Real fake or fake real?

Before development of Tiggerbush can really begin, an important decision must be made. This problem is whether to aim for a realistic cat, or a characterised toon version. Consider the two interpretations below. They are both of the same subject; the saber toothed tiger. The cartoon version is from Ice Age, and the realistic depiction is from 10,000 BC.





There are serious considerations for both versions. The toon version may be too far from what the client has in mind, but the realistic version is probably out of my reach and skills at the moment. The only way I will find out which is best to do (or how far down the middle to go) is simply to get stuck in and see how it evolves. This is a haphazard, though often effective approach. Either way, time is short and I must get started.