Open the project called "Tube.c4d"

It's just a tube made from NURB's. Make sure your screen is set to 4-way view

Now add a bone by selecting Objects>Bone Object... from the menu bar.

It should now look like this in the ZY window.

Move the bone to the left end by simply dragging it with the Model Tool selected.

Now by holding the Control key and dragging on the red button at the point of the bone, you can add bones in a chain with the hierarchy already in place.

You can move the bones now but they don't have any deforming effect on the object just yet. They need to be in the hierarchy of the object they'll be bending first.

You can create an Empty Object and drag both the bones and the NURB Object in as children or in this case simply drag the bones into the NURB Object. You do this in the Object Manager.

Now in the Object Manager click on the top bone in the hierarchy with the Command key held down (right click in windows). In the menu that pops up select Fix Bones. It will ask if you want sub objects to be included, select yes. This tells the program that the bones are in their resting position and when they are moved from this position they will also deform the object they are attached to.

Now when you move the bones you'll see your object deforming, try moving the bone on the right with the Model Tool in the Rotate mode and you will see the tube deform with the bone.

Voila, character animation! Well kinda. To get even more control move to Phase 2