Why do Studios Hate Blender?

Summary

This video explores why major studios continue to favor traditional 3D software over Blender, despite its growing popularity and advancements. Blender, once deemed unviable for professional use, has significantly improved since its 2.8 release, yet studios weigh the cost of switching against the extensive training required for their teams. Established software offers specialized tools and dedicated support, creating a preference for the known over the unknown. Ultimately, studios prioritize stability and efficiency, which explains their reluctance to adopt Blender as the industry standard, even as it becomes a favorite among indie artists.

Takeaways

• 😀 Blender is a popular choice among independent artists, but studios often prefer established software like Maya and 3ds Max.
• 📅 Blender was first released in 1994, but its current open-source version became available in 2002, after a lengthy ownership battle.
• 🔄 Major updates, particularly Blender 2.8, significantly improved its usability and performance, making it more viable for professional work.
• 💸 Switching to Blender could save studios money, but the costs of training and potential lost productivity can outweigh these savings.
• ⚙️ Specialized software provides studios with better efficiency and quality by focusing on specific tasks like animation or simulation.
• 🤝 Large studios benefit from contractual support from software vendors, ensuring assistance with any technical issues they encounter.
• 🛑 Studios are generally risk-averse and prefer sticking to familiar software rather than transitioning to newer options like Blender.
• 🏢 Established studios have access to a vast library of digital assets, enhancing their production capabilities beyond what individual artists can utilize.
• 🛠️ Blender Kit is an add-on that offers thousands of 3D models and materials, helping independent artists improve their workflows.
• ⏳ While Blender has made significant improvements, it still faces challenges in becoming the industry standard due to the established presence of other software.

Q & A

Why do studios generally overlook Blender despite its popularity among individual 3D artists?

Studios often prefer established software like Maya and 3ds Max due to their proven capabilities, industry relationships, and specialized functionalities that Blender currently lacks.

What major updates made Blender more viable for professional use?

The release of Blender 2.8 introduced a user-friendly interface, improved scene updates, the Eevee real-time render engine, grease pencil for 2D animation, and the collection system, making it much more competitive.

How does the cost of transitioning to Blender affect studios financially?

Switching to Blender from existing software can lead to significant costs due to the time it takes for artists to become proficient, potentially resulting in losses that outweigh the savings from using free software.

What are the potential productivity losses when a studio transitions to Blender?

If artists take two months to reach proficiency in Blender, the studio could lose approximately $1.76 million in productivity, which is enough to cover nearly ten years of software subscriptions for the entire team.

Why might Blender be considered less efficient for large studios?

Blender is a jack-of-all-trades software, which means it may not be as specialized or optimized for specific tasks compared to dedicated software like Maya for animation or 3ds Max for modeling.

What role does industry support play in the software choices of large studios?

Large studios receive dedicated support from software vendors, ensuring quick resolutions to any issues they encounter, which is a significant advantage that smaller studios or independent artists may not have with Blender.

How do bulk discounts influence studio software decisions?

Studios often negotiate bulk discounts for software licenses, which can lead to substantial cost savings. This financial incentive helps maintain loyalty to established software providers.

What are the implications of Autodesk's support for large visual effects houses?

Autodesk prioritizes the support of large clients because losing their business would be costly, resulting in better service and faster resolutions for major studios compared to individual users.

Why is risk aversion a factor in studios choosing not to switch to Blender?

Studios are generally risk-averse, preferring to stick with known and proven tools rather than taking the chance to adopt an untested software like Blender, which they perceive as potentially less reliable.

How does the community support for Blender compare to that of traditional software?

While Blender has a growing community that offers support through tutorials and forums, large studios often find that traditional software companies provide more structured and dedicated support, especially for large-scale projects.