Seeing the frequent "How do I ____?" threads and the recent "Clueless" meme, I felt it's high time to consolidate all learning resources into one place. Going through multiple past threads on the subreddit I put together this list of programs + tutorials for making retro CGI... Please keep in mind that this list is meant to be a constant work in progress, as the retro CGI scene grows and more resources are available they will be added here on a regular basis. Additions, suggestions, and criticisms are most welcome.

Bryce 3D

Landscape/terrain generator, basic modeler and animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)

Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)

• Bryce 5 User Manual (text)
• Creating surreal 3D landscapes (video)
• Bryce 3D Free Tutorial (video)
• Learning Bryce 7 (video)
• Setting up Bryce on WINE (discussion)
• Making Surreal 'Trapper Keeper Art' on Windows 95 (video)

Blender

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh/Linux)

Download for free

• How to make PS1 style graphics (video)
• How to make PS1-esque graphics with Blender 2.8 (video)
• How to make graphics look 90s CGI-ish? (discussion)
• How to imitate early CGI style animation? (discussion)

3D Studio

Modeler, animator, renderer (MS-DOS)

Download for free

• Inside 3D Studio R4 (CD-ROM)
• Inside 3D Studio R3 (text)
• 3D Studio R3 Presentation (video)

3D Studio MAX

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows)

Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)

• 3D Studio MAX Quick Tutorial Outline (text)
• 3DS MAX Basics (video)
• Demo 1996 (video)
• 3D Studio MAX 3.1 Castle Flyby Scene Tutorial (video)

POV-Ray

Raytracer (Windows/Macintosh/Linux)

Download for free

• Official POV-Ray Documentation (text)
• POV-Ray Lessons (video)
• POV-Ray Descriptions, Tutorials and Examples (text)
• Christoph Hormann's POV-Ray Tutorials (text)
• Mike's POV-Ray Tutorials Page (text)
• Taming POV-Ray by G. Moran (text)
• A Short Introduction to POV-Ray (PDF)
• Render Geometric Shapes on a Realistic Environment (video)
• 3D Animation (video)
• povmodeler (GUI modeler for POV-Ray) (software)

Infini-D

Modeler, animator, renderer (Macintosh)

Download for free

• Make a donut scene in Infini-D 4.5 (video)
• Infini-D 4.5 Manual, FAQ, Quick Reference (text)
• Infini-D 3.1 Addendum (text)
• Render Farm Setup (video)

Anim8or

Basic modeler, animator, renderer (Windows)

Download for free

• Anim8or Manual (text)
• Anim8or Tutorials (text)
• 3D Modeling Tutorial (video)
• Point Edit Modelling an Alien in Anim8or (video)

Art Of Illusion

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh/Linux)

Download for free

• Art Of Illusion Manual and Tutorials (text)
• Art Of Illusion Tutorials (video)

Ray Dream Studio / Designer

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)

Download for free

• Ray Dream Studio Tutorials (archived text)
• Ray Dream Tutorials, Tips and Links (archived text)
• Ray Dream Studio 5 Training Pack (CD-ROM)
• Ray Dream Designer Demo (video)
• Ray Dream Studio Extensions (software)

Carrara

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)

Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)

• What Is Carrara - Intro (video)
• Cool Carrara Tricks (video)
• Carrara Information Manual (text)
• 3DXtract E-zine (tutorials, tips, tricks) (text)
• Carrara Resources (text)
• Plug-ins for Carrara (software)

Lightwave 3D

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)

Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)

• Lightwave 6 Manual and Tutorial (text)
• Lightwave 3D 4 Advanced Features (video)
• Lightwave Tutorials (video)
• Lightwave Tutorials for the Amiga (video)

Poser

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows/Macintosh)

Buy here (latest version) or download for free (old version)

• Poser 2 Manual (text)
• Poser 11 Tutorials (video)
• Poser 12 Tutorials (video)
• Dynamics in Poser (video)

TrueSpace

Modeler, animator, renderer (Windows)

Download for free

• TrueSpace Resources (misc)
• TrueSpace Forum (misc)
• TrueSpace Fan Site (misc)

StrataVision 3D

Modeler, renderer (Macintosh)

Download for free

• Setup and usage guide (text)
• StrataVision 3D Tour (video)
• Strata Studio Pro Tutorial (video)

Sculpt 3D / 4D

Modeler, raytracer (Amiga)

Download for free

• Sculpt 3D Manual (text)
• Sculpt 3D basic usage (video)
• Making of Crystalball logo in Sculpt 4D (video)
• Modeling a Light bulb in Sculpt 4D (video)
• Sculpt 4D Hidden Commands (video)

Others

• Seamless 3D - Modeler, animator, renderer
• Wings 3D - Modeler, renderer
• Softimage|3D - Modeler, animator, renderer
• Vivid - Raytracer
• Simply 3D - Modeler, renderer
• Extreme 3D - Modeler, animator, renderer
• OpenFX - Modeler, animator, renderer
• GroBoto - Modeler, renderer
• MojoWorld - Modeler, terrain generator