What are the best programs used in 3D video ?

1- Maya
2- 3ds Max 3-IllusionMage

if you mean3D Animation you have: Autodesk Maya,3D Max and Softimage. plus Cinema4D, Lightwave, Blender and Houdini.

if you mean3D Video compositing: Nuke, Fusion and little After effects

It depends on the final production of what you want to render.
Sometimes, Maya could be the best option but I heard ALOT about Cinema 4D and 3D Max.
I also Daz 3D is excellent when it comes to rendering human figures and realistic characters.
And for materials and natural textures I heard Cinema 4D could do the job perfectly!

Maya is amazingly powerful.

it is depand on the Animator ...
Some of them likes 3D max, some others likes Maya , Cinma 4D ...
but about me by what i saw ...
i think the best is 3D Max because it have alot of options