Good animation/modeling software for beginners?

[jcup]

Hello, I am really interested in animation and modeling/creating characters, in-game weapons, maps, and everything along those lines. I'm fairly young (19) and I've always been interested in this kind of stuff but never knew where to start since my school doesn't offer any classes along these lines. I have no experience with advanced software so simplicity or something easy-to-learn would be perfect. I wouldn't want something that requires a monthly fee since I don't even know how to use it as well. I have Windows 8 so if you have any suggestions please let me know! There is a ton of software like this on Steam but I dont know where to start. If you want more information on what exactly I want to do then please feel free to ask and I will respond ASAP. Thank you!

 

[Sixsa]

I believe Blender is still freeware (Things might have changed don't quote me!) but it should still remain to be one of the greatest beginning and intermediate softwares out there for modeling and animation. Any modeling and animation software is going to be "hard" to learn or use, especially industry standards like Maya or Cinema4D, and blender will be no different. But a few tutorials later and it will seem so much easier.