Alice Mao

Alice is an artist and co-founder of Studio Heartbreak, an independent animation studio focused on high-concept IP and prestige genre storytelling. She created The Lovers with her friends after a summer of internship rejections—and turned it into a breakout indie success. The Kickstarter campaign raised over $400,000 in a single month, and the trailer generated more than 2 million views on YouTube, building a six-figure global audience before production even began.
Beyond visual development, background painting, writing, and storyboarding, Alice oversees production strategy, merchandising, logistics, and marketing. Through Studio Heartbreak, she develops original animated projects while consulting on crowdfunding strategy, community activation, and launch mechanics for other creators.