Photos: Virtuous Con
Virtuous Con, the premier online convention celebrating independent Black creators, proudly announces a captivating panel discussion called “The Magic of Iyanu: The Creation of an Animated Series” centered around the highly anticipated animated series, ‘Iyanu’.
Sponsored by the Academy Award-winning production studio Lion Forge Entertainment, this exclusive event offers attendees an inside look into the transformation of this groundbreaking show from its comic book origins to its forthcoming animated adaptation currently in development for Cartoon Network. Exclusive images of the series will be shown for the first time during this panel.
Based on the “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” graphic novel series created by Roye Okupe (YouNeek Studios) and Dark Horse Comics, the story is inspired by West African Yoruba culture. The discussion features Lion Forge Entertainment CEO David Steward II (Hair Love), veteran animation writer and producer Kerri Grant (Doc McStuffins, Ada Twist Scientist), ‘Iyanu’ lead writer Brandon Easton (Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy) and Okupe is an Executive Producer, a Writer and a Director on the series. The virtual discussion will be moderated by Karama Horne (theblerdgurl) for the event.
This panel will offer fans a unique opportunity to learn about the process of adapting a graphic novel to the small screen as well as revealing an exclusive first look at ‘Iyanu’.
“Our theme for Virtuous Con 2024, ‘The Future Is Ours,’ embodies the visionary essence of Black creators in speculative fiction and comics, ” Cerece Rennie Murphy, Virtuous Con Founder says, “As we delve into the evolution of ‘Iyanu’ during this panel, we bear witness to the remarkable talents shaping tomorrow’s narrative.”
“The Magic of Iyanu: The Creation of an Animated Series” is scheduled for Saturday February 24th, 2024 from 3:30 PM ET to 4:30 PM ET online at the Virtuous Con Website General Admission $30 | General Admission with Gift Box $75 (Tickets Here)
About Virtuous Con
Virtuous Con is an online science-fiction and comic culture convention dedicated to celebrating independent Black artists and creators worldwide. Our unique platform provides both fans and creators with a live, authentic, and interactive experience, allowing attendees to engage with, support, and purchase directly from artists in real time. Unlike other virtual platforms, Virtuous Con is a truly immersive science fiction (sci-fi) and comic culture virtual convention (Con) that focuses on bringing together independent artists and passionate fans.
About Lion Forge Entertainment
Lion Forge Entertainment was founded by David Steward II after he recognized a need in the industry to create a platform for authentic diverse voices. Drawing from his experience in publishing (graphic novels and comics) and informed by market trends, Steward II launched Lion Forge Animation in 2019, one of the only Black-owned animation studios in the world.
The company is uniquely equipped to create, drive, and deliver genuine, diverse stories and its content pipeline has surged in the last year. In addition to Iyanu, Lion Forge projects include Hair Love spinoff series (Young Love) for MAX; Rise Up, Sing Out, executive produced by Grammy-winning artists Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, for Disney; Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, an animated series for preschoolers based on the classic books; an animated series based on the Hero’s Journey The Series – a set of stories that explore the rise to fame of many black artists during the segregation era; a slate of projects introducing the groundbreaking life and legacy of Wendell Scott, NASCAR’s first Black race car driver; a comedy adventure of warrior Iron’s story “Iron Dragon” (original Korean IP); “Marley and the Family Band” – an animated series based on Cedella Marley’s picture book of the same title; and a new multi-media initiative in partnership with St. Louis-based Nine PBS designed to positively represent Black and brown kids and help close the literacy gap, Drawn In.
Lion Forge Entertainment is one of the companies under parent Polarity, also owned by Steward. Polarity includes Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, which publishes more than 60 original graphic novels each year and owns a deep library of IP. Polarity also owns Magnetic Press and Illustrated Syndicate. Polarity sits alongside the Steward Family holdings which range from music to NASCAR to the NHL and beyond.
Lion Forge Entertainment is represented by Activist Artists Management.
