I have a problem I am trying to find a 3d animation program best suited for the kind of animation I trying to do. I want to know more about character animation. I can't afford to buy the more expensive software. During college I have used 3D-max. I got some skill in it. I understand the basic function. It just that my 3d-modeling skills need a lot of work. I might have problems modeling a human character or figure. I have no problem animating it.
As far as software goes, hash is a good entry into character animation: (http://www.hash.com/products/am.asp). Its very limited in other regards and is hardly used professionally, but is cheap and very, very solid for character animation.
Other software is much more involved to get started in, but there are a slew of great rigs out there, so if you start with maya, max, xsi, etc. - get a ready-to-go rig to start off with.
(http://www.animationlounge.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=63fb7f8a82a7ba84e4e43ce694b1e237&board=7.0)
Thank you for your reply. Have ever used Poser 7 from E- frontier. I was thinking about getting that program. I have seen some of the character. It looks like an okay program.
I'd say if you already know some of 3DS Max, then use Max. You can buy pre-modeled and rigged characters online, and even get some free ones. Besides, Max is used more in the industry, where as there aren't too many studios that are using Hash or Poser to animate with. You can also buy books on how to model and rig if that is your weak point and you want to get better at that.
Aloha,
the Ape
...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."
How clear is your vision of where you want to place yourself in the market?
If you want to get hired as an animator, Poser isn't an option. If you want to make a better animatic to sell yourself as a story person, maybe. (I still think there are better options). Interestingly, Poser has some great non-photorealistic options... (side-track)
The key is to know what you want, then to decide how to get there. Assuming you are interested in working into a position as aniamtor...
A:M is okay, but so are Max, XSI, Maya - whatever you can get your hands on. If you have Max, I agree with Animated Ape - go with that. There are rigs available (look here: http://www.animationlounge.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=971847985835e582161dd489665e3938&board=7.0)
Grab some sound bites, do some walk cycles, do the classic bouncing ball, bouncing ball with tail, character jumping from leg to leg...
Animated Ape is also correct: AM isn't used in the market - it's only an option if you want to quickly get to a point where you can sell yourself as an animator (which is a long, hard road in itself). You WILL have to re-train yourself in a more common software, or the company interested in you will do so. Animators can cross the software divide much more easily than others, as they get prepared rigs and the principles of keys and curve management are more or less universal...