African comic Iyanu: Child of Wonder is set to debut as an animated series on HBO Max and Cartoon Network. Iyanu is a Yoruba word that translates as wonder. The African comic was originally self-published through Roye Okupe’s YouNeek Studios.
A superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, Iyanu: Child of Wonder draws from Nigerian culture, music, and mythology. The story centers around Iyanu a teenage orphan who is on the quest of knowing more about Yoruba history and ancient arts but who also is thirsty for a normal life.
According to Comicbook, Iyanu: Child of Wonder will get a 2D children’s animated adaptation at the two Warner Bros. Discovery networks. Lion Forge Animation will finance and oversee the project, with Roye Okupe also writing and directing several episodes. Lion Forge’s head of production Saxton Moore is the supervising director. Brandon Easton will lead the writers room. Executive producers include Okupe, Doug Schwalbe, Carl Reed, Lion Forge’s David Stewart II and Matt Heath, Impact X Capital’s Erica Dupuis, and Forefront Media Group’s Ryan Haidarian.
Speaking on the African comic, Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros said, “Iyanu: Child of Wonder has it all – vast world-building, authentic characters, a strong, African female hero at the center, and a first-class team of stellar creators and producers.
“While created for kids, the series will resonate with anyone looking for an adventure filled with surprise, magic, lore, and legend. We feel so lucky to be the home of Iyanu and partnering with this team.”
“The authenticity of the Iyanu story means everything to us and aligns perfectly with our mission to create and deliver inclusive content to global audiences,” said Lion Forge founder David Stewart II. “A powerful means of accomplishing and sustaining this is through franchise building, and the depth and layers of the Iyanu world allow us to explore and create a beautiful universe on-screen alongside tremendous partners.”
“When I set out to create Iyanu for a global audience, I wanted to develop a world that combined everything I love about the fantasy genre with the majesty and awe that is ancient West Africa,” said Roye Okupe. “On top of that, working 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 diversity, is beyond belief.”
Brandon Easton said, “As a former public school teacher in the Bronx and Harlem, I spent many years with Black, Latino, and Asian teens and saw what they gravitated toward. They loved anime, manga, and things along those lines, but they all lamented that none of the characters looked like them.
“So when I was hired to adapt Roye’s amazing Iyanu graphic novel, I wanted the story to reflect Roye’s original vision while also injecting a sense of pride and wonder for all children worldwide, but specifically for kids who rarely see themselves reflected in a positive light or at all. Iyanu has also changed the way I see myself as a creator – with the awesome responsibility to tell an unprecedented story to a global audience that showcases the humanity of African children.”
“Iyanu will usher in a new genre of animation around the African diaspora, and Lion Forge Animation is super excited to be a part of it,” added Saxton Moore. “We hope to empower little adventurous girls around the globe with Iyanu’s story.”
