Animate Objects Created In Photoshop

[tdsilk]

Hello,

I have 3d jpeg objects that I create in adobe photoshop. I would like to animate these objects to do things like:
bend , shake, flip, twist, jump, etc. In another forum I was told that 3dsmax is able to easily do this with
object modifiers and wanted to know how to do the same in Maya? Please provide a step-by-step example
or tutorial if this possible.

Thanks,
Troy