I've always wanted to make a top down version of my Customizable Pixel Character pack, but still struggling.
Viewing post in Pixel Art Top Down - Village comments
I have drawn a32x32 topdown character walking in four directions a while ago. I'll be more than happy to share it with you to use as the base for your characters.
Of course, your characters are usually taller, you might prefer one of the many free templates that look much better than mine.
Usually starting a new one is the biggest hurdle, but starting with a template solves that issue.