>>38454264It's really not. You can see Sugimori's style evolving even between RS and Emerald. Compare the legs and shoes between the protagonists and they're noticeably slimmer. May's hair also begins to lose its rigidity. While those aren't necessarily bad things, the problem with the newer style is that it lacks any sort of rigidity. RS Brendan looks like a sporty jogger clad in clothing with the exceptions of his fingerless gloves and face. His posture goes outward, and coupled with his wide smirk, conveys a strong confidence in himself and competitive spirit. Emerald Brendan doesn't display that level of overconfidence, but his stance is intense and ready for battle. He ultimately appears less cocky and more skilled than his original design, which may be intentional because the players themselves are presumably more experienced.
ORAS Brendan is just kind of there. He has a difficult time conveying his confidence because of the wide eyes. His eyebrows have to do it for him. It's like he's this strange mix of empty cheer with emotive elements stapled on. His stance also lacks any sort of rigidity which is at odds with the confidence they're attempting to convey. His feet are pointing far away from each other and there's nothing to suggest being battle ready as well as the other two Brendans. He's holding a Poké Ball, but cocky RS Brendan is holding his with only two fingers, while Emerald Brendan has his arm fully outstretched defiantly. They also both have fingerless gloves which adds a competitive edge.
