You may try to use UltimateUnwrap3D to convert animated 3ds to b3d, then use AnimB3D, but I don't know if this works. When using the trial version of UU3D you may be able to find out.
Then there is blender that has a 3ds import/export plugin. I don't know if it supports animation though.
Blender is open source/for free and a complex professional freeware. You should think twice before you decide to learn it, it's pretty complicated and not the most userfriendly tool in the world.
http://www.blender.org/cms/Import___Export.5.0.html
(The link to the plugin is down right now, but it seems the current blender distribution comes bundled with it).
BTW if you only want to edit the textures then you don't need a 3d tool, but you can use a painting app to edit them and leave the .3ds files untouched.
Then there is blender that has a 3ds import/export plugin. I don't know if it supports animation though.
Blender is open source/for free and a complex professional freeware. You should think twice before you decide to learn it, it's pretty complicated and not the most userfriendly tool in the world.
http://www.blender.org/cms/Import___Export.5.0.html
(The link to the plugin is down right now, but it seems the current blender distribution comes bundled with it).
BTW if you only want to edit the textures then you don't need a 3d tool, but you can use a painting app to edit them and leave the .3ds files untouched.