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Updated October 2026 · 55+ free rigs plus premium picks
Free Maya Rigs: The Best Character Rigs for Your Skill Level
Hand-picked free Maya rigs sorted by quality and skill level, from bouncing balls to full acting rigs, plus premium picks for when you’re ready to level up your demo reel.
Each rig is made by a different artist with their own terms. Read them before you download.
Top picks at a glance
Level 1: the basics
Free Maya Rigs for the Basics
New to animation? Start here. These rigs keep you on the fundamentals without a wall of controls. A lot can be learned from a bouncing ball, so get a firm grip on the principles before jumping to a full-body rig.
Free · Gumroad
Basics Rig
by Mothman TD
All-in-one fundamentals pack with several beginner rigs, not just a ball.
Get the rig
Free · Highend3D
theBouncin’Ball
by Highend3D
Squash-and-stretch rotation set up separately from the ball’s spin.
Get the rig
Free · Behance
Ultimate Rigs
by Ugur Ulvi Yetiskin
An older set of basic rigs that makes a solid backup.
Get the rig
Free · Gumroad
Leaf Rig
by Truong Rigs
A leaf in the wind: a simple drill for overlap and follow-through.
Get the rig
Free · Gumroad
Flour Sack
by Joe Daniels
Classic teaching rig for emotion through pose and weight.
Get the rig
Free · Gumroad
Juicebox
by Joe Daniels
Flour-sack simplicity plus a straw that acts as an arm or a face.
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Free · Gumroad
Walking Battle Egg
by Truong Rigs
A simple robot for practicing the basics in a fresh way.
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Free · Gumroad
Lego Wall-E
by Robert Joosten
See how much life a very simple character can hold.
Get the rig
Free download
You got the Rigs. Now up for a Challenge?
Start with 1 Free animation challenge — discover how to create weight like a pro.
*30 mins animating max. Maya scene included.
Level 2: body mechanics
Free Maya Rigs for Body Mechanics
Ready for a full body with spine, arms and legs? These rigs keep you focused on physical movement, weight and snap: jumps, slips on ice, parkour, heavy lifts and weapon attacks.
Free · Gumroad
Body Mechanics Rig
by Anim Matt
A blank face keeps your eye on weight, not acting.
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Free · Behance
Ultimate Bony and Beefy
by Ugur Ulvi Yetiskin
User-friendly hips. Swap out the old Mental Ray texture.
Get the rig
Free · Gumroad
Endo
by Anim Matt
Belly controls for practicing different kinds of weight.
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Free · Gumroad
Miles Morales
by WatYanin Studio
Spider-Verse action and a strong demo reel option.
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Free · Gumroad
Doc Ock
by Amazing Animation
Tentacles plus a full body: the perfect Spider-Man rival.
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Free · Animprops
Ash
by Roly
Pair him with the Pokeball prop and the creature rigs below.
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Free · Agora (free signup)
Thor
by WatYanin / Agora
Free hammer and lightning props come with it.
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Free · Colossus store
Ninja
by Built by Colossus
A tough-looking ninja for combat shots.
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Level 3: acting
Free Maya Rigs for Acting
For animators who can already move a character smoothly. Your focus now is emotion, story and entertainment: which move sells the feeling, and how does it serve the story?
Creatures and quadrupeds
Free Maya Creature Rigs
Good free quadruped and creature rigs are rare, and these are the best around. Don’t start here until you have a solid grip on human body mechanics. Ready for big cats? Try the free Cat Run Cycle master class and Cat Walk Cycle tutorial.
Free · Gumroad
Leopard
by Truong Rigs
A realistic big cat, ideal for a VFX-focused demo reel.
Get the rig
Props and vehicles
Free Maya Prop and Vehicle Rigs
Weapons, vehicles and viewport effects that give your characters something to interact with. Turbosquid also has free models for simple props.
Environments
Free Maya Environments
Free background sets that give your shots context and give your characters something to react to.
Got your rig? Put it to work.
Animate with it in the 21 Day Beyond Beginner Animation Challenge. Day 1 is free.
Worth paying for
Premium Maya Rigs for Your Demo Reel
Spending a few dollars gets you higher-end controls and deformation. It’s worth it when you’re building new shots specifically for your demo reel. Some links on this page are affiliate links; I only list rigs I’d recommend either way.
$15–45
Kiel Figgins Rigs
by Kiel Figgins
A big roster of appealing characters from a lead ILM animator. Check out his free tools too.
Visit store
$5–10
Truong Rigs Premium
by Truong Rigs
Paid rigs from the maker of many of the freebies above.
Visit store
$50–120
Look Rig Family
by Look Rig
An Incredibles-style family of three with high-end controls and deformation.
Visit store
$15–25
Miosha and Gorgeous George
by Dmitrii Kolpakov
Top-tier quality in a style you won’t find anywhere else.
Visit store
$10–18
Arc the Dragon and Kayla
by Josh Sobel
Cute, appealing designs with their own charm.
Visit store
$40
Body Mechanics Mega Pack
by Joe Daniels
One-frame IK/FK swap, plus characters in every shape and size.
Visit store
Free Maya rig questions
Are these Maya rigs really free?
Yes. Every rig in the free sections costs nothing. A few hosts, like Agora, ask you to create a free account first.
Can I use free rigs on my demo reel?
Most creators allow it, but terms vary by artist. Check each rig’s license and credit the rigger on your reel.
Which free Maya rig should a beginner start with?
Start with a ball, flour sack or another basics rig. Move to a full-body rig once your timing and spacing feel solid.
Do older rigs still work in current Maya?
Most do. Some older rigs reference Mental Ray materials, which you’ll need to swap for a supported material.
