HaHaa!  Well, I dunno about "guru".  Maybe "tree wizard" is more appropriate. . I just hate the thought of good talent going to waste just because we get tired.  Sometimes that little bit of encouragement can be what sparks the genius in someone's next piece.  

I guess my lack of context is what makes the animation odd.  Like I said, it's very good!  I think seeing it in a mock-up setting would set my mind right.  That's not possible, I know, considering the contest restraints (I assume it's for the contest? ), but with sprites, I think, we end up putting these little guys into our own little brain-world that is a completely different style than what the artist intended since we don't have the same techniques in mind that made the sprite in the first place. 

But I bet, seeing a game full of little *foobaw* dudes moving the same way, I wouldn't have even noticed.  

I hope you make more. 

Oh, the pause is intentional! The animation is a little snappy, and it's probably because of the lack of subpixeling. I suppose the quick starting and stopping kind of betrays the desired illusion of weight.

By the way, your icon really fits the things you say in an odd sort of way. Like some kind of old guru.

Very good!  Your conception of character doesn't look like it needs work.  Very planned out regarding shape and color.  The animation isn't even that bad!  It's sort of odd in a way, but I think it's not far off from being super smooth.  It seems like it skips and pauses and then keeps going. Maybe it's missing a frame?  Either way, I really like it!  Keep it up!