diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_animation.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_animation.py
index 6d87cb5078..6a113bf74c 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_animation.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_animation.py
@@ -29,3 +29,6 @@ class CreateAnimation(avalon.maya.Creator):
         # Include only nodes that are visible at least once during the
         # frame range.
         self.data["visibleOnly"] = False
+
+        # Include the groups above the out_SET content
+        self.data["includeParentHierarchy"] = False  # Include parent groups
diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_model.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_model.py
index 47411e6c52..956f9f0e4f 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_model.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_model.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-from collections import OrderedDict
-
 import avalon.maya
 
 
@@ -14,8 +12,12 @@ class CreateModel(avalon.maya.Creator):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(CreateModel, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        data = {"writeColorSets": False,  # Vertex colors with the geometry.
-                "attr": "",  # Add options for custom attributes
-                "attrPrefix": ""}
+        # Vertex colors with the geometry
+        self.data["writeColorSets"] = False
 
-        self.data.update(data)
+        # Include attributes by attribute name or prefix
+        self.data["attr"] = ""
+        self.data["attrPrefix"] = ""
+
+        # Whether to include parent hierarchy of nodes in the instance
+        self.data["includeParentHierarchy"] = False
diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_pointcache.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_pointcache.py
index 495c433e87..2fa0f6cb36 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_pointcache.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/create/colorbleed_pointcache.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class CreatePointCache(avalon.maya.Creator):
         self.data["writeColorSets"] = False  # Vertex colors with the geometry.
         self.data["renderableOnly"] = False  # Only renderable visible shapes
         self.data["visibleOnly"] = False     # only nodes that are visible
+        self.data["includeParentHierarchy"] = False  # Include parent groups
 
         # Add options for custom attributes
         self.data["attr"] = ""
diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/collect_instances.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/collect_instances.py
index 93d8a20c8a..6ca3f26da7 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/collect_instances.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/collect_instances.py
@@ -84,7 +84,11 @@ class CollectInstances(pyblish.api.ContextPlugin):
                                           fullPath=True) or []
             children = cmds.ls(children, noIntermediate=True, long=True)
 
-            parents = self.get_all_parents(members)
+            parents = []
+            if data.get("includeParentHierarchy", True):
+                # If `includeParentHierarchy` then include the parents
+                # so they will also be picked up in the instance by validators
+                parents = self.get_all_parents(members)
             members_hierarchy = list(set(members + children + parents))
 
             # Create the instance
diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_animation.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_animation.py
index d62c34e915..53e172fa56 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_animation.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_animation.py
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ class ExtractColorbleedAnimation(colorbleed.api.Extractor):
             raise RuntimeError("Couldn't find exactly one out_SET: "
                                "{0}".format(out_sets))
         out_set = out_sets[0]
-        nodes = cmds.sets(out_set, query=True)
+        roots = cmds.sets(out_set, query=True)
 
         # Include all descendants
-        nodes += cmds.listRelatives(nodes,
-                                    allDescendents=True,
-                                    fullPath=True) or []
+        nodes = roots + cmds.listRelatives(roots,
+                                           allDescendents=True,
+                                           fullPath=True) or []
 
         # Collect the start and end including handles
         start = instance.data["startFrame"]
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ class ExtractColorbleedAnimation(colorbleed.api.Extractor):
             "selection": True
         }
 
+        if not instance.data.get("includeParentHierarchy", True):
+            # Set the root nodes if we don't want to include parents
+            # The roots are to be considered the ones that are the actual
+            # direct members of the set
+            options["root"] = roots
+
         if int(cmds.about(version=True)) >= 2017:
             # Since Maya 2017 alembic supports multiple uv sets - write them.
             options["writeUVSets"] = True
diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_pointcache.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_pointcache.py
index 4cd894d7f4..1e3b4a2ea2 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_pointcache.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/extract_pointcache.py
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ class ExtractColorbleedAlembic(colorbleed.api.Extractor):
             "selection": True
         }
 
+        if not instance.data.get("includeParentHierarchy", True):
+            # Set the root nodes if we don't want to include parents
+            # The roots are to be considered the ones that are the actual
+            # direct members of the set
+            options["root"] = instance.data.get("setMembers")
+
         if int(cmds.about(version=True)) >= 2017:
             # Since Maya 2017 alembic supports multiple uv sets - write them.
             options["writeUVSets"] = True
diff --git a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/validate_model_content.py b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/validate_model_content.py
index 1ea26047ee..c9bbb2c23e 100644
--- a/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/validate_model_content.py
+++ b/colorbleed/plugins/maya/publish/validate_model_content.py
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ class ValidateModelContent(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
             cls.log.error("Must have exactly one top group")
             if len(assemblies) == 0:
                 cls.log.warning("No top group found. "
-                                "(Are there objects in the instance?)")
+                                "(Are there objects in the instance?"
+                                " Or is it parented in another group?)")
             return assemblies or True
 
         def _is_visible(node):