Great work mate! I'm a junior animator, trying to get better, and know how to use Illustrator, but your work is next level stuff. You've achieved mastery! Very beautiful work! I love both versions, but I think in this example I agree with the client, the second one goes very well, the brighter colours work better for the style. Anyway, all your work is amazing, please keep posting your work, I'm really inspired by it and it only makes me want to learn more and get better!