I can kinda understand the drama over “sparkly eyed/sideways mouth” Toucan Sam honestly, but as some stated already it’s meant to appeal to modern kids, and that’s the kind of cartoon style kids are used to now. (I mean, remember how they tried to make everything look animesque back in the 2000s? Or how in the ‘90s everything had to be “Disney Afternoon,” or “Ren & Stimpy,” or “Batman,” or “Tiny Toons,” or something?)
Though, I hear some kids don’t like the redesign either.