Heckler, the award-winning independent creative studio, has launched its new Shanghai hub, reuniting industry veterans Lily Li, Barry Greaves, and Steven Marolho. The expansion strengthens Heckler’s Asia presence, blending world-class VFX, design, and AI-driven workflows. Emphasizing independence and creativity, the studio aims to redefine Asia’s next-generation creative production landscape.
In a move that promises to redefine the creative production landscape across Asia, award-winning independent studio Heckler has officially launched its newest hub in Shanghai. More than just a geographic expansion, the launch marks a powerful reunion of three industry veterans — Lily Li, Barry Greaves, and Steven Marolho — who have long been at the forefront of China’s visual effects and production scene.
For the global creative community, this moment represents both a return and a renewal. The trio previously helped shape the region’s post-production ecosystem through key roles in Smoke & Mirrors Shanghai, MPC Shanghai, and The Mill Shanghai. Now, united under the Heckler banner, they’re set to reignite that same spirit of innovation and artistry — this time with full creative independence.
“Shanghai has always been a creative lightning rod for Asia,” says Will Alexander, Co-Founder and CEO of Heckler. “With Lily, Barry, and Steve leading our next chapter, we’re reigniting a culture built on artistry, independence, and fearless craft. This is Heckler’s biggest statement yet.”
Founded in Sydney in 2010, Heckler has steadily built its reputation as one of the region’s most respected post-production, design, and VFX studios. Its portfolio includes acclaimed work for some of the world’s most influential brands — Apple, Netflix, Mercedes-Benz, Amazon, Riot Games, and Coca-Cola — blending cinematic polish with technological mastery.
The new Shanghai studio, strategically positioned to connect with Heckler Singapore, forms a dynamic independent network in Asia. Together, the two studios will serve as a creative bridge across the region, designed for agility, collaboration, and cutting-edge innovation.
For Lily Li, Partner and Managing Director of Heckler Shanghai, the move is about reclaiming creative freedom. “This is about freedom,” she says. “Heckler gives us the independence to make bold, beautiful work on our own terms, with the best people in the business.”
Her excitement is echoed by Steven Marolho, Partner and COO, who calls the moment “a reunion of purpose.” “We’ve got the band back together,” he says. “For us, it’s about showing up – for our clients, our team, and each other. We’re continuing to deliver the high-quality creative work we’ve dedicated our careers to bringing to the China market and across the region.”
Adding to that sentiment, Barry Greaves, Partner and Executive Creative Director, highlights the studio’s human-centered approach: “Heckler is the studio we always wanted to build — one that puts people before process and values creativity and collaboration above all else.”
The Shanghai studio is purpose-built for the next generation of creative production. It features world-class VFX, design, and finishing pipelines, enhanced by clean-room-grade security and AI-assisted workflows. These tools are designed not to replace human ingenuity but to amplify it — empowering artists while maintaining Heckler’s hallmark of emotional storytelling.
“AI isn’t replacing creativity,” says Jamie Watson, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Heckler. “It’s amplifying it. The future belongs to the studios that know how to harness these tools without losing their soul. The right alchemy happens where technology meets humanity — and that’s exactly where Heckler lives.”
For Heckler, the Shanghai expansion represents far more than a new office — it’s a creative statement. It symbolizes a renewed belief in independent artistry, in the ability to shape culture through collaboration, and in the conviction that creativity thrives where freedom exists.
As Alexander puts it, “We’re here to make some noise — to push culture forward, to champion craft, and to remind the world that independence is our superpower. Asia just got its new creative heartbeat — one led by people who still believe in the magic of making.”
With the launch of Heckler Shanghai, the Asia-Pacific region gains a fresh creative force — a studio rooted in experience yet propelled by innovation, uniting the power of technology with the timeless art of storytelling. For Shanghai’s creative scene, it’s not just another studio opening. It’s the beginning of a new era.
