- Autodesk announced new capabilities coming to Maya, 3ds Max, Flow Production Tracking, and Arnold that address specific time-consuming parts of animation and visual effects production.
- With MotionMaker, set a motion path, hit generate, and get stylized animation in seconds that you can iterate on.
- MotionMaker in Maya adds a Bring Your Own Data feature, allowing teams to train custom generative motion models using their own rigs and animation datasets.
- The training data can include stylized motion-capture performances or hand-keyed animation.
- 3ds Max introduces 3D Gaussian Splats (3DGS), a powerful 3D data format that accurately represents real-world objects and environments.
- 3ds Max goes beyond simply displaying 3DGS by making it fully editable, giving artists complete creative control and the ability to integrate captured data into traditional modeling, animation, and scene-building workflows.
Autodesk's latest tools aim to revolutionize animation and VFX production by addressing common challenges faced by artists. The new MotionMaker feature in Maya allows teams to train custom generative motion models using their own data, enhancing efficiency and creativity.123
The Bring Your Own Data feature enables artists to input stylized motion-capture performances or hand-keyed animations, allowing for tailored motion generation. Once trained, these models can produce foundational motion that artists can refine using familiar tools like the Graph Editor and Time Editor.4
For small teams, this innovation reduces repetitive tasks, freeing up time for storytelling without compromising quality. Sheridan College's SIRT has successfully utilized MotionMaker to capture stylized performances and train custom models.
In addition, 3ds Max introduces 3D Gaussian Splats (3DGS), a versatile 3D data format that accurately represents real-world objects. This feature not only allows for display but also full editability, giving artists creative control to integrate captured data into traditional workflows.5
With native 3DGS rendering in Arnold, users can adjust lighting, shading, and color for precise final renders. The Flow Production Tracking system enhances collaboration by providing a unified review experience, enabling real-time feedback and version comparisons across distributed teams.
Overall, Autodesk's advancements at SIGGRAPH 2026 promise to streamline workflows and enhance the creative process for animation and VFX professionals.
“MotionMaker in Maya now allows teams to train custom generative motion models using their own rigs and animation datasets, building on support for biped, canine, and horse motion. Separately, 3ds Max introduces fully editable 3D Gaussian Splats for integrating captured real-world environments into traditional modeling and animation workflows.”
