I was thinking of doing some animation. Does anyone have any advice on what programs to use and what to start on e.g. short sketches etc. Thanks in advance 
Animation
What type of animation 2d or 3D?
Flash is a pretty good un to start with you can produce pretty nice 2d stuff on that and there are loads of support forums etc.
3d max I use, and Maya for 3d 2d its toon boom studio all the way baby!!
I was thinking of starting off with 2d animation with the ultimate goal of making a short animated music video to a song what I wrote. It would basically be like the Japanese stuff where little else moves except the lips. I'll have a look at toon boom thanks Gavin, is it free?
Maya is a few grand.
I'm not entirely sure what your trying to do? not like anime? Cowboy Bebop etc?
I'm starting to teach myself Flash again, very, very slowlylyly.
It's looks so impressive even when you draw a crap picture.
Basically Gavin I want to try 2d animation, with characters and a fixed background.
I've found a program called tapptoons, gonna try that out. Thanks Gavin and Leevil.
EDIT: Yay! I made a bouncing ball!
did you put in anticipation and release? I know dodgy sounding buts animation term "I think" thats what I call it anyway
we use flash. great for web based animation although probably fairly limited if you are a serious animator. anyway great pacakge to start on. it costs around £500 (i think). or you could always see a pirate. flash now comes as part of the Adobe creative suite production premium package that's just been released. Has premiere (video editing software) sound booth, flash, photoshop and after effects (special effects and animation) and a couple more. Whole lot is around £1,200. but it's pretty much all you need for a small production suite. Or speak to shoepie - he uses something else - i think its free too.
Moho, I think?
http://www.digicelinc.com/newin4.htm - I had ago at using this, it seems quite easy and effect. I took me a long time to find Long John Silver to unlock the treasure chest though 
I bought a Walt Disney video for my wife. She said she wants to see more animation in the bedroom.
Yeah Moho (a.k.a. Anime Studio) at www.lostmarble.com. The Pro version is about £70 I think.
Thanks everyone