Hello guys! Here's what I have come up with based on the Lion Dance idea.

Played around with the proportions quite a bit before coming up with what I like, what I feel will be fun to animate. The one with the white background is the one I like and I'm going to explore from there.

Big head, big eyes and big bottom, short simplistic limbs and less sphisticated patterns on his body. Going for something really stylized and exaggerated.

I've also begin to search for videos of playful cubs and puppies. Hopefully will have some inspiration from there.