I use that analogy all the time, but I use The Far Side instead of those two (imagine if The Far Side were CGI, or digitally enhanced, etc.)…And the reason those work, and CGI images seem wooden, is “The Uncanny Valley.” Look it up on Wikipedia. It’s a phenomenon that the closer non-human things look to humans (recent Japanese robots, for example), the more “revolting” they are to humans. Interesting stuff. That’s why I don’t think CGI like this translates humor well.

Being a newspaper-style pen-and-ink comic author myself, I see the value of simplicity. Quite good reviews you have on here!