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Learn Maya in 14 Days Free

Inside the Think Tank Training Centre portal, you'll model your first robot in Maya. Blank scene to finished asset, in 14 days. Even if you've never opened the software before.

Finishers compete for $41,000+ in Think Tank scholarships. 7 winners. Up to $7,500 off your tuition. Details below
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Think Tank training robot model

Studios that hire our students

Animal Logic Digital Domain Icon Creative Studio The Coalition Bardel Studios Double Negative Imageworks Walt Disney Studios BioWare Electronic Arts Industrial Light & Magic Waterproof Blizzard Entertainment Framestore Relic Weta Digital CD Projekt Red Hellbent Games Scanline VFX Zoic

About
TTTC

20 years training the finest artists. Think Tank Training Centre is one of the VFX schools with the highest placements in the industry. Over 100 placements in the past 10 months, in the shortest period of training.

Behind each program, webinar or in-person event is the same philosophy. It's a drive to give CG artists the tools and mentoring they need to expand their vision and build meaningful connections in the industry.

The Rookies — Ranked #1 The Rookies — Ranked #1 The Rookies — Ranked #1 The Rookies — Ranked #1

What You'll Build

By Sunday, you'll have modeled your first robot in Maya.

Even if you've never opened a 3D program before, you'll walk away from the 14 days with a finished, beautiful robot on your screen. Same software the studios use. Same workflow the pros use. Built one polygon at a time, taught by one of the best in the industry: Raffael Frank.

  • Block out, refine, and detail a full character model
  • Learn the same Maya tools used at ILM, Sony, and Disney
  • End the week with a finished render to show the world
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Final robot render — what you'll build by Sunday

The 14-day Map

Day 1

Day 1 — Character Blockout in Maya

Character Blockout in Maya

  • Set up Maya and import reference images
  • Block the full character with primitive geometry
  • Focus on proportion and silhouette, not detail
  • Organize the scene and mirror for symmetry

Day 2

Day 2 — Hard-Surface Topology

Hard-Surface Topology

  • Transition into clean hard-surface modeling
  • Learn topology and edge flow
  • Refine forms with smoothing and support edges
  • Fix n-gons and reversed normals

Day 3

Day 3 — Sculpting & Surfaces

Sculpting & Surfaces

  • Assign Blinn materials to improve model readability
  • Sculpt proportions and forms with symmetry
  • Refine surfaces with bevels, edge loops, and hard/soft edges
  • Clean up topology around cutouts and transitions

Day 4

Day 4 — Leg Construction

Leg Construction

  • Break the leg into mechanical parts
  • Build components with extrusion and bevels
  • Create a custom ball-and-socket joint
  • Clean, mirror, and assemble the leg

Day 5

Day 5 — Arm Construction

Arm Construction

  • Build the shoulder mechanism with Conform and mirroring
  • Construct upper and lower arm from cylinders
  • Add detail with extrusions and support loops
  • Clean and finalize the arm assembly

Day 6 + 7

Day 6 — Hand Construction (Bonus Lesson) and Day 7 — Workday

Hand Construction & Workday

  • Block the palm and create finger sockets
  • Build articulated finger and thumb segments
  • Add palm curvature with a Bend Deformer
  • Join the finished hand to the arm

Day 8

Day 8 — Torso & Panel Flow

Torso & Panel Flow

  • Clean the scene and refine the torso silhouette
  • Rebuild the torso with Quad Draw topology
  • Construct clean arm and leg sockets
  • Define panel flow with redirected edge loops

Day 9

Day 9 — Panels & Connections

Panels & Connections

  • Align and separate the torso into panels
  • Engineer arm and leg connection sockets
  • Add thickness, bevels, and joint sleeves
  • Refine topology and mirror the panels

Day 10

Day 10 — Head & Visor

Head & Visor

  • Refine the head and cut openings with Booleans
  • Shape panel lines with thickness and bevels
  • Build and integrate the visor and socket
  • Clean up Boolean topology and the camera aperture

Day 11

Day 11 — Final Assembly

Final Assembly

  • Build recessed lenses and eye sockets
  • Add sensor sockets, ears, and joint sleeves
  • Create cables and hoses with Sweep Mesh
  • Build connection sockets and mirror details

Day 12

Day 12 — Look Development

Look Development

  • Set up the scene, lighting, and HDRI environments
  • Build and assign Arnold materials
  • Compose presentation renders and camera framing
  • Apply post-processing for a portfolio-ready render

Day 13 + 14

Day 13 — Intro to Rigging (Bonus Lesson) and Day 14 — Refine & Final Submission

Rigging & Final Submission

  • Explore hierarchies, joints, and constraints
  • Compare IK and FK control systems
  • Cover skinning, weight painting, and deformation
  • Prototype a rig with Quick Rig
  • Workday; final submission due EOD
  • Live showcase to follow

Bonuses

Raffael Frank — Facial Modeler at Digital Domain

Your Instructor

Raffael Frank

Facial Modeler, Digital Domain · Advanced Term Supervisor at Think Tank Training Centre

By day, Raffael is a facial modeler at Digital Domain in Vancouver. By night, he mentors students at Think Tank Training Centre and gets them ready for their first industry jobs. He still sharpens his own craft with personal projects and traditional sculpting. He's the one teaching you Maya for the next 14 days.

Selected credits

  • Black Adam
  • The Quarry
  • Morbius
  • Ready Player One
  • Avengers: Infinity War
  • Avengers: Endgame
  • Independence Day
  • Thor: Ragnarok
  • Game of Thrones

Win Your Tuition

Finish the 14 days. Submit your final robot. Then apply for $41,000+ in Think Tank Training Centre scholarships awarded across 7 students who go straight into Think Tank's full program with a serious head start on tuition. Free to apply. Serious students only.

Hybrid Program
$7,500
international students · 2 winners
Hybrid Program
$5,500
domestic students · 2 winners
Online Program
$5,000
off tuition · 3 winners

How it works

  1. 1 On the next page after you submit the form, apply for the scholarship. It's free, but it's a real application. Bring your portfolio, your goals, and your reasons.
  2. 2 Finish the 14 days and submit your final robot.
  3. 3 Working VFX professionals pick the 7 winners on craft — fundamentals, problem-solving, topology — not follower counts.

This is for students who are serious about a career in 3D. If you're here to dabble, the program is still free, but the scholarship isn't the right fit.

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FAQ

Do I need to install Maya before Day 1?
Yes. We’ll send a setup guide before the course starts, including how to access Maya for the training.
Do I need to install Maya before Day 1?
Yes. We’ll send a setup guide before the course starts, including how to access Maya for the training.
What kind of equipment do I need to take the course?
You will need a desktop or laptop computer that meets the minimum system requirements for Maya. You can find the full system requirements here.
Does it work on Mac?
Yes. The install guide covers both Mac and Windows.
Do I need any 3D experience?
No. The first lesson starts with Maya navigation, the UI, marking menus, hotkeys, parenting, and groups.
I'm a current or former Think Tank student, or I've already applied to a Think Tank program. Can I still take this course?
Absolutely, just use the signup form above to register for the course. Your existing Portl account and student records will not be affected by signing up for this course. You can use the same email address you used to apply without any issues.
How long is each lesson?
Pre-recorded lesson video content is roughly 1.5 hours each day. Expect to spend about 3 hours per day watching content, practicing, and exploring. Live sessions are generally about 1 hour long.
What if I miss a day?
Lessons remain available in Portl during the course and for a limited time after it ends.
Is it really free?
Yes. The 14-day Maya training is free.
How do I qualify for the scholarship?
Complete the free training course and submit your final project. You’ll also need to complete the Think Tank application process, meet admissions requirements, complete an admissions consultation, and be accepted into an eligible 48-week or 64-week Online or Hybrid program starting October 5, 2026.
Is the scholarship guaranteed?
No. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis to qualified applicants while funding is available.
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