I've looked into a fair amount of animation resources (spending nearly a month on it before posting here in an attempt to resolve my current problem) but can't seem to get this right.

This is my downward walk:



If anyone knows a better way to get gif images here I'd like to know. I use Graphicsgale but know how to export to Photoshop in order to make them into Gifs.

I'm unable to give him a running animation for some reason. It always comes off as too flexible or weird. I'm looking to also create a Wind Waker style lunge (where Link leaps in the air at an enemy) but the same problem occurs. These guys have weapons and hold a traditional shield but for efficiency I've kept them separate from the soldier sprites, opting instead to simply overlay them atop the animation.
Here's a screenshot of them with equipment:


Edit: I forgot to mention this but I must not have saved my failed attempts. I'm going to work on an animation for both so that I can provide some sort of "jumping off point" for guidance. That'll be tomorrow though as it's already 10pm.

For one that's obviously Cyndaquil, like in a legally questionable way, so you really shouldn't go with that design if you don't want to get called out by everyone and possibly C&D'd by Nintendo. Sorry to be so frank.

Secondly that's a really big sprite, so animating it will be a nightmare. Pixel art is best looking and most practical when its relatively small, like a quarter of that size. If you want them to be that big though you should look into other media, either vectors or straight illustration.

Was hoping I'd be able to avoid legal action by adjusting it, but yeah, you're right, I'll have to alter the design rather heavily. Other than that, how would you suggest I go about it, then? I don't want my game to look like Risk of Rain (I don't like how "small" it looks and how much everything is spaced and stuff) but I do really want to use pixel art as a medium for this project, as I'm loving it.

Just joined because of you (and a hearty recommendation by one of the two people who created Risk of Rain).

It honestly looks really good to me. I don't know what's art style and what's just rough, so I'll point out what I see. Right now, your work is giving me a "Hearty and powerful wolf-like dog who's definitely of a wiser and non-youthful state" vibe. He definitely seems like the type that would protect whomever's the target of his current emote (the word I'm looking for is giving me a 404).

The fur doesn't appear plastic to me, but (and I'm sure this is what he was getting at) it does appear somewhat grizzled/"clumpy"/grouped in clusters similar to that of one with dreadlocks (that same idea, I mean). That's fine if you're going for the rustic/rural/man with his dog in the mountains look, but if that's not what you're going for definitely split up the hairs and give them far more varying lengths. The more variation and light difference, the more youthful and well-kept the dog will look, so balance it as you see fit. I actually like the tongue, to be honest. But it's the same as I said above, if you're looking for something more youthful and excited, it needs to extend further downward, potentially grow more sloppy, and right now it feels like it's a bit on the thin side (indicating the dog may need water or something). It all fits thematically in that sense, but if that wasn't your intent, definitely do some of the above. And if you're going to make the tongue like that, be sure to add highlights, as otherwise it does appear to be rather dry, whereas most dogs are choking on spit because it's everywhere in there.