One of the ways to create great animations is with 3DMagixPro program. It has been designed by professional 3D animators and also software experts. The combination of both professions has resulted in a great program that is accessible to folks of all levels. One thing I love about 3DMagix is the ease of use. You do not need any technical knowledge or software experience. I was able to create a 3d model of my son in about 2 hours after viewing the tutorials.
The interface is user friendly and intuitive. There is a wide range of features like most hi-end 3d animation software has. It has a robust feature set similar in scope and depth to other high-end 3D software such as SoftimageXSI, Cinema 4D, 3Ds Max and Maya.
Get the best of both worlds in 1 software - It combines the aritechtural power of 3D Studios Max and Animation Effects of Maya
Another thing to mention is that 3DMagixPro offers perfect shadowing effect that will stun you with its realistic performance. The water ripples and the shadows of objects were breath-taking when rendered.
One really great thing about the program is the amount of video tutorials that 3D Model offer. There are hours and hours of lessons to get you started. This alone is worth the price of the software.
The Bottom Line:
It's a fraction of the price of Max or Maya, and much, much, much easier to use. It also produces surprisingly good renders. It may not do everything the larger graphics programs do, but I would highly recommend it for hobbyists, independent artists and small studios looking for an entry-level solution that can produce professional quality results at a very reasonable price.