Looking for feedback on some character concept art

[JustLuke29]

Here are two alternative concept sketches for the main character in an Arabian Nights style story. He claims to be a heroic Sinbad-like sea captain/adventurer, but in reality he's just an opportunist thief and swindler; think Jack Sparrow crossed with Sinbad.

So what I'd like to know is:

If I hadn't written the above description of the character, what sort of personality do you think would best fit these two portraits?

Generally speaking, do you prefer a cartoony or more "traditional" art style?

Which portrait do you prefer and why?

Anything else you can tell me?

[JustLuke29]

... And here's a quick and dirty sketch of the character's body.

[lo_res_man]

I would mix the turban with the trickster type look of the more cartoonie guy, the fez, in my view, makes him look silly, not a jack sparrow type character. But both are wonderful. but for a tricky mischievous look, the guy on the left is best. 

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

The face on the right looks far more thuggish, rugged and opportunistic than the left.  The left guy looks like some kind of happy merchant.  Even cartoony you should increase the ear size and lower the right one a bit.  Nice work!

[Maltjik]

I agree with Lo_res_man that the cartoony guy should have a turban. Mostly because he gets too much of an Aladdin feel with the fez.
Other than that, they both look good. There's alot of reasons to use A, but equally many to use B.
I think you should go with the cartoony one, cause the cartoony style is alittle easier on the eye. He also looks like a guy I'd have an easier time identifying with.

[JustLuke29]

Re: The ear size - good advice, thanks. I'll increase the size for future versions of the character.

Re: Fez vs. Turban - I prefer the idea of the turban too, just not how I drew it. I'm trying to think ahead and reduce complexity to make the character easier to draw and animate in the future. I'll experiment with different turban styles and if I can come up with something that looks decent (and is quick and easy to draw) then I'll replace the fez.

Does anyone have any more suggestions? The body that I sketched is only a (very) rough placeholder and I want to completely alter both the style (making it more cartoony to match the left head) and the clothing (because it looks too much like Aladdin). Any ideas?

Without delving into politics, do you think that an Arabian Nights style setting featuring cartoony Arab characters is acceptable to people these days? Too sensitive a theme? Unappealing due to the Iraq situation? This will be a commercial project so, obviously, this is important.

P.S. I do appreciate the critiques but I am difficult to bruise and I don't have any artistic ego - so be brutal. If there is something you don't like, or just plain sucks, then please don't pull your punches.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

It doesn't really matter where you base the game as long as the humor (if there is any) is clearly humor and not intentional insult...Though that whole issue with the finnish comics and muhammed carrying a bomb on his turban may make you want to consider what is humorous and what is insulting.

[pslim]

The guy on the left looks very benign to me. I suppose that would be good for his trade but not so good if you're wanting to quickly and visually express character traits... especially given that he's done in a cartoony style which usually is more expressive of personality at first glance than a realistic style would be (after all, in real life a murderer and a [uncorrupted] priest might not look so different if they stood side by side wearing street clothes).

I think the left one is more visually interesting than the right one, but the way you've drawn him doesn't scream opportunistic thief... it doesn't even say happy-go-lucky trickster. More jolly merchant, as someone else said.

[MashPotato]

I like both character designs, but the one on the left appeals to me more.Ã,  I made a quick paintover (mostly by incorporating characteristics from the one on the right), so he would look less "jolly merchant-y".Ã,  However, in making all these changes, I think some of the appeal of the character has been lost, so these are just changes to give you some ideas:




Changes:
-changed shape of the nose to match the design on the right
-enlarged ear
-made his eyebrow a bit more downturned (similar to the one on the right)
-less smiley
-thickened outline of the bottom of the eye
-lowered lid of his eyes, so his eyes are slightly smaller
-trimmed the curl of the mustache
-simplified shading of the eye so they are less sparkley

Keep up the good work! ^_^

[n3tgraph]

Not like it's a bad thing, but..

with the body he kinda looks like aladdin!
Thought I just say it

Great character tho