Support for 3DS models in DBP isn't that great. My best advice to you would be to use .x instead or if you can, convert those files from .x into .dbo (DBP's own format), however, .x will suffice and all of my character models are .x and they work fine.
Some .x exporters will allow you to change various settings for you .x objects, so when using one if it doesn't work or a problem occurs (monumentally slow frames or crazy bones) try a different setting...if the exporter doesn't allow you to change settings then try a different exporter.
I use MilkShape 3D to import .obj from my 3D program, animate it from there and export using the DirectX(JT) exporter. These are my settings:
If you're using 3D Studio Max, people tend to use Panda exporter and XSI comes with a decent enough .x exporter, for other programs, I don't know what the decent exporters are. If the object is static then you could just use LithUnwrap (free tool) to convert your .3ds into a .x (it's possible it retains animation data, but I've not tried). There is also a free animation tool that exports to .x called CharacterFX, but it likes crashing for me, hence I don't use it.
