Well, 'Fruits Basket' is a great choice. It has complex and heartwarming love stories among its diverse characters. The plot and character development make it really engaging.
It could be a comical or dramatic scene depending on the context of the cartoon. Maybe the character's hair got all messed up and they had to deal with it.
You can start by drawing simple shapes for the peppers. Make them oval or roundish. Then add some lines for the texture and details. It's not too hard once you get the basic shape right.
Old timey cartoon labs were known for their reliance on traditional animation techniques. They didn't have the advanced computer software we have now. The art style was often more simplistic and charming in its own way.
The white dawg could get scared because it's in a new and unfamiliar place. Or perhaps it had a bad experience in the past that made it easily frightened now.
The starting point cartoon for black and white might have a distinct artistic style with a focus on contrast and simplicity. The use of only black and white could enhance the mood and atmosphere.
It could be that the new job requires knowledge of the Splatoon comic universe for creative inspiration or marketing purposes. But it's hard to say exactly without more details.