Python + Maya by Rodrigo Araujo

"It’s possible to access every attribute of any of the nodes on the scene, to create key frames and make complete animations through one script and to access many of the tools provided throughout the menus.

One quick example is how to create a bouncing ball animation."

Compositing

"Compositing is the combining of visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously called “blue screen,” “green screen,” “chroma key,” and other names. Today, most, though not all, compositing is achieved through digital image manipulation. Pre-digital compositing techniques, however, go back as far as the trick films of Georges Méliès in the late 19th century; and some are still in use."

Tutorial: Rendering Wireframes in Maya for Compositing with After Effects

"Crystal Leal walks us through how to render out a wireframe version of a model using either Mental Ray or Maya’s own Vector Renderer. Once rendered, the sequences are then composited together in After Effects and rendered out to video. This technique is perfect to use when putting together turntable animations for your portfolio!"