Hi,

I have both 3DS Max 2010 and Motion Builder.  As for 3DS, I have quite a lot of experience, but next to nothing when it comes to actual animation.  Now, what I was wondering was, since I am learning about this (animation), would it make sense learning it through Motion Builder, or just to stick with 3DS Max?  I’m looking into rigging and skinning as well.  I guess my question in part is: does it make sense to export and import anything back and forth, or can it all really be done as well in 3DS Max?

Thanks for any replies.

HL

I would say if your just trying to learn animation better, do it on MAX First because you know the software, it is very hard to learn both an art form and a software workflow at the same time.

and yes you can do great animation in any of the current 3d platforms, MAya, XSI, MAX, MOBU, Blender, Houdini, Reflex etc. 

http://www.paulneale.com/product...nAnimationCharacters.html

go grab the pen characters and start animating, don’t worry about the rig, or the software, just animate.

Motionbuilder is great for lots of things but in your case I would say wait.

They are all “hammers”, if two people pick up hammers one can build a house with it while the other only smash their thumb-the difference? One all ready smashed their thumb over and over again practicing to become a carpenter while the other person hasn’t. 

Grab a rig, get to thumb smashing and be glad that animation is much less painful:)

Brad

Brad Clark
Co-Founder: Rigging Dojo-Teaching the art and science of character rigging
Author: Inspired 3D Advanced Rigging
The Character Animator Toolkit for Motionbuilder :available now: