I think someone has improved. ^___^
I like the overall picture. I like the fact that you made the environment a part of the picture. If you had not, then it wouldn't matter where they were. You added substance to the environment by adding a wild animal, nice touch. The colors are more lively than they were before. And far as the guy getting tickled, this is a huge improvement on your part, and I'm glad to see more of your talent shining through. It doesn't matter whether its anime-style or not, this is improvement, and I'm glad to see it.
A word of advice though. Don't rely too heavily on those "how to" manga books. Alot of them just show you pictures, and don't actually 'teach' you anything. Its better for you to learn from practice and observation, not dedicated reading. This is a great improvement for you. Good for you. ^___^