Hi George
I would first take a look at the thread below. This gives a brief overview of our three main product lines and explains some of the differences.
https://forum.reallusion.com/295588/Confused-About-Which-Product-To-BuyIf you do decide to go with Cartoon Animator 4, then you will only need to decide if you want the Pro or Pipeline version (and optionally if you also want to be able to do facial motion capture using a webcam or iPhone).
The basic differences between Pro and Pipeline is that Pipeline allows you to link directly to a PSD compatible image editor like Photoshop to make creating custom characters easier. With the Pro version you don't have PSD import and export options but you can still create custom characters directly within CTA4 itself. This is the main difference but you can see all the differences between versions
HERE.
Please Note: Both Pro and Pipeline versions contain the bone system needed to animate full bodied characters. This does not require additional purchase.
For pricing, please visit the page below. You really only need CTA4 itself to get started, but if you may also want to use facial mocap in the future, it can be cost effective to buy a bundle containing this to start with.
https://www.reallusion.com/store/product.html?l=1&p=ctaPlease feel free to let us know if you have any other questions.
Peter
Forum Administrator
www.reallusion.com