For start try the excellent and very powerful free apps like Wings3D and Blender. Ask questions in those forums and you`ll learn many things in no time. Character modeling and animation are very advanced techniques, so take it easy and start with basics :) Poser or Bryce would be the best choice for commercial app,  many people start in those apps and later switch onto big and very expencive fishes like C4D, Lightwave, 3D Studio Max, etc. :)

Tihomir

Open your mind and share the knowledge!