Learning Maya for 3D animation is a great choice as it's one of the industry-standard tools used for creating high-quality animations. Here’s a structured approach to getting started with Maya 3D animation:

Getting Started with Maya 3D Animation

1. Introduction to Maya (1-2 Weeks)

• Overview of Maya:

  • What is Maya? Its role in the industry
  • Interface layout: menus, panels, and workspace setup

• Basic Navigation:

  • Moving, rotating, and zooming in the 3D view
  • Basic scene manipulation: creating, selecting, and deleting objects

• Basic Modeling:

  • Introduction to primitive shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder)
  • Simple transformations: move, scale, rotate

2. Basic 3D Modeling (2-3 Weeks)

• Understanding Polygons:

  • Polygon modeling basics: vertices, edges, and faces
  • Creating and modifying basic shapes

• Advanced Modeling Techniques:

  • Extruding, beveling, and edge loops
  • Working with modifiers and sub-division surfaces

• Project:

  • Create a simple model (e.g., a basic object or character)

3. Texturing and Materials (2 Weeks)

• Introduction to UV Mapping:

  • Basics of UV mapping and unwrapping
  • Applying and adjusting UVs

• Materials and Shaders:

  • Creating and applying materials
  • Understanding shaders and texture maps (diffuse, specular, bump)

• Project:

  • Texture your previous model with UV mapping and materials

4. Lighting and Rendering (2 Weeks)

• Basic Lighting Setup:

  • Types of lights: point, directional, spot, and area lights
  • Adjusting light intensity, color, and shadows

• Rendering Basics:

  • Introduction to Maya’s rendering engines (Arnold, Mental Ray)
  • Render settings: resolution, quality, and output

• Project:

  • Light and render your model in a scene

5. Introduction to Animation (3 Weeks)

• Basic Animation Principles:

  • Understanding keyframes and timelines
  • Basic animation principles: squash and stretch, timing, anticipation

• Animating Objects:

  • Simple object animations (e.g., bouncing ball, moving objects)

• Project:

  • Animate a basic scene with a moving object

6. Character Rigging and Animation (3 Weeks)

• Character Rigging Basics:

  • Introduction to rigs and skeletons
  • Creating and adjusting rigs for simple characters

• Animating Characters:

  • Basic character animation: walking, running
  • Using animation tools and techniques for character movement

• Project:

  • Rig and animate a basic character model

7. Advanced Animation Techniques (3 Weeks)

• Complex Animations:

  • Advanced techniques: facial expressions, complex movements
  • Using Maya’s Graph Editor and Dope Sheet

• Physics and Dynamics:

  • Introduction to Maya’s physics engines (e.g., particles, dynamics)

• Project:

  • Create a complex animated scene incorporating advanced techniques

8. Final Project and Showreel (2 Weeks)

• Creating a Showreel:

  • Selecting and refining your best work
  • Assembling a showreel and creating a portfolio

• Project:

  • Complete a final project that showcases your skills

Additional Resources

• Online Tutorials:

  • YouTube Channels: Gnomon, Maya Learning Channel
  • Websites: Pluralsight, LinkedIn Learning, Udemy

• Books:

  • "Maya 2024: The Complete Guide" by Kelly Murdock
  • "Mastering Autodesk Maya 2024" by Autodesk

• Forums and Communities:

  • CGSociety, ArtStation, SimplyMaya