Iyanu, the breakout animated superhero fantasy series produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, returns to San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday, July 27.
Iyanu, created by award-winning Nigerian filmmaker Roye Okupe, is an animated series based on his graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder, published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics. As Executive Producer and Showrunner, Okupe brings West African culture to life through rich 2D animation and dynamic storytelling. The series premiered in April on Cartoon Network and is now streaming in full on HBO Max.
Show longline:
Five hundred years after the Age of Wonders, Iyanu, a teen orphan, discovers hidden powers that rival the Divine Ones. As an ancient evil awakens, she must unlock memories that hold the key to saving Yorubaland as The Chosen—a Divine One in human form. Alongside her friends Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard named Ekun, Team Chosen sets out on an epic quest to protect their people and restore balance.
Official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekBhfbtwaYc
Since its launch, Iyanu has achieved several major milestones, including:
- Becoming the #1 kids show on Cartoon Network (ages 2–12)
- Ranking among the Top 10 Kids & Family series on HBO Max
- Reaching over 525,000 viewers
- Premiering in 44 African countries via Showmax, where it became the #1 Kids & Family title within six days
- Expanding internationally to ITVX in the UK
At San Diego Comic-Con, Iyanu will be featured in a dedicated panel:
“Iyanu’s Journey: The Next Chapter”
Sunday, July 27 | 1:00–2:00 PM PT | Room 24ABC
The panel will include an exclusive look at the upcoming prequel film Iyanu: The Age of Wonders—including the official release date reveal—along with sneak peeks from Season 2 and behind-the-scenes insights from the creative team.
Immediately following the panel, attendees are invited to a book signing with the creators from 2:30–3:20 PM at the Dark Horse Comics booth (#2615).
Panel participants include:
- Roye Okupe, Creator, Executive Producer & Showrunner
- Brandon Easton, Story Editor (Transformers: War for Cybertron, Agent Carter)
- Kerri Grant, Writer (Ada Twist, Scientist, Doc McStuffins)
- Vincent Edwards, Supervising Director (Spider-Man, Teen Titans Go!)
Since its debut, Iyanu has resonated with audiences for both its rich visual storytelling and its cultural depth. Rooted in Yoruba mythology, the series offers a refreshing lens in animation—centering African traditions, a powerful Black girl lead, and the vision of Black creatives behind the scenes. It reflects a growing shift in genre storytelling: more expansive, more inclusive, and driven by creators whose lived experiences shape the worlds they build.
All panelists are available for interviews virtually prior to July 25 and will be on-site at San Diego Comic-Con from Friday through Sunday. They can speak to the creative process behind the series, the importance of culturally rooted storytelling in animation, and what’s next for the growing Iyanu franchise.
###
About Lion Forge Entertainment
Lion Forge Entertainment (LFE), one of the few Black-owned entertainment studios of scale in North America, was founded in 2019 by David Steward II to amplify authentic, diverse voices in both animated and live-action content. With “Diverse Stories, Authentically Told” as its driving mission, LFE has won an Academy Award for Hair Love and multiple Emmy® awards. LFE is part of Polarity, a media and sports-focused firm whose portfolio includes publishers Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group and Magnetic Press within the broader Steward Family holdings, which range from technology, sports, and music among other interests. LFE is led by President and CCO Stephanie Sperber, an accomplished and award-winning media executive and franchise builder in the kids and family space. Follow @lionforge to learn more.
