I am specifically looking for a 3d animation editing tool that can work with these regular .flc files.
Hello Klauros and Welcome to Civfanatics
The term "work with" is a rather broad statement... Work with in what way?
Here are some programs concerning working with and making Unit Animations:
SBB v 1.06 is Free here.
Flicster and Civ3FlcEdit free here.
Jasc Animation Shop 3.11 is free.
FastStone Photo Resizer 4.4 is free.
PEdit palette editor is free.
Photo Editing Program... Gimp is free. There are many programs you can buy. I prefer Paint Shop Pro 9 Full Version if you can find it possibly at EBay, etc...
Sound editing program... Audacity is free. I like Sound Forge Audio Studio to buy.
3d Animation Program... There are several free programs such as Daz Studio and Blender but I prefer Poser. You can look for at least an old version such as Poser 6 to buy from some one possibly at EBay, etc...
Keep in mind that ALL 3d Animation Programs (free or not) have a "Learning Curve" that you will have to spend time to learn.
UVMapper is Free to work on Texture Maps for 3d Models, used in 3d Animation Programs.
Note: Keep in mind that you cannot use a 3d Animation Program to edit an existing flc because you have to have the 3d Model that was used as well as the Animation files that were made for the Animations.
3d Animations are for loading 3d Models and animating them. the other programs are used in various ways to create the Flcs from the Rendered animations made in a 3d Animation Program.
You can manually adjust Storyboards made with Flicster using a Photo Editing Program. This can be simple or complex to the point of being very time consuming and limited.
IF you want to make your own Unit Flcs you need to start with 3d Models and a 3d Animation Program... that said, you can use a Good Photo Editing program or Animation Shop to manually create a Unit Flc.
It really depends on what you want to do concerning Flcs.
For example, if you just wanted to make some simple adjustments you can use Flicster to generate Storyboards then edit them in several ways in a Photo Editor. There have been many Flcs made with Photo Editors using Copy and Paste techniques.
If after you understand everything involved concerning creating new Units and want to do it as a serious Hobby, I recommend buying Poser and Paint Shop Pro.
Begin with deciding on what you want to do
specifically, then go from there. Then you can add more programs for new abilities as you understand what is needed.
One last point: when you get into the creation of Art work and possibly 3d Animation, you will be "hooked" for life because it is all Great Fun and Very Rewarding
