just discovered this odd freeware image editor: project dogwaffle
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Ridge/7251/cyberop.htm
looks quite interesting, a bit like painter, natural media painting, plus a welath of filters and stuff.
worth a look, even if it’s only 2d.
I’ll have to give it a look-see. It deserves an award for one of the strangest-named softwares. 
here’s another good one: Moho www.lostmarble.com
that’s a vector based cartoon animation system, using bones in 2d … very cool.
it’s not freeware tho’, but a 30day trial.
OOOOoooooooooooo COOOOOOOOL!!
Thanks _pix!! 