Just recently I´ve found it very important
to make a good workflow. This is because
you will be much happier when you know
what to do and cut all the unnecessary hassle
out.

1.
First before you model anything in Cinema 4D
or any 3d software you must write a synopsis
for your story.

2. Draw a storyboard

3. Make sketches of all scene environments where your characters
will act and after this make some more detailed sketches
of your environment and models you need to do.
Make simple sketches of your character movements.
You can first draw on the paper and scan afterwards. I have even made idea sketches
in metro on one early morning.

4. Make a list of all models and props in animation.

You can also buy or download models if you don´t have
time to model everything or lack in some specific area
to model a car or a cellphone.

5. Modeling and lighting.
I would personally see lighting more important than texturing
so you should definitely start with lighting after your
models are almost finished.

6. Texturing

7. Post Production
You will perhaps have to start some little color tweaking in
lighting part and tweak and finalise your images in post-production.
You can also use After Effects for still images if you are making
animation to have less time switching between Photoshop and AE.

Links and videos

3D Animation Workflow (PDF)

http://www1.chapman.edu/ftvtutorials/3dAnimationProductionWorkflow.pdf

Documents:

http://documentsearch.org/pdf/animation-production-workflow.html