Iyanu: Child of Wonder, a major comic book success for Dark Horse Comics, is set to receive an animated adaptation. Produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, the superhero series steeped in Nigerian mythology is heading to the Max streaming service in the coming year.

Showcased at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, the series is poised to bring new life and attention to the tale penned by Nigerian creator and filmmaker Roye Okupe. Now, a clip shown at the landmark event gives audiences their first glimpse at the upcoming show. Featuring an all-star creative team, the show is sure to join the pantheon of exciting animated superhero fare.

First Look at Iyanu at Comic-Con

Based on the Iyanu: Child of Wonder graphic novel series by Dark Horse Comics and YouNeek Studios, the upcoming animated adaptation was on the center stage at the “Crafting IYANU: An Inside Look at Lion Forge Entertainment’s Animated Series” SDCC panel. The series is set in Yorubaland, a fictionalized version of Nigeria that heavily features the country’s mythology and folklore. Iyanu is the titular character, with the young girl discovering her innate powers as she yearns to forge a destiny beyond her mundane life. Along with her allies Biyi and Toye, she embarks on an adventure to learn more about herself and defeat the evil threatening her home.

Actress Serah Johnson portrays Iyanu, while Okey Jude, Samuel Kugbiyi, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Blossom Chukwujekwu voice Biyi, Toye, Olori and Kanfo. Likewise, Stella Damasus, Shaffy Bello, Ike Ononye voice Sewa, Emi the Tone Mother, and Elder Alapani. Creator Roye Okupe is the EP and director, while Brandon Easton, who’s worked on such shows as Netflix’s Transformers: War for Cybertron trilogy and the Marvel TV series Agent Carter, will be the head writer. The Comic-Con clip is only the initial look at the series, however, fans have to wait until 2025 to watch Iyanu on Cartoon Network and the Max streaming service. The comic book series published by Dark Horse is now up to its third volume, with other YouNeek Studios comics such as Malika: Warrior Queen also available.

Iyanu and Lion Forge are Gamechangers In Superhero Cartoon/Comic Diversity

Though the Iyanu comic books are published by Dark Horse and YouNeek Studios, Lion Forge Entertainment is the major driving force behind the animated series. Starting in 2011 as a comic book publisher named Lion Forge Comics, the company eventually merged with comic book publisher Oni Press, with the combined publishers now owned by Polarity. The publisher’s previous Catalyst Prime comics were focused on a diverse cast of superheroes with works such as Iyanu continuing that thematic focus. These include the animated short “Hair Love,” the song “Rise Up, Sing Out” for Disney, and the award-winning “The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special.”

The executive producers for Iyanu are David Steward II, Matt Heath, Erica Dupuis, Ryan Haidarian, and Doug Schwalbe, the former of whom was the co-founder of Lion Forge. Impact x Capital, which focuses on supporting diverse talent in the digital sphere, is also behind the series. Putting a foreign culture and its mythology firmly on display, Iyanu should wow audiences of all ages with its storytelling and inventive animation. It joins several animated superhero shows in the pipeline, including more adult-oriented fare such as Invincible for Amazon Prime Video, the Disney+ shows X-Men’ 97 and the upcoming Marvel Zombies, as well as the 2024 animated series Creature Commandos, which will be the first entry in James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe.

Source: Lion Forge Press Release