@Mathias: Using GIMP at the moment, which doesn't have skeleton animation etc. I don't think.
So am having to animate by hand, drawing each individual frame.
Isn't the software, more like Pix3m stated, it's mostly about skill and artistic talent.
I'm thinking software that provides skeletons for manipulation to create animation will help provide an easier way to get satisfactory results,
instead of having to hand draw everything frame by frame.
Do you know if this program Spine provides good support for 16x16 sprites?