have used Anim8tor (it's the only modeler that seems to fit on a floppy...;) It's got some things it does well (check out the lathe tool), but as stated above, don't tie yourself to one (I use WIngs mostly, with an occasional dip into Blender for some tools, even Hexagon, and Topmod (a free modeler, but mainly using topological modeling. Not super easy to learn, but it does a lot of really strange effects)

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)