Skip to content

Animation

Animation Settings

Choose whether to include animation in the export and how it is captured from the Maya scene.

Back to Export Options Open Exporter Overview

Export Animation

Default: On

A master on/off switch for animation. When turned off, no animation data is written to the exported file regardless of which mode is selected below. Use this to quickly export a static snapshot of the scene without removing any animation from the Maya scene itself.

Animation Mode

Scene Keys

Reads the keyframe curves already on your scene objects and writes them directly to glTF.

  • Produces the smallest animation files — only the authored keyframes are stored
  • Works well when your objects have clean, direct keys
  • Best for: Final keyed character and object animation with no procedural or expression-driven motion

Sampled

Captures the final evaluated position of every animated object at each frame across the timeline.

  • More reliable for complex rigs, motion paths, constraints, and expression-driven motion — anything that does not come directly from authored keyframes
  • Produces larger files than Scene Keys because every frame is written as a separate keyframe
  • Best for: Constrained rigs, driven keys, motion paths, simulations, or any animation where the final output differs from what is directly keyed

Time Editor Clips

Exports clips directly from the Maya Time Editor. Each clip becomes its own separate glTF animation entry.

  • The exporter handles clip isolation and sampling automatically — you do not need to set frame ranges manually
  • Best for: Round-trip workflows where assets were imported using the glTF Importer and clip structure was created automatically
  • Visibility animation is written using KHR_node_visibility via KHR_animation_pointer
  • Light intensity animation is written via KHR_animation_pointer targeting KHR_lights_punctual

Choosing the right mode

Situation Recommended mode
Simple keyed character or object animation Scene Keys
Constrained rig, motion path, or complex setup Sampled
Asset was imported with the glTF Importer Time Editor Clips
Static export, no animation needed Turn off Export Animation