Blender

Blender is an open source 3D animation software package. It can be used for modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, skinning, animating, rendering, particle and other simulations, non-linear editing, compositing, and creating interactive 3D applications.

Blender has a powerful feature set comparable in scope and depth to high-end 3D software such as Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, Maya, Lightwave and Softimage XSI. These features include advanced simulation tools such as rigid body, fluid, and softbody dynamics, modifier based modeling tools, powerful character animation tools, a node based material and compositing system and Python for embedded scripting

Highlander offers the following Blender course:

Blender 2.5 Getting Started

This 2 day beginners course takes you through many of the core skills needed to produce high quality 3D content using the Blender package.  The instructor, has been working with Blender for a number of years in addition to which he is a long standing Adobe Authorised Instructor.

Blender 2.49 Intro
This online course covers topics such as the Blender Interface, shortcuts, moving, scaling, rotating, basic modelling, materials and textures, and simple rigging. It allows you to get up to speed with Blender quickly and efficiently, and combines a mixture of flash based video presentations from our instructors, sample files, exercises and real world examples as well as an online support forum where you can fire questions at our instructors when you get stuck.