Thanks a lot for the in-depth explanation (and the compliments)!
I hope other people will also share their creation process through screenshots or note-sheets, as I would love to learn from others as well.
Also, I love that you envisioned all these animals! I can't lie, I envision a nice swan lake waltz as well. And I agree that I went more for a 'spring' than a 'hot spring' vibe (as can be shown by my front-image I suppose) - I indeed wasn't sure how to add hotness.
Thanks again, glad it wasn't repetitive or disconnected! :D