looking for a good 3d anmatior

[the Burning]

looking for a good 3d anmatior/modler that is free or cheap
a tutoial for it will be great since i have done very little 3d stuff and want to find out whats best

[MetalMusicAddict]

Look into Blender and K3B.

[jem7v]

I'd definitely try out Blender. It's a small program (only about 20 megs, if I remember correctly) full of powerful features... and it loads up in 2 seconds on my computer. And it runs smoothly. And my computer is 750mhz with 384MB RAM and an old 32MB Geforce 2MX.

A good place to start learning is actually at the Blender site. Look through their tutorials (they're under InfoCenter: Using Blender)
http://www.blender.org/cms/Using_Blender.80.0.html

This is the source I eventually settled on a while back when I was using Blender:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro

[bobbybobington]

Blender is definitely what you're looking for

[ComplexNumber]

Look into Blender and K3B.
you mean k3d :p. this (http://www.k-3d.org/) is k3d. it also includes animated tutorials (see screenshot - the 1st screenshot shows k3d when it has just loaded up. the 2nd screenshot shows where you can either stop the tutorial or progress to the next animated sequence). it also uses the gtk toolkit.

[Kossilar]

Also check out the Open Movie project's open movie: "Elephant's Dream". Just because its really, really cool.

[derjames]

I've been doing some stuff with Blender... It is hard at the beginning but very productive and fun at the end...

cheers

[jem7v]

Yeah, forgot to mention that. Blender has a reputation for having a very steep learning curve, but once it starts to click it's very very efficient to work with.

[ComplexNumber]

Yeah, forgot to mention that. Blender has a reputation for having a very steep learning curve, but once it starts to click it's very very efficient to work with.
thats why i wouldn't recommend it at all, especially not for the beginner. the interface is also extremely ugly and unintuitive....even as far as typical 3D modellers go.
unless one is proficient in 3D modeling and animation, blender is best avoided until that time. once one reaches that stage, its a reasonable choice.

[tpg]

the interface is also extremely ugly and unintuitive....even as far as typical 3D modellers go.

I have been using blender for a few months, off and on (when I have some free time). It's the only 3D modelling package I have used for any length of time, but personally I would say the interface is far from ugly. It is definitely unconventional, and therefore possibly unintuitive, but I find the layout makes sense.

er;1995126]unless one is proficient in 3D modeling and animation, blender is best avoided until that time.
I disagree. There are some excellent beginner tutorials for blender, assuming no prior 3D modelling experience. See the blender website for links. IMHO, some of the video tutorials are especially good.

[AlexC_]

Blender's Interface comes up with every disccusion of Blender I have ever seen. There are plans to work on it for the next release, things like customizable shortcuts are also planned. I don't know how major the interface changes are going to be, but it definatly needs works.

Nothing can beat Maya's interface though! I love how you can change it compeltly with a few clicks

[lyceum]

The great thing about blender is that once you learn how to use it, the program feels like an extention of your arms. It is that natural. I love it, and there are lost of resourse links (how to's etc) on their sites. The Blender monthly mag is free and great too.