Why i have started exploring programming with python

When i first started the course i thought i wanted to do only hand drawn animation and hadn't really used computer generated animation before. Last academic year and previously this academic year i have started to explore computer generated animation using Maya. I found myself becoming proficient with the software very quickly and i felt very comfortable using Maya.

However i realized a persons knowledge of using the tools inside Maya may be extensive. But in certain areas such as rigging, which is my favorite part of the CG process, it is advantageous to have some knowledge of programming to aid in approaching complex custom rigs. Programming at its basic level is problem solving which is what rigging is and is whats at the core of most creative practices. This is why programming is not ajar to Maya and creative practices but rather gels together seamlessly with them.

To back up my previous statement that rigging is enhanced by programming and that programming runs seamless to the creative practice, there are jobs available for animation companies such as rigger/TD(technical developer). This job role is what i am aiming for. In many (if not all) of the rigger/TD job descriptions, knowledge of Python is required.

The reason python is popular for rigging and technical development is because its syntax is simple and readable and it has integration into the Maya software with the Maya python API.  

some examples of Rigger/TD job requirements...

Axis Animation:

Naughty Dog Studios:

In addition to these examples python is also useful for smaller tasks such as creating pipeline naming tools and for project management. For PPP2 study task 3 i emailed a small animation company and because they are a small company they don't hire programmers to modify software and create extensive scripts however they do use python minimally to create pipeline naming tools and other project management tools.