Polytrans by Okino Computer Graphics
can be used to load 3D file formats and export them in other formats, including RIB
Polytrans for max can be used for example from max to output RIB files !
Let's start with the export options of the RIB file format
The interesting thing here is "Output NURBS patches as polygons" and Flip normals (in case of problems)
Now what you can enable or disable
Ok so we got UV, Nurbs patches, cameras, lights etc..
Lot of good things overall
Now speaking about animation
Again lot of options here
Good thing is the framerate is printed in the RIB file
Let's see what are the file formats that Polytrans can open and keep animation
There's the full list of supported file formats here
3ds max (.max) via PolyTrans-for-MAX, animation is imported
Lightwave (.lwo .lws) animation is imported
Maya (.ma .mb) via PolyTrans-for-Maya, animation is imported
Autodesk FBX (.fbx) animation is imported
Softimage-XSI (.xsi) animation is imported
Don't forget that some softwares like Cinema 4D already have built-in support for RIB
RIB is a very old file format introduced by Pixar in June 1990, it has been used on tons of movies