Yeah, the big head was waaay better than this new one. Just make the bear, instead of looking straight at the viewer, turn his head to match the direction the kid is facing, and then make them look at each other...
And indeed, go with the bluelined legs...though his torso would be at a 90degree angle to his legs. Maybe the zipper should spiral around him to show the torso's twist...?
Oh, wait, I just realized snader said pretty much the same thing as me about the bearhat's direction.
Well, to make the two chars look even more integrated, you could make the bear wrap his hind legs around the dudes neck...But keep the front legs like legs. Don't give 'em fingers. Afterall, it is a four-legged animal.
You gonna give this dude arms? If so, maybe a kind of supporting the bear like a parent with a kid on their shoulders does.
Looks like they're being chased by something.
Cool.