i would like to know where to find professional quiality (3ds max, bryce, maya, etc..) 3D modeling/animation software for linux. in windows i use 3d studio max 2.5, but i hate windows, and this is the only thing holding me back from switching 100%. i dont like blender, AC3D, or those cheap ones. i want something like bryce or maya or 3ds max. weblinks and names would be nice, lol.

i was watching a documentary on the star wars episode 2 dvd, and i saw that the 3d modeling software used to make yoda was running on red hat linux 7.1, so i know there's at least ONE out there.

The platform and the app and the system are sifferent things of course. That Redhat 7.1 distibution was probably tweaked, and running on an SGI Onyx Vector Supa-Doopa Laserlight Workstation.

I know that that recent film with the animated white mouse and the film Ice Age were donw using our nearest and deares gimp. Another good raytracer is povray. Those are the free ones I know of, but I'd be interested to hear of any more.

Well there is one that comes with SuSE 8.1. called sced it is a scene editor & animater for ray tracers never used it so I don't know what it is like I think the one that came with SuSE 8.0 was called Moonlight 3D never used that either though look on one of the many linux app. sites, you will find a few I think.

SGI is on its way out. My school used to have a Silicon Graphics lab or two and we're unloading them all now via ebay. Companies like Pixar just use linux clusters now.