A History Lesson on Alias 3D Software
Abstract/Summary
Understanding the history of a particular software and why it was created in the first place can be exciting and insightful, especially for those who are interested in or are currently using the software. Not only is the vision and idea behind the creation important but also the driving forces, the people behind it, and the projects and productions that utilized the tool. The founding of the Alias software changed the face of 3D Modeling and Animation as well as the engineering, design, gaming, entertainment, and film industries.
Alias (was called PowerAnimator and Animator) was a highly-integrated industrial 3D modeling, animation, and visual effects suite. It has had a long track record, starting with Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991 and ending in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999. It also served as the solution used to produce South Park episodes digitally before production was moved to Maya. Alias served as the precursor to Maya and and AliasStudio (when acquired by Autodesk).