Maya.mp4 -

Use a tool like FFmpeg or Shutter Encoder to export your MP4 as a series of images.

MP4 files use temporal compression, which makes "scrubbing" (dragging) through the timeline laggy or inaccurate as Maya tries to calculate compressed frames. Maya.mp4

If your video won't load, it is likely a missing system-level codec rather than a Maya bug. Use a tool like FFmpeg or Shutter Encoder

In Maya, create an and check the box for Use Image Sequence . In Maya, create an and check the box for Use Image Sequence

Convert your video into an Image Sequence (e.g., JPEG or PNG).

By default, Maya often only supports .avi (Windows) or .mov (Mac) for playblasts. How to Get an MP4:

If you use an MP4 on an image plane, it may drastically slow down your viewport. If it does, switch the image plane's display mode to None when you aren't actively using it as a reference. codec issues - Forums, Autodesk