Meet the Salford creators changing the face of digital storytelling

In the fast-evolving world of digital storytelling, a trio of independent studios is redefining how stories are imagined, created, and delivered.

From jaw-dropping 3D animation and immersive virtual worlds to AI-driven production and original IP, ThunderHawk, Krygon Studios, and ImmersivEye are blending bold creativity with technical innovation to push the boundaries of what’s possible across film, television, gaming, and branded content.

What connects these three powerhouses isn’t just a shared passion for storytelling or their impressive client lists (which include names like Manchester United, JD Sports, Microsoft, Hasbro, and Sony Music) it’s their commitment to collaboration, experimentation, and future-facing production.

Based in and around MediaCity’s brand-new Content Studios, they’ve tapped into an exciting creative ecosystem that supports talent, fosters innovation, and opens the door to global opportunities.

ThunderHawk

Launched post-COVID by Salford University graduate Matthew McHugh, ThunderHawk began as a one-man operation in a co-working space at MediaCity. Since then, it’s grown into a creative force behind motion content for heavyweight brands like Manchester United, JD Sports, Hasbro, and Pets at Home.

“Our core offering is short-form animated content for brands,” said Matthew. “But we’re also exploring immersive tech, interactive visuals, and faux-out-of-home campaigns: projects where content is composited onto buildings or iconic landmarks.” One such standout was a North Face x JD Sports campaign that lit up Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.

Despite their reach, the team remains grounded in its roots. “MediaCity’s always been special to me. I was part of the first Salford University cohort based here over ten years ago. At the time, the Business Development Centre was barely formed. Now, it’s a seriously exciting place to be. It’s lively, inspiring, and packed with opportunities.”

What started as a convenient location, “I live on the Quays”, he laughed, quickly evolved into the perfect creative home. With many of Manchester’s major brands relocating to the area, MediaCity became more than just a base. “Being here helped us connect with clients. I already had a network from my agency days, but now we’re getting even more work organically.”

ThunderHawk’s ambition is to become the North West’s flagship motion studio. And their latest move proves that the goal isn’t far off. “We’re collaborating with Salford University again on an innovation project, developing tech that could support animators across the industry. And we’re building original IP, more than just commercial work.”

ImmersivEye

The brainchild of seasoned creative Steve Moyler, ImmersivEye is less a studio and more a creative playground, one that spans everything from content creation, stories, branding, motion to virtual and AI-driven production.

“I’ve been in the creative industry for 25 years,” Steve said.

“Started out in graphic design, moved into web, mobile apps, UX, and eventually content and direction – and now AI-driven creative. I like learning. I follow the trends, and that’s how ImmersivEye came about.”

After over a decade as Creative Lead at global agency McCann, Steve broke away to launch his own venture. “Creative work is evolving fast. I wanted something flexible, something that could shift between traditional film and next-gen tech. Whether it’s a social campaign, a metahuman-driven short, or a VR experience, we adapt to the brief.”

His work spans continents and industries. From Microsoft’s first Snapchat campaign to Team GB, Sony music videos to documentaries and AI experiments with The DreamLab, another MediaCity initiative, Steve’s creativity doesn’t sit still. One of his recent ventures with Krygon Studios involved directing a virtual production pilot where all characters were animated metahumans rendered in Unreal Engine, captured using full motion technology.

“I was standing in a green screen room with an iPad on a shoulder rig, filming a world that didn’t exist outside the screen,” Steve recalled. “It’s wild, but incredibly exciting.”

The leap into MediaCity happened almost by chance. “I was acting Creative Director at a virtual production studio when a friend at Carousel PR suggested I visit MediaCity. I met Caroline Aikman and Jo Whittaker, who commissioned some documentaries, and from there, I was introduced to The DreamLab.”

Run by the MediaCity Innovation and Technology Hub, The DreamLab became Steve’s creative playground for 12 months. “They had accelerator programmes and R&D projects. I became the acting creative lead by default,” he said. “But it was amazing. Being surrounded by such innovation every day pushed my creativity in new directions.”

That experience led him to the Content Studio, where he now works alongside Matthew from ThunderHawk and Bradley from Krygon Studios, alongside other creatives. “It’s collaborative, energetic, and geared towards young talent. We’ve been mentoring, running workshops, and opening up live briefs. Between us, we’ve worked with global brands, but now we’re helping nurture the next wave of talent.”

Krygon Studios

Bradley runs Krygon Studios, a Digital art outsourcing studio; working across TV, games, films and virtual production. Their innovative use of technologies like motion capture and real-time character animation under the umbrella of MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation hub’s (MITIH’s) innovation initiative, showcases the region’s excellence in high-end digital creation. 

Founded by creative technologist Bradley Harris, Krygon Studios has quickly evolved from a freelance operation into a rising force in virtual production and 3D animation, with an impressive portfolio that spans continents and screens.

Based in MediaCity’s Content Studio, Bradley and his team are pioneering the use of real-time engines like Unreal to reshape the way we tell stories—streamlining production processes while pushing visual quality to new heights.

Their biggest project to date? UFC 306 at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. Supporting Factor 15 with jaw-dropping character design, Krygon Studios created a colossal-scale digital figure for the event.  “It was a turning point,” Bradley said. “We moved from supporting roles to building out original IP. That’s where we’re headed now—developing our own content while still collaborating on incredible global campaigns.”

At the heart of their work is a desire to fuse innovation with accessibility. Kids’ TV, traditionally an expensive venture, is one area Krygon is disrupting through performance capture and real-time rendering. “By capturing facial and body performances and applying them directly to 3D characters, we’re speeding things up without compromising quality,” Bradley explained.

Their technology-first mindset is matched by a grassroots passion for community. MediaCity offered the perfect home: a place where digital creatives, production houses, and immersive innovators rub shoulders daily. 

“Being here puts you in front of opportunities,” said Bradley. “From small conversations to major gigs—it all happens in this ecosystem.”

The VP Collective

The creative synergy between ThunderHawk, ImmersivEye , and Krygon Studios finds its full expression in The VP Collective—a loose alliance of small, independent studios that blend shared skills, collaborative problem-solving, and next-gen virtual production into one powerful offering.

“The VP Collective consists of small independent companies, like mine, that come together to offer a wide range of virtual production services,” explained Bradley Harris of Krygon Studios. “We aim to provide a comprehensive package for clients, covering areas like cinematography, graphics, and 3D production.”

Together, the trio spans the entire spectrum of storytelling: from cinematography and Unreal Engine integration to motion capture, 3D animation, and cutting-edge visual effects. Far from simply throwing up a green screen or sticking someone in front of an LED wall, they’re refining best practices, developing hybrid workflows, and helping clients understand when and how to deploy these tools most effectively.

Grounded in a shared belief in collaboration over competition, the collective draws strength from its diversity—blending creative vision with technical expertise in an environment where innovation happens daily. Supported by initiatives like Dream Lab—MediaCity’s R&D hub for immersive technology—they benefit from shared facilities, expert input, and a culture that actively encourages experimentation.

The VP Collective is a living lab for boundary-pushing ideas. And with MediaCity as its beating heart, this dynamic group is reshaping how stories are told, frame by frame.

Collaboration, creativity, and community at MediaCity

What makes the ThunderHawk, ImmersivEye and Krygon Studio collaborations special is their complementary skill sets and shared belief in collaboration over competition.

“We’re both small and nimble,” Matthew said. “But that makes us incredibly adaptive. We’re not restricted by process or red tape. If something cool comes up, we just jump in.”

Their combined capabilities have opened up ambitious new possibilities—particularly in virtual production. “It’s not just about throwing up a green screen or sticking someone in front of an LED wall,” Steve noted. “Done well, it’s immersive and transformative. Done badly, it just looks like a giant TV.”

Together, they’re refining best practices, developing hybrid workflows, and educating clients on when and how to use these techniques most effectively. “The tools are only part of the equation,” Steve added. “You need the right creative mindset behind them.”

Both studios also embrace emerging tech, especially AI. “It’s not something to be afraid of,” Steve explained. “It’s just another brush for the canvas. The more you understand it, the more powerful it becomes. You don’t need to master everything, but you should at least know what’s possible.”

Why MediaCity’s Content Studios?

For these studios, MediaCity is a great ecosystem to be part of.

“It’s no longer just a BBC outpost or a satellite office zone,” Matthew said. “It’s a creative destination. There are start-ups, innovation labs, film crews, and students all in the same postcode. It’s buzzing with ideas.”

Steve agreed: “It’s rare to find a space that blends big-brand credibility with grassroots innovation. MediaCity has that sweet spot. Whether you’re a veteran or just starting out, there’s room to grow here.”

From documentaries to digital experiments, from 3D animation to AI-enhanced storytelling, ThunderHawk, Krygon Studios, and ImmersivEye represent what the future of media could look like—visionary, versatile, and deeply collaborative storytelling.

Looking ahead, the creative trio plan to leverage their expertise through organised workshops, mentoring programmes and student initiatives to cultivate emerging talent and contribute to the continuous growth of the region’s creative landscape.

And it’s all happening at MediaCity’s new Content Studios.

You can find out more by clicking here