Learning 3D Animation

I would say school is the best, but under a full-time working condition, no. 3D animation takes up a LOT of time, not just in creating the stuff, but rendering it as well. Depending on how big the project gets, it can take hours just to let it sit and render.

I took one class for it in college and we used a program called Cinema 4D. It's pretty average I think for a 3D program. The best of the best is probably Maya though. As for books, I'm not sure, but I do know there are tutorials online, along with some previously made objects that you can download to play aaround with. Whichever way you go, good luck!

Jam it back in, in the dark.