Despite the fact that I haven't even come close to finishing my Ethan model, I couldn't wait a moment longer, and delved into the 3D Package, 3DS Max.
After reading through a few of the tutorial files, and monkeying around with an included example character, I managed to make a funny little man dance around... horribly. At one point his leg turned in an unnatural direction and his spine rotated at least 420-degrees. AKA: Not Pixar quality.
I was rather annoyed with myself that I did not master the application in 2.5 hours. But, there is just so much to this. Trying to navigate around all the menus and keep track of all the variables turns my brain to slush.
It was a sobering splash of water, making me realize just how ambitious doing Disassemblance 3D cartoons truly is.
But, I'm not discouraged. I'm more excited and thrilled by this than any creative venture I've ever undertaken. I've always wanted to be an animator and was only existing as a comic artist due to lack of the necessary skill sets. And 3D animation appeals to me all the more... it is one of the few things that satisfies both sides of my schismed mind: the artistic side and the techinical side.
It's coming along!
I have spent an ungodly amount of time on Ethan's hair (a tick under 60K polys), but I'm pretty happy with the results.
Next, I'm moving onto the body, which shouldn't be too difficult.
But the question is... will the 3Dis Characters have fingers?