Animated sprites are a sequence of static images which, when played, appear to have a movement. It lets the player know that they are running, when they are attacking with a sword, and that a button is clickable. Good games have animation on everything interactive and often on many of the background elements, so much so that you may not even notice it. It is the tiny details such as animation that really breathe life into a game.
Creating animation takes time and a sharp eye, but basic animation, even of characters, can be done by everyone. There are a few important rules to follow to make animating easier. First, it is about the appearance of an action, rather than the accuracy of an action. As can be seen in the following screenshot, the first sword set swinging animation is technically accurate; the sword would be in each of these positions. However, the second set will appear more natural as it includes a blur effect that one would...