Illustrator is essential. It's more like photoshop than like Flash. Illustrator is a vector based program. Vector based means that it is good to use to make logo's and etc. because vector based images can be enlarged to an unlimited extent without losing detail.

As far as Bryce goes, unless your big into 3D, don't bother. I had some versions of it and it was fun at first, but I'm not a big 3D design type person or animator so I just threw it to the side.

Just keep playing in Illustrator and going through tutorials. Learn to use the Pen tool, its your good companion in Illustrator.

 

gotcha thanks donkeywood