OpenGL & 3ds max

I worked a lot with both OpenGL and 3ds max, and i understand how it all works. So i'm looking for an api that can load an animated model ( it doesn't have to be *.max, anything will do ) and display it in OpenGL.
So does anyone knows about such API.
If such api doesn't exists, i'm willing to do my own loader, just that i don't know which file format supports animation, and some links about 3d file formats would be appretiated.
I found an API which loads *.obj, but it doesn't support animation...

You can find the .3ds spec (and an implementation) here http://www.wotsit.org/
I don't know if the example there supports animation

That helped a lot thanks. I'l check these samples and report.

I have run alot of tests, and my conclusion is that the best file format is Half Life's *.mdl. *.3ds is to complicated... Does someone know of a way to export a mdl from 3ds max ( with animations, bones, stuff like that )?

I have written a 3ds loader, but it doesn't support animatet models. I found a plugin site which has a MDL exporter: http://www.bricksbuilder.com/nwn/utils/

I really don't like writing file loaders, it's so much thinking ;)

Daniel

that is neverwinter's night's mdl exporter, not half life's.

Oh, I thought they were the same, srry :o Well, try to google for it ;)

Ok i found the thing i need, it's the valve's half life sdk. Which includes "studiomdl.exe" to compile *.mdl from *.smd and textures, and ...
Thanks for help anyway.

Hey i need a similar loader like you to use a .max file containing animation, bone , texture, and ragdoll physics in opengl. Any help from your side will be much appreciated. I do realize its a 5yr old thread but still hoping for the best :).

Check out ASSIMP for model loading. It can load more model formats than you know what to do with.. Open Asset Import Library