‘Iyanu: Child of Wonder’ Series Greenlit at HBO Max, Cartoon Network

HBO Max and Cartoon Network introduced a 2D animated adaptation of “Iyanu: Boy or girl of Wonder,” a Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios graphic novel series seriously motivated by the Yoruba men and women of Nigeria. The undertaking will be financed and overseen by Black-owned animation studio Lion Forge Animation.

“Iyanu: Little one of Wonder” is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from Nigerian culture, music and mythology. The series follows Iyanu, a teenage orphan who spends her times studying Yoruba heritage and historic arts but yearns for a usual lifetime. One particular working day, responding to danger, she unknowingly triggers her divine powers, the likes of which have not been observed since the Age of Wonders. With newly found superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other youngsters as they embark on a remarkable journey to find out the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Through her journey, she’ll uncover the truth about her previous, her mother and father, and her final future to save the environment.

The sequence is made by Roye Okupe, who will also generate and immediate various episodes. Lion Forge head of output Saxton Moore serves as supervising director. The writers area is led by Brandon Easton. Executive producers involve Okupe, Doug Schwalbe, Carl Reed, Lion Forge’s David Steward II and Matt Heath, Effect X Capital’s Erica Dupuis and Forefront Media Group’s Ryan Haidarian.

The greenlight of “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” is noteworthy as it continues signaling the emergence of Africa as a participant in world-wide streaming. Considerably of this advancement commences in the little ones and relatives area — for instance, Lupita Nyong’o grew to become an fairness lover in Nairobi, Kenya-centered manufacturing enterprise Kukua in 2021 and stars in its YouTube Originals animated collection “Super Sema.” African titles designed for older audiences are also beginning to cross about, such as Netflix’s South African drama “Blood & Drinking water,” which debuted in 2020 and produced Netflix’s Prime 10 checklist in the U.S. Netflix also just lately unveiled “Blood Sisters,” the streamer’s initially initial series from Nigeria.

“‘Iyanu: Baby of Wonder’ has it all – wide planet-constructing, authentic people, a sturdy, African woman hero at the middle, and a initial-class workforce of stellar creators and producers,” reported ​​Amy Friedman, head of little ones and relatives programming at Warner Bros. “While designed for children, the series will resonate with everyone seeking for an adventure crammed with surprise, magic, lore and legend. We sense so fortunate to be the residence of ‘Iyanu’ and partnering with this team.”

“The authenticity of the ‘Iyanu’ story means every little thing to us and aligns beautifully with our mission to make and deliver inclusive content material to world audiences,” stated Steward, founder of Lion Forge. “A impressive suggests of accomplishing and sustaining this is as a result of franchise making, and the depth and layers of the Iyanu entire world let us to take a look at and develop a attractive universe on-screen along with incredible associates.”

“When I established out to produce ‘Iyanu’ for a international audience, I required to create a world that put together anything I like about the fantasy style with the majesty and awe that is historic West Africa,” explained Roye Okupe. “On major of that, doing the job with Godwin Akpan, who illustrated the books, as our art director and collaborating with a thoughtful studio like Lion Forge Animation that prioritizes authenticity and range, is over and above perception.”