Caligari Truespace is a 3D modeling program like Maya or 3D Studio Max. For some reason Caligari has decided to distribute the current version for free, no strings attached. Also available (and what makes this doubly-valuable) are free video courses. With Truespace, you can create and animate 3D objects -- just like Pixar.

Caligari has been acquired by Microsoft, so it's quite likely this is a limited-time offer. There are several hundred megabytes of files to download, so best get on it right away. Here are the links:

Truespace:

http://www.caligari.com/Products/trueSpace/tS75/brochure/intro.asp?Cate=BIntro

Training videos:

http://www.caligari.com/products/trueSpace/ts5/Courses/WorkspaceOrganicModeling1.asp?Cate=Training&Subcate=Fundamental

Registration is required (name, email address, etc.), but it's free.

I have no connection with Caligari, but thought this was a terrific offer.

thanks a lot for the tip

This is incredible news, what with Softimage/Avid finally dropping the axe on XSI Foundation; great to see people still have some sort of low budget option. Grab it while it's hot!

Any one knows how this software compares with Blender, which is also free?

TrueSpace is really quite powerful and I think there's even a connection to use the VRay renderer.

I had Truespace installed and while it's a great package, the user interface is completely unique and idiosyncratic - no drop down menus, just a zillion icons around the edge of the screen. Forget what one of them means and you're a cooked goose.

It's a really quite capable package.

But I could never remember what icon meant what so I gave up on it and am now using Cinema 4D.

The TrueSpace forums, by the way were great.