Lion Forge Entertainment announced on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 that Iyanu, Roye Okupe's epic Nigerian superhero animated series, is set to launch in both the United States and across Africa in 2025.
The series will be available on Showmax in 44 African countries, while U.S. viewers can watch it on Cartoon Network and Max.
To save her people from an ancient curse, an orphan must uncover the mystery behind her newfound power. Set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, the animated series is adapted from Okupe’s popular graphic novel series, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, published by Dark Horse Comics, the powerhouse behind the likes of The Umbrella Academy and Hellboy comics.
Award-winner, Serah Johnson, leads the all-African voice cast as Iyanu, alongside African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) winner and Vogue US cover star, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, three-time AMAA nominee, Stella Damasus, multi-award-winner Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Shaffy Bello from The Black Book.
Iyanu is produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, the Emmy-winning company behind the Oscar-winning Hair Love.
Lion Forge Entertainment founder and CEO, David Steward II says, "Iyanu is a series that plays to young audiences everywhere in the world, but its heart and roots are in Africa, where it was conceptualised and created by Roye. We envision African children being inspired by Iyanu - and a superhero world shaped around their own.”
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"We are excited that African animation is gaining recognition and captivating audiences both locally and internationally,” said Dr Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice.
“It’s a pivotal moment for African storytelling not only because we are telling our stories, but that African audiences will be among the first to see these stories come to life. Animation is fast becoming a popular genre for our audiences as it cuts across age divides and is enjoyed by the whole family. "