I gather that the movie Cats is not doing well, and one of the reasons is that the design of the feline people is creepy. Perhaps the film makers should have considered the Japanese approach.
(The screen caps are from Asobi Ni Iku Yo, a fun show but too off-color to recommend.)
There was to be a Steven Spielberg- directed traditionally animated version about 20 years ago, but it was cancelled in favor of other projects. I’ve seen character design sheets and a few mocked-up backgrounds and MAN it was criminal that that version got cancelled and we got…..what we got….instead.