>>37587317I just can't agree with you on that. I genuinely think it is one of the cutest, prettiest and maybe not quite eeriest but definitely up there designs in the franchise. And maybe I am putting too much thought into it but that's part of the fun, is it not? Exploring a design for all its possible inspirations; thinking about how the different aspects of a design come together as a whole; theorycrafting on how said design goes about its life inside the world it lives in. I'll even admit that I usually gravitate towards fairly one-note designs, but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna take them at face value. It's just fun to go into depth about things that may or may not be there.
As for the head frill, it gives the design a more regal feel with a tiara-like symbolism and adds onto its pretentiousness with a bit of "I'm royalty" flair, and really helps separate the forehead from the hair - the transition is a bit jarring without it. The spikes are likely to stabilise its swimming, giving a little fantasy boost towards just how nimble sea lions are underwater.
