modeling & Animation with Maya certification course on Udemy.
- Course rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 (455 Rating total)
- Duration: 11 h
- Certificate: No certificate
4. Maya for Beginners: Complete 3D Animation Masterclass
Comprehensive Foundational Guide: Fundamental Body Mechanics, Autodesk, Unreal Engine, Unity, Game Development & Design.
In this Maya tuorial, you will learn the following:
- how to animate with keyframes using Autodesk Maya.
- complete fundamentals of animation principles.
- importance of the bouncing ball with weight.
- fundamentals of motion capture and how to edit motion data.
- industry game standard animations: Walk, Run, Jump, and Idle.
- exporting your animations for game engines such as Unreal and Unity.
- how to create industry-standard animations for demo reels to apply for jobs
- hotkeys and best practices to succeed with Maya based on industry experience
In this Maya tutorial, you will be learning the fundamentals of Character Animation and game development. (specifically for the Unreal engine, but this method will also work for other game engines such as Unity).
Here, you will cover the basics starting with the Ball Bounce, Pendulum, and how to apply the 12 principles of animation to the human form. You will apply all the fundamental aspects taught to create fully in-game polished animations of Idle, Walk, Run, and Jump.
You can take Maya for Beginners: Complete 3D Animation Masterclass certification course on Udemy.
- Course rating: 4.3 out of 5.0 (88 Rating total)
- Duration: 13 h 5 m
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
5. Maya Fundamentals: UVs, Materials, and Textures
If you're wanting to build on your Maya skills, then this course is for you. In this Maya course, you will learn to add detail and color to your models through UV Mapping, Materials, and Texturing in Maya,
The Maya tutorial includes:
- UV Mapping Basics
- Laying Out UVs
- Materials
- Textures
- Linear Workflow
Initially, you’ll learn what UVs are and the purpose they serve. Next, you'll discover how to define a custom UV layout for parts of the asset and how to create and apply surface materials.
Finally, you'll explore how to connect various texture maps to those materials. By the end of this course, you will have a great foundation of Maya knowledge to build on as well as a completed project.
You can take Maya 2019 Fundamentals: UVs, Materials, and Textures certification course on Pluralsight.
- Course rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 (30 Rating total)
- Duration : 3 h 44 m
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
6. Maya Fundamentals: Dynamics, Lighting, and Rendering
Maya is the industry-standard digital content creation application in both film and games. Grasping the fundamentals is imperative for any artist bound for careers in these industries. This course will help get you started.
The Maya tutorial includes:
- Dust Dynamics in Maya
- Repulsor Exhaust Dynamics
- Basic Lighting and Rendering Concepts
- Lighting and Rendering the Drone Scene
In this Maya course, you’ll gain a fundamental knowledge of dynamics, lighting, and rendering. First, you’ll learn dynamics, focusing on Maya’s nParticle system. Next, you’ll explore lighting using both Maya lights and Arnold-specific lights. Finally, you’ll discover how to render a scene with animation.
When you’re finished with this Maya tutorial, you’ll have a foundational knowledge of Maya that will help you as you move forward to master this digital content creation application.
You can take Maya Fundamentals: Dynamics, Lighting, and Rendering certification course on Pluralsight.
- Course rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 (13 Rating total)
- Duration: 4 h
- Certificate: Certificate on completion
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