SimplyMaya
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersFlorida, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SimplyMaya does
SimplyMaya was a 25-year-old online education platform specializing in Autodesk Maya training for visual effects (VFX) artists and 3D modelers. Founded in 1999 and operated from Florida, the company built and maintained a web-based video training library and community forum that served a global audience of Maya users ranging from beginners to working film and television professionals. Its core products were a curated video tutorial library covering the full Maya workflow (modeling, UV layout, texturing, rigging, animation, dynamics, lighting, and rendering with Arnold) and an active community forum archive organized across skill-level and topic-specific categories. The primary content authors were David James and Jason Edwards (Senior Modeler at Framestore, with IMDB credits on major feature films), and the curriculum extended into adjacent tools such as ZBrush, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and Alchemist, plus applied use cases like 3D-printing for rapid prototyping.
SimplyMaya firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SimplyMaya
- Legal name
- SimplyMaya
- Website
- https://simplymaya.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Closed
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SimplyMaya industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online 3D Animation Training
- NAICS
- Computer Training (61142)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR) (EDAFACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VFX Production & Supervision (2D/3D, Compositing, FX, CG) (MPADAHAA), Project- & Inquiry-Based Digital Learning Modules (EDAFACAD)
Keywords
Where SimplyMaya is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Florida
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SimplyMaya business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Free Archive Content: After closing operations, SimplyMaya made their entire library of video training content available for free. The platform previously operated on a credit-based payment system where users purchased credits to access individual tutorials. The site now functions as a free archive preserving community knowledge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free access to all training content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
SimplyMaya product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SimplyMaya provides a comprehensive library of video training tutorials for Autodesk Maya, covering modeling, animation, rigging, UV mapping, texturing, lighting, rendering with Arnold, dynamics, and VFX production workflows. The platform also operated an active community forum where VFX artists and 3D modelers discussed techniques, troubleshot issues, and shared work. Following the closure of business operations in 2024, the entire training library was made available for free as an archive.
Product overview
SimplyMaya is an online training platform for VFX artists, offering a comprehensive library of video tutorials focused on Autodesk Maya. The platform operated for 25 years before closing its doors and becoming an archive. It provides two core offerings: a video training library covering modeling fundamentals, UV mapping, rendering with Arnold, dynamics/simulation, character creation, and integration with tools like ZBrush and Substance Painter; and archived community forums where users discuss Maya techniques, troubleshoot technical issues, and share work. The training content ranges from beginner fundamentals to advanced production techniques used in film and TV VFX.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SimplyMaya Video Training Library Comprehensive online video training library for Autodesk Maya, covering modeling fundamentals, UV mapping, animation, rigging, texturing, lighting, rendering with Arnold, dynamics and simulation, and VFX production techniques. Designed for VFX artists, 3D modelers, and Maya learners ranging from beginner to advanced professional levels. The full library is now available for free following the closure of business operations.
- SimplyMaya Community Forums Archived community discussion forums covering Maya basics, technical issues, modeling, animation, lighting, rendering, materials, textures, dynamics, special effects, and user work showcases. Preserves the knowledge, conversations, and camaraderie of the SimplyMaya community across categories such as Maya Basics (19,275 threads, 128,357 posts) and Work In Progress (4,874 threads, 88,854 posts).
Quantifiable outcome
- Comprehensive Maya education spanning 25 years with hundreds of tutorials covering all aspects from beginner fundamentals to advanced production techniques
Companies that use SimplyMaya
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SimplyMaya technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SimplyMaya partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
SimplyMaya competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CGMA (Computer Graphics Master Academy): Online CG school with industry-professional instructors covering Maya, ZBrush, and VFX production. Closely matches SimplyMaya's model of teaching production-tested workflows taught by working film/game artists.
- fxphd: Subscription-based advanced VFX, editing, and CG training taught by working professionals. Directly comparable niche positioning to SimplyMaya, focused on high-end production techniques for film and TV artists.
- Gnomon (School of Visual Effects, Games + Design): Premium visual effects and CG training institution offering structured courses in Maya, ZBrush, and production pipelines. Directly comparable as a VFX/3D training provider targeting the same professional artist audience as SimplyMaya.
- 3DTotal / 3DCreative: Long-running CG art community and tutorial publisher (books, magazines, online tutorials) covering Maya and other 3D tools. Comparable as a content-driven training and community resource for CG artists.
- CG Spectrum: Online VFX and animation school with mentor-led courses covering Maya, Nuke, and Unreal. Comparable as structured, professional-track training serving aspiring and working VFX artists.
Broad incumbents
- Udemy: Mass-market online learning marketplace hosting many third-party Maya and VFX courses. Comparable as a self-serve, video-based training destination for Maya learners, though at much broader scope and lower price points.
- Pluralsight: Large-scale technology and creative skills subscription platform with extensive Maya and VFX course libraries (formerly Digital Tutors). Competes for the same self-serve professional upskilling audience but across a much broader technology catalog.
- SideFX (Houdini training): Vendor of Houdini with a substantial free official learning path and community. Adjacent training peer serving CG artists; represents a competitive alternative to Maya for VFX and a potential displacement risk.
Regional players
- Animation Mentor: Online animation school founded by DreamWorks animators offering structured mentorship programs. Adjacent 3D animation training peer; less Maya-focused and more animation-pipeline oriented than SimplyMaya.
Emerging players
- Rebelway: Online VFX and CG training specializing in Houdini, FX, and production workflows with industry-artist instructors. Comparable professional-artist, project-based teaching model though tilted toward FX/Houdini rather than Maya.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SimplyMaya social profiles
Digital presenceSimplyMaya financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SimplyMaya leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
SimplyMaya funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SimplyMaya M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SimplyMaya
What does SimplyMaya do?
SimplyMaya provides a comprehensive library of video training tutorials for Autodesk Maya, covering modeling, animation, rigging, UV mapping, texturing, lighting, rendering with Arnold, dynamics, and VFX production workflows. The platform also operated an active community forum where VFX artists and 3D modelers discussed techniques, troubleshot issues, and shared work. Following the closure of business operations in 2024, the entire training library was made available for free as an archive.
Is SimplyMaya a public or private company?
SimplyMaya is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently closed.
When was SimplyMaya founded?
SimplyMaya was founded in 1999.
Where is SimplyMaya based?
SimplyMaya is headquartered in Florida, United States, in the North America region.
How does SimplyMaya make money?
One revenue line is on record: free Archive Content.
Who are SimplyMaya's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CGMA (Computer Graphics Master Academy), fxphd, Gnomon (School of Visual Effects, Games + Design), 3DTotal / 3DCreative and CG Spectrum. Broad incumbents are Udemy, Pluralsight and SideFX (Houdini training). Animation Mentor is listed as a regional player. Rebelway is listed as an emerging player.
Does SimplyMaya have an API?
No public API is recorded for SimplyMaya.
What industry is SimplyMaya in?
SimplyMaya's product category is Online 3D Animation Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFACAF, Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR), with a secondary code of MPADAHAA, VFX Production & Supervision (2D/3D, Compositing, FX, CG). Its NAICS code is 61142 and its SIC code is 8200.