Iyanu

''Iyanu'' is an American fantasy action-adventure animated series created and executive produced by Lion Forge Entertainment and Roye Okupe, and co-created by Brandon Easton for Cartoon Network. It is based on Okupe's graphic novel series, ''Iyanu: Child of Wonder'', published by his company YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics. It premiered on Cartoon Network on April 5, 2025, followed by HBO Max on April 6. The first season consists of ten episodes and it’s theme song is sung by Yemi Alade. On May 19, 2025, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season of ten episodes, alongside two animated feature films set to be released in 2025 and 2026 respectively.

''Iyanu'' takes place in a Yoruba-inspired world and follows the title character, a teenage orphan girl who discovers that she has power that has not been seen since the age of wonders. She joins with her friends Biyi and Toye, and they embark on a remarkable journey to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Throughout her adventure, she uncovers the truth about her past, her parents, and her destiny to save the world.

Premise

A teenage orphan girl, Iyanu, lives in Yorubaland, a magical land, and triggers her magical powers by accident, joining two other teens to discover the reality of evil in her homeland, and learn about her past in the process.

Cast

* Serah Johnson as Iyanu, a young orphan girl who has mystic powers and is said to be "the chosen."
* Okey Jude as Biyi, the free-spirited and adventurous friend of Iyanu, who lives in the Riverland Settlement.
* Samuel Kugbiyi as Toye, the bookish friend of Iyanu, who is often bullied by local townspeople, and wants to use books to help people, rather than becoming a warrior, going against his father's expectations.
* Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori, an exile and the last Agoni, who Iyanu lives with, outside the walls of Elu, and is training her to hone her powers.
* Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kanfo, the father of Toye, and a General, who expects Toye to become a soldier.
* Babajide Oyekunle as Ekun, a magical black leopard with blue spots who befriends Biyi, Iyanu, and Toye on their journey.
* Stella Damasus as Mama Sewa, matriarch of the Riverlands Settlement, who attempts to convince Iyanu to fight for Yorubaland. Biyi is her adopted son.
* Femi Sowooli as Chancellor Nuro, a key royal advisor who does not want to change from the "old ways," and has a mysterious plan. He is also the brother of Olori.
* Paul Utomi as Oba Adeyinka, the King of Elu, who is swayed by Chancellor Nuro and sees finding Iyanu as the top priority.
* Bukky Amoboye as Elder Ojuwa, a member of the Elu Mesi, who is concerned about Olori, and warns King Adeyinka about the worsening conditions in Elu's workers' district.
* Femi "Bakes" Olugbade as Uwa, a member of the Elu Mesi and foreign minister of Elu, who wants Elu's citizens to travel to other countries, rather than closing itself off, and make other reforms to help the citizens. He is also the brother of King Adeyinka.
* Rashidat Fawehinmi Raji as Omolola, who represents the workers in Eso's worker district and meets with Uwa in the fourth episode.
* Eghosa Eboigbe as Zaza, a general who leads the People of the Deep and wants to find Kanfo at any cost.
* Shaffy Bello as Emi, who is also known as "The One Mother"
* Ike Ononye as Elder Alapani
* Lord Frank as The Fallen One
* Tolulope Kolade as Siju
* Iheanetu Edith Chidinma as Teju

Episodes

Production

In July 2022, an adaption of the ''Iyanu: Child of Wonder'' graphic novel series by Okupe and Akpan was announced by HBO Max and Cartoon Network. It was further noted the series is "heavily influenced" by Nigeria's Yoruba people and will be overseen, and produced by Lion Forge Animation, doing business as Lion Forge Entertainment, a Black-owned animation studio. The series is aimed at children ages 6 to 11.

Executive Producers on the series include Lion Forge Entertainment founder Dave Steward II, company president Stephanie Sperber, series creator Roye Okupe, Matt Heath, Kirsten Newland, Erica Dupuis (Impact X), Ryan Haidarian (Forefront Media Group), and Doug Schwalbe (Superprod). Vincent Edwards serves as Supervising Director, with Saxton Moore as Co-Supervising Director. Brandon Easton, who adapted the graphic novel, is credited as Story Editor and also led the writers’ room. He co-created the series alongside Roye Okupe.

Steward stated that the story's authenticity means everything to Lion Forge Animation, aligns with their mission, and said that "depth and layers of the Iyanu world" allows the studio to create and explore "a beautiful universe" on the screen. In December 2022, ComicBook stated that ''Iyanu: Child of Wonder'' would "soon be coming" to ''HBO Max'' and ''Cartoon Network'' "as an animated series".

In January 2023, ''Comic Book Resources'' noted that the series would be released in 2024, would "draw from Nigerian culture, music, and lore", and that Okupe would write and direct multiple episodes. In an interview with the show's executive producers, David Steward II, said it had been "a great partnership" of working with Okupe, making sure his creative voice is heard, and authenticity of the series is present.

In June 2023, it was announced that Lion Forge Entertainment was partnering with Black Women Animate Studios to recruit a "diverse pool of talent" for pre-production roles the series. It was also stated that the series will release on Cartoon Network and Max. This was confirmed in October 2023, with reports that Lion Forge would introduce the series to global distributors at MIPCOM.

In May 2024, Lion Forge Entertainment announced the initial Nigerian voice cast for its animated series, Iyanu, featuring Serah Johnson as Iyanu, Okey Jude as Biyi, Samuel Kugbiyi as Toye, Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori, Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kanfo, Shaffy Bello as Emi, Stella Damasus as Sewa, and Ike Ononye as Elder Alapani.

In July 2024, Lion Forge secured a distribution deal with Showmax, planning to release Iyanu in 44 African countries starting June 13, 2025. Later that month, at San Diego Comic-Con, Lion Forge hosted a panel titled "Crafting Iyanu: An Inside Look at Lion Forge's Animated Series," where the first series preview was shown.

The series was "inspired by '' Avatar: The Last Airbender''", had an "all-African voice cast", and draws inspiration from "Nigerian culture, music, and mythology." Following the series release, Nigerian singer Yemi Alade talked about the process of making music for the series while remaining authentic to "Nigerian culture and Yoruba mythology," with her opening song for the series, entitled "You Are," described as a "soaring anthem of identity" which echoed the "power of African storytelling through music."

In August 2024, the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) featured an Iyanu-themed event including clips, cultural and educational activities. In October 2024, an early trailer for Iyanu was shown at New York Comic Con."

In February 2025, Cartoon Network aired an extended clip and trailer for the first time of Iyanu during a marathon of The Amazing World of Gumball, confirming the series premiere date of April 5, 2025 on Cartoon Network and April 6 on Max. Later that month, ITVX announced it had acquired exclusive streaming rights for Iyanu in the United Kingdom, with non-exclusive rights for the Republic of Ireland.

In April 2025, the Afro Animation Summit in Burbank, California, featured a screening of Iyanu and a discussion with Roye Okupe and members of the voice cast and the production team. Later that month, City Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted a community event attended by Lion Forge founder David Steward II, writer Kerri Grant, and voice actors Samuel Kugbiyi and Okey Jude.

Prior to the series release, Okupe told Reuters that he wanted the series, like the graphic novel, to create a character which served as a positive role model for his daughter and other people across the world, allowing for her to be entertained and inspired by her culture and heritage. In an interview with Paste, he described the series as a "very faithful adaptation," but differs from the original graphic novel, noted the process of working with Brandon Easton and Godwin Akpan, described the show's message as focusing on what it means to be a hero and having empathy for those you disagree with. He also noted the incorporation of Capoeira and Dambe boxing skills into how Iyanu fights in the series and called for people to watch the series, saying that the number of people who watch it will determine whether the series will continue. Steward told the St. Louis American that unlike Wakanda in ''Black Panther'', Iyanu is "based on real culture – and in a real place," with the art, writers, and voice cast composed of Black people, adding that most times Black characters are shown in media, much of the decision not created by "people who look like what’s being portrayed on screen."

In the United States, ''Iyanu'' premiered on Cartoon Network on April 5, 2025, and began streaming on Max the day after, with the series trailer released on February 17.

Release

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the series will be released on Showmax, across 44 countries, on June 13, 2025. In the United Kingdom, and Ireland, the series will be released on ITVX sometime in the summer of 2025.The series originally meant to have 15 episodes but on X Lion Forge Entertainment posted for episode 10 is the season one finale.

After the series released, Comics Beat interviewed Brandon Easton, Vincent Edwards, and Samuel Kugbiyi about the series. Edwards said that those working on the series wanted to make sure the series was "top shelf quality stuff" while Easton and Kugbiyi noted their stories of joining the show's crew. Additionally, Easton described the challenges of deciding what to keep, and not keep, from the graphic novel, but noted that everyone was "on the same page" and there was collaboration between the writers, storyboarders, directors, voice cat, and others. He also argued that it wasn't an issue to incorporate anything from West Africa and Nigeria and incorporating it into the story, noting different filmmakers which used the "visual shorthand of emotion" and added it to their stories, asserting that the core question of Iyanu is who you are. Edwards further noted the efforts to add in "subtleties that aren’t always on the page of a script" through the characters and the importance of sticking with the rules of a fantasy world you create.

Merchandising

Iyanu established several merchandising agreements, beginning with Kidazzle, which was named master toy licensee in May 2024. Kidazzle intends to produce a range of dolls, action figures, playsets, and role-play items based on the series. In October 2024, Brown Toy Box entered into a licensing partnership to create educational STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) kits inspired by Iyanu. In February 2025, Resurrection Games partnered to develop a series of Iyanu-themed board and card games, including "Yorubaland: Wild Terrain," "Iyanu: Crossroads," and "Iyanu: Mark of the Chosen."

Theme song

Nigerian Afropop artist Yemi Alade performed the theme song featured in the opening Title sequence titled "You Are" for the animated superhero series Iyanu, produced by Lion Forge Entertainment and Alcon Sleeping Giant. The full song was released on March 13, 2025, coinciding with Alade's birthday, and became available on major streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. The track was written by Michael Hodges, Gerald Trottman, Kayla Morrison, Ghian Wright, and Yemi Alade, and produced by Hodges. A lyric video premiered the same day on the Iyanu YouTube channel, followed by the release of an official visualizer video on April 11, 2025 via Alade's own YouTube channel, directed by Nigerian filmmaker Praise Onyeagwalam (also known as Pink).

In April 2025, Alade promoted the series in New York City, appearing on ABC News Live with Linsey Davis, and on ''Good Night New York'' alongside Christal Young and Ryan Kristafer. In her interviews, she emphasized the cultural and personal resonance of the series, calling attention to its significance for African audiences and young girls worldwide.

Reception

This series was positively received. Brandon Zachary of ScreenRant called the series a mix of '' Avatar the Last Airbender'' and ''Black Panther'', complete with strong animation, imagery, and worldbuilding, and inclusion of Nigerian Yoruba "cultural touchstones" which could become an animated epic alongside Cartoon Network series like ''Adventure Time''. Zachary also praised the series "engaging and colorful world," establishing Iyanu as a relatable and charming character, while building off classic character archetypes, comedy moments, having fluid animation, and said the series had a lot of promise. Frantz Jerome of ''Black Nerd Problems'' said they were blown away by the series and its authenticity, praising it for "bringing Nigerian culture to the global mainstream stage", said the origin story is more similar to '' Spider-Man: Homecoming'' rather than ''Avatar the Last Airbender'', and noted that the series has "touchpoints that make African culture accessible."

''US Black Engineer & Information Technology'' magazine called the series "groundbreaking" and a "gripping adventure" which aims to "inspire the next generation." Katherine Hill of ''Toybook'' described ''Iyanu'' as a "vibrant new animated series inspired by Nigerian culture and mythology" while blending together education, action, and fantasy, all of which are rooted in traditions of Nigerian storytelling. Ashley Moulton on Common Sense Media said that while the series has "mild action and fight scenes" most violence happens from "magical laser beams used by supernatural characters" and noted that there are some "teen crushes, and...hostile and threatening language" without any curse words. Moulton further said that the series is fresh, fun, and twists normal "cartoon norms," with an animation style familiar to those who like ''ThunderCats'' or ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' and said that although some episodes have dialogue which is "clunky" and a lot of backstory, the series is entertaining, and rated it 4 out 5 stars.

References

External links

*
Official website

{{Cartoon Network original programming

2020s American animated television series
2020s American black cartoons
2020s American children's television series
2020s American superhero television series
2025 American television series debuts
Cartoon Network original programming
Max (streaming service) original programming
Nigerian English-language television shows
American children's animated action television series
American children's animated adventure television series
American children's animated fantasy television series
American children's animated superhero television series
American teen animated television series
American anime-influenced animated television series
Animated television series about orphans
Black characters in animation
Child characters in animation
Female characters in animation
Television shows based on Nigerian comics
Nigerian animated television series
Works based on Nigerian novels