Another good video tutorial site would be
http://www.lynda.com/ and covers alot of famous software. The videos are free but with a subscription you can get some extra's. So far I have never had the need to subscribe as all that is available is enough already.
I use 3D Studio MAX myself for game development and creation of random art but it's more of a free-time hobby thing. Other animation software I have tried are Maya, Blender and XSI but I feel most at home with 3dsmax. Just choose the software you work best with, you can produce top quality with all of them
Jam it back in, in the dark.