Maya 2018.5 shipped with (MtoA 2.1.0). This was a watershed moment. Arnold 5 introduced:
: Artists can create complex character animations using a robust suite of tools. Keyframe animation is managed through the Time Slider and Range Slider , while more advanced automation can be achieved through MEL (Maya Embedded Language) or Python scripting. autodesk maya 20185
Maya 2018.5 uses . Maya 2022+ forced Python 3. The cost of rewriting thousands of custom scripts and plugins from Py2 to Py3 is astronomical. Many studios still run hybrid pipelines, using Maya 2018.5 for legacy assets and newer versions for fresh projects. Maya 2018
Maya 2018 is a major release bridging old stability and new tech. Key highlights: autodesk maya 20185