Sorry but this is my opinion: more animation is an important thing, but not the most important, there is some things has to be done first before the animations :)
For the first idea: i don't like it... sorry :s
For the second idea: i don't know what to say... really :blush:
For the third and fourth idea: I like these i deas :)
The one who have black hat is a normal sprite but wearing an item which gives the sprite a hat, That item was a gift from an event, The one who have red hair is a sprite for the old players.