Faeldspr's Top-Down Sprites

[Hoeloe]

Personally, I think the main reason you're having such trouble with the readability is your attitude to it. You've now come up with two reasons as to how it will be cleared up externally from the sprite itself, with animation and a mugshot. Sorry if this sounds a little harsh, but the sprite itself needs to be readable WITHOUT the benefit of animation or a mugshot, otherwise it's clearly flawed.

Anyway, the new colour is better (since it is no longer the same colour as the claws), but the shape is the main problem. The raptor snouts you see tend to be long and slim, but not pointed. It's the point that makes it look like a beak more than the colour.