How's Motionbuilder to work with? Broad question I know, but can it be summed up briefly? Doesn't have to be a perfect presentation, but I have never seen it at all, and I am easily impressed.

I do only art and anatomy studies to learn and improve slowly so far and I am not very technical. One day it would be so much fun to evolve into making decent characters and making stuff move, you know, but it's all science fiction to me. Is it easy to work with? I'd make a lousy TD and cannot figure rigging for the life of me (truth be told I've not invested the time and it is a specialized field that I have nothing but respect for the people doing it).

The principles of animation comes easier with the help of a couple of books. The Illusion of life, and Animator's survival kit.
Come think of it, Mike's books should help with the technical stuff (surfs to a digital bookstore.)