you're pro - don't tell nothing about it
also, nice animations I saw on ur channel...
about characters - i don't like and I can't make characters ;p
I think that I'll use 3ds for static pictures - and I'm learning all about it, I really can't help you with animations, characters etc. cause I don't know how xD...
already I started with 3ds max 2012 - it's a bit other than last version of my 3ds max (2010) I don't know many things ;) I'll try make some building or something more interesting than my classroom xDD...