Funny I was having a similar idea but for creatures attach different legs,arms,wings etc to basic body shape with a head you should try it and see what happens...
Actually just a tube swepted along path with model with flare inside and ring that glows following original path in opposite directions and a few streaks
tubetest.mov
tubetest.zip
tweaked a little and added hair to the edge also notice in the last one the "cell" was not really being completely blocked by the black object ...fixed that now to make it even more springy
microdisc2.mov
disc2.zip
I think its the tolerance have not played much with that was hoping to get a more fluid action just with the movement will have to play with it more also
here is the project including sprite tga
parti1.zip
This was just emitter (not greatly concealed) following path into camera
another sprite with minor changes
parti2.mov
and just for fun a bee (rushed sprite) movie on this one emitter stops 15 frames before the end
parti3.mov
here is something pretty close the project has to be simulated cut off simulation to make file smaller
newclothsnow.mov
Thanks David
newclothsnowlite.zip
This was a real quick trial of the idea so no tweaking and snowflakes are not 5 pointed.. was not sure how making a "sheet" with the dup wizard would simulate