How can i improve this skill overall?

Your drawing problems are going to be the root of your pixel problems for a long time to come.
You improve your pixelling by being able to draw first, that's 90% of your skill.
After that is a long period of fine tuning and study of pixel-specific topics, color management, tiles.
Check the resources thread for tutorials, this thread also answered the question well.

To begin animating a character: what program are you using?

That's gonna be awesome.
First problem is the bottom edge isn't parallel with the top, and more, it actually diverges into space, which is anti perspective.
Make sure all parallels use the same stepping.
Second is the cam isn't cylindrical, so it wouldn't physically be able to turn inside the lock. Looks like it should be shorter and deeper. The cam in your example comes almost to the outside edge, as well.

It looks like you're thinking linearly rather than volumetrically. You have many anatomical features outlined but no shadow.
As far as fur, texture—that's secondary. You must subordinate details to form. After everything's defined, a few pixels of dither is all it takes to suggets texture.
Also I noticed you're working on a white background. Stop.

If we can't see the chest extending past his right leg then it is a short chest, and he would be sitting on its left edge not the middle. Since his body does not follow the same perspective he is then sitting diagonally on it.
Not a very comfortable position, he doesn't look committed to his seat as you would if you were pondering what you were reading.
A key flaw in the pose is the left arm, he is either practicing soliloquy or resting his chin which it seems more likely you were going for.
Rest your chin on your hand, with your elbow in mid air. Naturally the elbow wants support, which leads to him looking like he is posing.
He should be absorbed in his action, so that we can believe it.