Attached Link: http://www.alias.com/glb/eng/products-services/product_details.jsp?productId=1900003

The link will take you to the download page of the *free* personal learning edition of Maya. We have a Maya forum here so you can probably find all sorts of resources there.

I've heard of some places using Cinema 4D. As far as Poser, I've seen it used in legal re-creations (I've used it myself for that once come to think of it) but I don't know if it's used by many studios (the kind of place that would hire somebody as opposed to just a freelancer working for him/herself). I also haven't heard of studios using Cararra.

Bear in mind though, that my knowledge and experience is not exhaustive. They keep making those programs so someone's buying and using them. There are small boutique studios out there, web developers, online marketers, marketing researchers, and all sorts of other places that may use or have departments that use 3D software for animation in some form or another. The "studios" I've been referring to previously are big name places like RDNA here in Dallas that does all the Jimmy Neutron stuff. They aren't the only places that hire animators.

Also, if you animate well, some will be willing to pay to train you in a specific software package. The guy who did the one-eyed alien singing "I will survive" did it in Animation Master (another very small program) but his animation was done so well he got on at Pixar.

To that end, I can recommend the book, "The Animator's Survival Kit." It's written by a traditional cel animator but the principals are relevant to 3D animation.

Message edited on: 01/06/2006 14:54

Before they made me they broke the mold!
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