>>43875237my opinion - water starter is on point, really well done, looks cute enough that I would train it, the expression is visible which in design is the best conveyor of character, there are few elements that stand out - eyes shape, unique mouth shape, coral at the back. Also, colors go well together, I can imagine how it moves and exists in general.
The other two, I don't like that much, but the second best would be the grass one.
I guess it's an elephant that has a mountain on its ... head, back? That's the first problem - is it supposed to be a rock that is and elephant or and elephant that is rocky? Eyes and mouth don't do much in terms of expression, I can't quite tell if this is an open mouth or a red belly. The elephant features such as the trunk, ears, limbs and tail are very bland, just typical and non-exciting. Also, while writing I think I got why I think about this in terms of a rock - the jade-like shade of green with shading that gives off a shine-like quality to it, with a mossy top. Maybe you can lean into this quality and design the first stage in a kind of a "faberge egg" with the later evos exploring ideas like crystal animals and other shiny things? (the type of stuff you can buy on the vacation abroad and other stuff like that, I don't know if there is a specific word for that?).
And the candle-mouse is gimmicky from the start, I don't like the expression and face in general, it's completely 2D without any depth, it seems to have the mouth only on the one side of the face lie it's some Picasso painting. The "mane" (?) I suppose is wax but might as well be a melting cheese (also, the yellow shade chosen is kinda ugly, it reminds me of the cheese in the can, maybe that's where the idea of melting cheese came to my mind). The tail looks like a gummy worm with its two colored pattern, with marshmallow on the top (damn what's with the food). The fire and candle wick look tacky. Ears and hands just lazy. From what I like - paws are fine.
