International Courant
Lion Forge Leisure introduced right now that IyanuRoye Okupe’s epic Nigerian superhero animated collection will launch in each the US and throughout Africa in 2025. The collection will likely be accessible on Showmax in 44 African nations, whereas viewers within the US can watch the collection on Cartoon Community and Max.
To save lots of her individuals from an historic curse, an orphan should unravel the thriller behind her newfound energy. Set within the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, the animated collection is an adaptation of Okupe’s standard graphic novel collection, Iyanu: Baby of Marvelprinted by Darkish Horse Comics, the driving power behind, amongst others, The Umbrella Academy And Hellboy comics.
Award-winning Serah Johnson leads the all-African voice solid as Iyanu, alongside African Film Academy Awards (AMAA) winner and Vogue VS cowl star Adesua Etomi-Wellington, three-time AMAA nominee Stella Damasus, multi-award-winning Blossom Chukwujekwu and Shaffy Bello of The Black E bookdescribed by Wired as “Nigeria’s first Netflix hit.”
Iyanu is produced by Lion Forge Leisure, the Emmy-winning firm behind the Oscar®-winning Her Love.
“One of many causes I began YouNeek Studios is as a result of I actually grew up watching superhero tales on DStv in Lagos, Nigeria,” says Okupe. “So to say that I’m excited that Showmax is introducing Nigerian youngsters to Iyanu, a superhero who appears and seems like them, can be an understatement.”
David Steward II, Founder and CEO of Lion Forge Leisure, mentioned: “Iyanu is a collection that performs for younger audiences everywhere in the world, however its coronary heart and roots are in Africa, the place it was conceived and created by Roye. That is why we’re so proud to announce a cope with Showmax to stream Iyanu in 44 nations in Africa. We see African kids impressed by Iyanu – and a superhero world formed round their very own world.”
“We’re excited to see African animation gaining recognition and fascinating audiences each domestically and internationally,” mentioned Dr. Busola Tejumola, Govt Head of Content material and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice. MultiChoice Group is the guardian firm of Showmax Africa, which was lately relaunched in partnership with NBCUniversal’s Comcast.
“It’s a pivotal second for African storytelling, not simply because we’re telling our tales, however as a result of African audiences are among the many first to see these tales come to life. Animation is quick changing into a preferred style for our audiences because it transcends age gaps and is loved by the entire household. As the most important producer of African content material globally, MultiChoice is proud to carry Iyanu’s outstanding story, which weaves the magic of our Nigerian tradition with nice leisure, to our clients on Showmax throughout Africa.”
Story Editor Brandon Easton (Transformers: Struggle for Cybertron; Marvel’s Agent Carter) led the Iyanu writers’ room, which additionally featured Emmy winner Kerri Grant (Physician McStuffins; Ada Twist, scientist).
The present is government produced by David Steward II and Matt Heath of Lion Forge Leisure, Erica Dupuis of Impression X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe of Superprod.
About Showmax
Launched in 2015 and accessible in over 40 markets throughout the continent, Showmax is a number one African streaming service. It gives a novel mixture of authentic African content material, first and unique worldwide collection, standard movies, premium documentaries and the very best kids’s programming, plus a mobile-only product to look at the Premier League.
About Lion Forge Leisure
Lion Forge Leisure (LFE), one of many solely Black-owned animation studios at scale in North America, was based in 2019 by David Steward II as a platform to amplify genuine, numerous voices within the animation and live-action youngsters & household house. “Various Tales, Authentically Informed” is the driving motto and mission behind the corporate.
LFE is at present producing and co-financing the extremely anticipated animated collection Iyanufor Cartoon Community and MAX. Iyanu is an adaptation of the graphic novel collectionIyanu: Baby of Woundr is created by Roye Okupe and is an epic superhero steeped in Nigerian tradition and mythology. Different Lion Forge initiatives embrace the manufacturing of the Academy Award-winning animated quick movie Her Love; nominated for the Annie and Picture Award Rise up, sing for Disney; Emmy-winning particular The Energy of Us: A Sesame Avenue Particular; Nominated for an Emmy Award for Youngsters and HouseholdRhymes by time” quick collection for Nickelodeon; and Emmy Award-winning quick collection Attracted, in partnership with 9 PBS. LFE lately signed a primary look cope with Nickelodeon for animation. The corporate additionally has a partnership with Penguin Younger Readers (PYR) to develop animated and reside motion initiatives primarily based on choose PYR bestselling books and a strategic alliance with Dentsu to develop initiatives for international companions and types.
Lion Forge has numerous live-action and animation initiatives in improvement and lately established its personal distribution firm to deal with abroad gross sales of LFE and third-party initiatives. The corporate has additionally established its personal franchise and shopper merchandise division to construct and maximize franchises.
Lion Forge Leisure is without doubt one of the corporations beneath guardian firm Polarity, which can also be owned by Steward. Polarity contains Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, which publishes over 60 authentic graphic novels yearly and has an intensive library of IP. Polarity additionally owns Magnetic Press and Illustrated Syndicate. Polarity sits alongside the Steward Household’s holdings, which vary from music to NASCAR to the NHL and extra.
Lion Forge Leisure is represented by Activist Artists Administration.
About Darkish Horse
Based in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Darkish Horse Comics is a primary instance of how integrity and innovation can assist broaden a novel storytelling medium and remodel an organization from humble beginnings into an business big. Over time, Darkish Horse has printed the work of artistic legends similar to Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Will Eisner, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Religion Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Kentaro Miura, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Wendy Pini, Richard Pini, and Gerard Manner. Moreover, Darkish Horse has a protracted custom of growing thrilling new artistic expertise throughout all of its divisions. The corporate has additionally set the business customary for high-quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and artwork books, together with Stranger Issues, Avatar: The Final Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Tremendous Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Sport of Thrones, Mass Impact, StarCraft, The Witcher, And Halo. Immediately, Darkish Horse Comics is without doubt one of the largest leisure publishers on the planet.
About YouNeek Studios
YouNeek Studios is an award-winning multiplatform leisure firm based by Roye Okupe. By graphic novels, animation, video video games and different types of media, YouNeek is targeted on telling extraordinary tales about extraordinary characters impressed by African historical past, tradition and mythology, with the last word objective of amplifying African creatives and storytelling all over the world. Go to www.youneekstudios.com for extra.
About Impression X Capital
Impression X Capital is a double backside line VC based to assist numerous and underrepresented expertise in digital, know-how, media and leisure. The studio’s objective is to increase variety and inclusion by growing daring and distinctive tales from African diaspora creatives. Our content material strikes international audiences from appropriation to appreciation, whereas empowering creators of shade. Founders embrace Sir Lenny Henry and Tony-winning actor Adrian Leicester; creator and TV host Eric Collins; and government producer Erica Dupuis, a former HBO government. www.impactxcapital.com
Showmax to stream Lion Forge Leisure’s epic Nigerian superhero animation Iyanu throughout Africa
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