by blenderVfxMaster·Workflow
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This bridge depends on a local Autodesk Maya 2018 or newer install and mayapy.exe, and is currently Windows only, so confirm your setup before relying on it. A portion of proceeds is donated to the Blender Foundation.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.mb .ma) handles Maya's native .mb and .ma files from within the Blender interface, so you can import and export them without manually launching Maya. It leverages Maya's Python environment (mayapy.exe) in the background to read and convert Maya-native assets. A local installation of Autodesk Maya 2018 or newer is required, though Maya itself does not need to be opened during conversion.
On the asset side, it transfers 3D models with geometry and UVs, animation covering both rigged and keyframe-based data, and standard materials via FBX, where complex Maya shader networks may need manual adjustment. Character assets including rigged meshes, skeletons, and skinning data come across via FBX conversion, and basic camera parameters and light setups are preserved.
It runs on Windows and needs Blender 3.0 or newer alongside a local Maya install. You set the path to mayapy.exe in the plugin preferences, and conversion then happens entirely in the background. A portion of the plugin's monthly proceeds is donated to the Blender Foundation.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.Mb .Ma) is best for artists, animators, and studios working across both Autodesk Maya and Blender.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.Mb .Ma) is completely free to download and use.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.mb .ma) requires a local installation of Autodesk Maya 2018 or newer to function. The addon uses Maya's Python interpreter, mayapy.exe, in the background to read and convert .mb and .ma files, so without Maya installed it cannot work. That said, Maya does not need to be opened during the process, since conversion happens entirely in the background once you've pointed the plugin to mayapy.exe. If you don't have Maya installed locally, the plugin is not usable, so confirm your environment first.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.mb .ma) is currently Windows only. The implementation includes hardcoded Windows paths, such as the default Maya install location under Program Files, so it does not run on macOS or Linux as shipped. Supporting those platforms would require cross-platform path detection or manual configuration. If you work on Windows alongside a local Maya install, the plugin fits that setup as shipped. For macOS or Linux, check the developer's page for the latest platform status before relying on it.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.mb .ma) needs Blender 3.0 or newer, plus Autodesk Maya 2018 or newer installed locally on Windows. During setup, you open the plugin preferences and specify the path to Maya's Python interpreter, mayapy.exe. From there, the addon calls that interpreter in the background to convert .mb and .ma files, without you having to launch Maya manually. Make sure both Blender and Maya meet the minimum versions and that the mayapy.exe path is correct, otherwise conversion cannot run.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.mb .ma) transfers several asset types between Maya and Blender. It brings across 3D models with geometry and UVs, both rigged and keyframe-based animation, and standard materials via FBX, though complex Maya shader networks may need manual adjustment. Character assets, including rigged meshes, skeletons, and skinning data, come through via FBX conversion, and basic camera parameters and light setups are preserved. For material-heavy scenes, plan for some manual cleanup on shader networks after transfer.
Autodesk Maya File Import-Export (.mb .ma) is listed as free in this catalog, so you can add it without a purchase here. Licensing and pricing can change over time, so check the developer's page on Superhive for the current terms before you rely on it. Keep in mind the plugin still requires a local Autodesk Maya 2018 or newer installation on Windows to function, which is a separate requirement from the plugin itself, so factor that into your setup.
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