Blender is one of the most powerful and widely used open-source 3D modeling programs, beloved by hobbyists and professionals. However, before it became the software behind countless YouTube tutorials on modeling donuts, Blender started as a closed-source, proprietary application.
The Birth of Blender: NeoGeo and Not a Number (NaN)
In 1989, Ton Roosendaal, an industrial design student, took a leap of faith by dropping out of university to co-found NeoGeo, a computer animation company. At the time, NeoGeo was among the largest 3D animation studios in the Netherlands, producing high-end visualizations and commercials. However, the existing 3D software was expensive, inefficient, and not tailored to the company’s needs.
Working on Silicon Graphics computers—which, in today’s money, cost as much as a new car—Roosendaal developed an in-house tool to streamline NeoGeo’s workflow. By January 1995, he had completed the first version of what would eventually become Blender.
Though primitive by today’s standards, Blender’s decision to adopt a configurable single-window interface was groundbreaking at the time. In 1998, Blender was officially released as freeware for Silicon Graphics machines. Shortly thereafter, NeoGeo closed its doors, prompting Roosendaal to establish Not a Number Technologies (NaN), a company dedicated to commercializing Blender as shareware.
NaN gained investors and even secured a booth at SIGGRAPH, but financial mismanagement and investor conflicts led to the company’s bankruptcy in 2002.
The Blender Foundation and the Open-Source Movement
Determined to keep Blender alive, Roosendaal founded the Blender Foundation in May 2002 with the goal of making the software open-source. He launched the “Free Blender” campaign to buy back the program’s rights from NaN’s previous investors. The campaign raised €100,000 in just seven weeks, allowing the Blender Foundation to release the software under the GNU General Public License (GPL). This pivotal moment ensured Blender’s survival and opened the door for global contributions.
Blender’s Rise to Prominence
With its open-source status secured, Blender rapidly evolved through the contributions of a passionate community. Over the years, it introduced powerful features such as sculpting tools, physics simulations, node-based materials, and advanced rendering engines like Cycles and Eevee. This rapid innovation made Blender an attractive option for independent artists, game developers, and even major studios.
In 2005, the Blender Foundation launched its first open movie project, Elephants Dream, demonstrating Blender’s capabilities as a professional-grade 3D tool. Subsequent projects like Big Buck Bunny (2008) and Sintel (2010) further showcased Blender’s potential and drew more users to the platform.
By the 2010s, Blender had become a serious contender in the 3D industry. Organizations like the Blender Development Fund, along with support from major companies such as Epic Games, Ubisoft, and NVIDIA, further propelled Blender’s growth by integrating it into their workflows and contributing to its development.
Blender Today and Beyond
Today, Blender is a leading open-source 3D software with a dedicated team of over 25 developers based in Amsterdam. Its applications span animation, game development, visual effects, architecture, and beyond. With a thriving global community and continuous updates, Blender’s future remains bright.
More than just a piece of software, Blender’s story is one of perseverance, collaboration, and the belief that high-quality 3D tools should be accessible to everyone. As it continues to evolve, Blender stands as a testament to the power of open-source innovation and community-driven progress.
