>>37392901>It's similar to how Oshawott's line went from ordinary otters to otters with shell weapons (based on how real otters use tools and shells) to a samurai theme based off of that shell weapon concept.>Based on how real otters use tools and shellsYou've kind of proven the point. The Oshawott line takes an idea from its real-life basis, expands upon it, and then cleverly ties it into another, seemingly disparate concept.
>Otters using shells as tools >Otters using shells as weapons (several types of shell are sharp or even blade-like, such as razor shells)>Otters using shells as armor (it's literally what shells are for)>Otters using shells as samurai armor (samurai helmet design often included shells, like pic related)>Result: Samurai otters with shell armor and bladed shell weapons There's a clear logical progression there with no big leaps between any of the ideas presented, and everything is backed up by other details, which is what makes the overall concept of the line so strong.
On the other hand, while the Aguade line also takes an idea from its real-life basis and expands on it, it fails to effectively tie in its other idea because it has no solid connection to the first.
>Marine iguanas with salt on its body>Marine iguanas with salt armor (doesn't really have a basis, but it's a believable evolution of the original idea)>Marine iguanas with salt armor that fight (fighters wear armor sometimes? It's not at all clear what specific kind of fighter the line is actually based on, if any, which doesn't help here)>Result: Fighter marine iguanas with salt armorThe progression here is much harder to follow, and it takes a significant leap to connect the salt armor idea and the fighter idea to one another, so it ends up feeling tacked on. It's also worth noting that the fighter elements hardly manifest in the designs at all until the final stage, which makes it even more jarring.
