You can learn the craft in either one. The choice matters less than sticking with it.
Blender
It is free, runs on modest machines and has a very large community, so help is easy to find. Many independent artists and small studios use it end to end.
Maya
It is widely used in larger film, TV and games pipelines, so it appears often in job listings. It rewards structured, technical workflows.
- Check which tool your target studios list
- Skills transfer between them: modelling, rigging and animation principles are shared
- Learn one properly before you learn the second
The best first tool is the one that helps you finish.
A practical rule
Start with whichever lets you finish projects. Switching later is far easier than starting over after giving up.
[Demo] Stand-in article written for the design. Replace it with Arena’s own article before launch (CI-46).
