why not just make the whole thing just flat? that render shadow destroys this
i would just blend him so it looks like he's part of the bg, maybe desat the render half way, or full b/w
those colorful doohickey things on the bottom are a nice touch though
your design is better but just looks like an orginary squirrel, 2nd one gets the point across better
just like buzzy, i dont have free time or i would help u out