I'm not completely new to pixel art (though I've only been doing it six months), but my first couple of games didn't involve much more animation. My current effort, Oliver and the Basilisks, is a top-down, turn-based game similar to Daleks, and will require more animation. Here's my basilisk's walking animation (I'll probably post Oliver's later today). Feedback greatly appreciated.

Looking at it now, I guess I should probably have the head move a bit.

In the actual game, though, the animation won't be looping. Since it's turn-based, the basilisks will only move one square at a time, and I think one eight-frame animation is enough for that.