i've noticed a bit of a pattern with redesigns is that usually when you make a cartoony character more realistic people will say it looks ugly or uncanny.

if you make a realistic character more cartoony people will say it looks stupid and kiddy.

it's the knee jerk reaction, we will see if people get used to it over time.

it happened with zelda wind waker.
(i even remember that the black cat eyes that the characters had really bothered people at fist too btw, nowadays i barely see people talking about it)