DAZ3D recently released Daz Studio 3D ( as well as Bryce and Hexagon ) for free, at least for a limited time. I immediately downloaded all of them, as I am a sucker for:

• 3D applications
  
• free.
  
  
  
  
  My initial interest was in Hexagon as modelling is the thing I am most interested in, but truth of the matter is it kinda sucked.
  
  
  Studio though was rather intriguing. It basically allows you to bring in 3D models ( which you can buy, use the built ins, or create an import your own ), then apply animations to them and render. It's a bit screwy at times, but truth is, its incredibly easy to use.
  
  In the end, you can actually create animations with incredible ease. I just put together this tutorial, which covers creating a walk cycle character using Daz Studio and The GIMP. That you can make and render a 50 frame walk cycle to a sprite sheet in less than 10 minutes is actually pretty damned impressive. Simply put, if you are artistically challenge, especially when it comes to animation, Daz Studio might be the perfect thing for you.
  
  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Thanks for sharing, sounds like a good technique that saves a lot of effort and doesn't require as much artistic talent as other approaches!