Your imgur links work fine as embedded images. The other host doesn't and it converts your stuff to JPG, so f**k that website.




First of all. Don't scale images this much. 1000% is okay if you're making really tiny sprites, but that last image is far wider than the average monitor...


Then, about the style, I don't like it because it's not consistent. In the last image you're using pixels scaled to 500%, 1000% and 1500%. That just looks messy. Keep your pixelgrid consistent. Either go with the smaller pixels and refine the outlines of things like the hair etc, or go with the large pixels and figure out a way to make the detail work at low res.

Other than that there isn't very much to say. It's simple, it's recognizable, it's not particularly original but it does a fine job.

Just make some at different sizes and post them here. Here are two of my takes;

First try at a run cycle. Needs work but it reads alright. Looks better in game when it plays a little faster than this.



EDIT: Tried another pose. Still need to animate his arms slightly.




Edited by link2dpast - 21 January 2015 at 6:00pm

Fixed a few more minor details with his legs and jacket.

The animation looks really jumpy.

I know Naturo has a weird as f**k animation style for running, but it reads badly (probably) because the legs both have the same color. And of course having few frames doesn't help.

What you might want to do is space the frames out to the extremes so you can get a good indication of how the legs stop moving and then reverse in direction. Similar to this image, but even more exagerrated;


(image was made years ago so don't expect the frames to match up with your animation =P)

It's a very rough indication of the motion one foot makes while running. Red means the foot is in the air, green is on the ground. The less frames (or less time, if you're giving frames different timings) you have on the ground, the more fast/extreme/floaty/runny the animation will look.

Don't pay attention to the elliptical shape or spacing, this is just about how long you touch the ground.

Maybe looking at these two videos will also help:
somewhat realistic run
exaggerated run

The second has a much stronger sense of powerful kick off, speed, and exaggeration. It doesn't quite feel appropriate for a ninja because I would expect those to not show kickoff force but be much more nimble and floaty, but it does show stylization and longer airtime.