Lion Forge Entertainment Previews Animated Series “Iyanu” at SDCC 2024

Lion Forge Entertainment and series creators previewed Nigerian-inspired animated series Iyanu at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

There is much to do at San Diego Comic-Con, and 2024’s edition was no different. While many fans were excited to preview what’s next in the world of beloved popular franchises such as Marvel, DC, and Star Trek, there were plenty of other exciting things to see throughout the weekend. On Sunday, Lion Forge Entertainment held a preview for their new animated series Iyanu, based on the graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Nigerian creator Roye Okupe.

The series follows the titular Iyanu, a young girl with the ability to harness the powers of the gods. Along with her companions, Biyi, Toye, and giant leopard Ekun, Iyanu must master her abilities and take down the evil that is threatening her homeland. Okupe, along with story editor Brandon Easton, writer Kerri Grant, and supervising director Vincent Edwards, presented a first look at the animated series including several pieces of concept art, stills from the series, and an exclusive first clip.

Okupe told the audience that he created Iyanu: Child of Wonder because he wanted to create an adventure series for his daughter based in his Nigerian heritage. He cited animated series like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Dragon Prince as influences, and it’s easy to see the inspiration in the pictures and video shown. The other panelists delved into the process of adapting the graphic novel for animation, citing how enjoyable the process was in the collaborative writer’s room and the already cinematic art style of the graphic novel.

Iyanu can only master her abilities when she becomes in tune with nature and empathy, the latter being emphasized as an important message for the young audience. While companions Biyi and Toye have the potential to be strong characters in their own right, leopard Ekun is likely to be a standout character. Like Appa, Momo, and other famous animated animals, the creators promised that Ekun will have a huge personality despite not being able to talk. The creators also expressed a dedication to imbuing the series with Nigerian history and culture, including Nigerian based fighting styles not typically seen on screen.

The panel then showed stills from the series, as well as a first clip of Iyanu in action. The animation looks beautiful, and it will be exciting to see more of the story and characters in the future. After showing off the prototypes for a mini Iyanu statue as well as an Ekun plush, the panel concluded with cosplayer Vanta Creates modeling Iyanu’s look for the audience.

While I didn’t know much about Iyanu going into the panel, I enjoyed the promising first look at the series. Though the series remains in production, hopefully the finished product ends up being as exciting an adventure as promised. Iyanu is expected to be released on Cartoon Network and Max in 2025.

Author: Jessica Wolff

Jessica Wolff is a graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Film/Video. She has a passion for entertainment and representation in entertainment. She currently resides outside of Washington, DC.

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