My current project is a game much like the Jrpgs that Square made for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is nearing the end of its first cycle of coding and I would like to have at least one model for the the alpha release. It will require multiple characters but for now I would like to start with one. If things go well, I would request that the same artist work on the next characters and any other items I need.

The game setting is fantasy, I would like the character to be a Holy Knight. I would like the art style to be in the same vein as other JRPGs.

I would like each frame to be 128x128.

The character needs to have:
2 weapon sets. Those two sets would be 2 handed hammer and sword + shield.
Each of those 2 weapon sets should have animations sequences for:
Idle
Melee attack (swing weapon)
cast a spell (not sure how this would look maybe raising hands)
die
block
and switch from 1 weapon set to the other.
The sequences can be short.