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Awesome Con 2026: Lion Forge Entertainment Brings Iyanu with Exclusive Panel Ahead of New Season Premiere

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Lion Forge Entertainment will be hosting the panel “Iyanu’s Return: Welcome back to Yorubaland!” at Awesome Con 2026 in Washington, D.C. The series returns for its second season on March 21 on Cartoon Network and the next day on HBO Max. Lion Forge continues to expand the Iyanu universe with a second feature film as well.

Based on the best-selling graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe and published by Dark Horse Comics and YouNeek Studios, Iyanu is rooted in Nigerian mythology and Yoruba culture and has quickly become a standout in animated fantasy since debuting on Cartoon Network and HBO Max in 2025.

Fans attending Awesome Con will get an exclusive first look before anyone else with an early look at clips from the upcoming second Iyanu film, The War of Twin Princes, written and directed by series creator Roye Okupe, arriving this summer on Cartoon Network.

The Iyanu series and films are executive produced by David Steward II, Stephanie Sperber, Matt Heath, and Kirsten Newlands, Roye Okupe, Erica Motley, Ryan Haidarian, and Doug Schwalbe.

WHAT:
“Iyanu’s Return: Welcome back to Yorubaland!”

Fans and media attending Awesome Con will get an inside look at the world of Iyanuahead of the Season 2 premiere March 21 on Cartoon Network and March 22 on HBO Max.

Panelists include:

  • Roye Okupe – Creator/Executive Producer/Showrunner
  • Kerri Grant – Emmy- Award Winning Series Writer
  • Femi Ogunbiade – Lead Composer
  • Karama Horne – Lion Forge Integrated Marketing Lead (host)

The panel will feature:

  •  Exclusive Season 2 clips
  •  An early look at the upcoming film Iyanu: The War of Twin Princes
  •  A conversation with the creative team about bringing the mythology and world of Yorubaland to life on screen

WHEN:
Saturday, March 14, 2026
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM

WHERE:
Awesome Con 2026
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt Vernon Pl NW. Walter E. 
Room 204 ABC
Washington, DC

Resurrection Games Opens Pre-Orders for the Iyanu Tabletop Game Collection

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Iyanu tabletop games

Resurrection Games has partnered with Lion Forge Entertainment to bring the epic world of Iyanu to life—just in time for the holidays. You can pre-order the games now.

Inspired by the hit animated series Iyanu—airing on Cartoon Network and now streaming on HBO Max—the Resurrection Games collection offers families and fans an immersive new way to experience the Nigerian-inspired superhero fantasy.

Iyanu is based on the comic book series by Roye Okupe and YouNeek Studios and published in partnership with Dark Horse.

Pre-orders are now open for three debut titles, each capturing the adventure, mythology, and heart of Iyanu’s story:

  • Iyanu: Crossroads (Ages 6+) — A memory tile game where young players use unique character abilities to collect tokens and artifacts, racing to gather seven and claim victory.
  • Yorubaland: Wild Terrain (Family Board Game) — Teams compete in a tactical “Tiger Tag” chase. Team Chosen seeks the Source while Team Corrupt pursues them across a dynamic, tile-built landscape.
  • Iyanu: Mark of the Chosen (Ages 9+) — A push-your-luck card game where players draw from the Yoruba deck to master divine powers and earn victory points over three rounds.

Each game brings to life the characters and themes of Iyanu, an epic coming-of-age story about a young orphan who discovers divine powers not seen since the Age of Wonders. Together with her friends Biyi, Toye, and her magical leopard Ekun, Iyanu must master her gifts and defend the kingdom of Yorubaland from an ancient evil.

Shipping is estimated for early December 2025. The card game Iyanu: Mark of the Chosen is priced at $21.95, Iyanu: Crossroads at $26.50, and Yorubaland: Wild Terrain at $48.50.

NYCC 2025: Lion Forge Entertainment Unveils an Iyanu Season 2 Clip and 2026 Launch

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Just in time for Day 3 of New York Comic Con 2025, Lion Forge Entertainment has dropped an exclusive sneak-peek clip from Season 2 of Iyanu, the Cartoon Network and HBO Max animated series inspired by Yoruba mythology. It was also announced that Season 2 of Iyanu will premiere in spring 2026 on Cartoon Network and HBO Max, promising new battles, new wonders, and more secrets of Yorubaland.

The clip teases The Chosen’s next great trial, as Iyanu (voiced by Serah Johnson) and Team 

Chosen face the return of Zaza and the People of the Deep,  the most dangerous faction in all of Yorubaland — led by the formidable and charismatic Queen Adura. But this time, Iyanu is guided by her knowledge of the Divine Ones, empowered by new abilities, and disciplined through training in the Way of the Golden Leaf,  a dynamic fighting style inspired by Capoeira and taught to her by Olori (voiced by Adesua Etomi-Wellington). Every lesson and every battle has prepared her for this moment. 

Based on the graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe, who also serves as creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the series, Iyanu follows a teenage orphan who discovers her divine powers and her destiny to save the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland. 

Produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, a leading Black-owned entertainment studio in North America, the series has become a breakout hit: it’s a Top 10 Kids and Family title on HBO Max, it was No. 1 in the Kids 6–12 category during its first month on Cartoon Network in April, and remains the #1 Kids and Family title on Showmax across 44 African countries. It’s also running on ITVX in the UK and streaming on ABCiview in Australia. 

Season Two will return with 10 new episodes where we’ll see Iyanu continue to master her divine powers as she finds herself in the midst of a fierce conflict between Elu and the People of the Deep, led by the formidable Adura. With various factions of Yorubaland vying for powerful divine artifacts that have reemerged, Iyanu strives to find a way to end the battle and restore peace. As Team Chosen reunites and tensions rise between old allies and foes, Iyanu must confront even more powerful threats from the Age of Wonders  including secrets buried deep within her own past. 

Fans can revisit the story that started, all of Season 1 including the season-finale movie special 

Iyanu: The Age of Wonders, which is streaming on HBO Max (U.S.). In addition, the official Iyanu Shop is now open at shop.iyanutheseries.com, offering fans exclusive apparel, and collectibles. 

HarbourView Equity Partners Leads a $30 Million Investment in Lion Forge Entertainment

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Lion Forge Entertainment

Lion Forge Entertainment, a related company to Oni Press and Magnetic Press, has received a $30 million investment. HarbourView Equity Partners leads it along with The Steward Family and Polarity. David Stewart II is the Founder and CEO of the company. Steward’s family and investment firm Polarity remain the majority owners of Lion Forge.

Lion Forge has found success lately with the Oscar-winning 2019 short film Hair Love and Iyanu, an animated series on HBO Max/Cartoon Network based on a graphic novel series published originally independently and now by Dark Horse.

HarbourView Equity Partners has a goal of investing in media focused on underrepresented audiences. HarbourView has invested a lot in music and film and has acquired 70 music catalogs featuring more than 35,000 songs.

Lion Forge has a first-look deal with Paramount’s Nickelodeon. Paramount’s new owner Skydance and billionaire Larry Ellison is currently thinking of purchasing Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of DC Comics.

Lion Forge Entertainment is one of the few large scale Black-owned entertainment studios in North America and was founded in 2019. Magnetic Press became a part of the entertainment company in October 2016 while Oni Press was acquired in 2019 and merged with Lion Forge Comics with Polarity, the parent company, officially launched in May 2019. Lion Forge Comics was founded in 2011 with licensed properties from NBCUniversal and American Greetings and in 2014 it was announced it would be published and distributed by IDW Publishing. For a bit, it also owned comic news site Comics Beat.

(via Variety and Hollywood Reporter)

Cartoon Network and Max Unveils the Premiere Date for Iyanu, April 2025

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Cartoon Network and Max have announced that the animated series Iyanu will premiere on Cartoon Network Saturday, April 5 at 9:30 AM ET/PT, and the following day on Max. The network and streamer also released the premiere feature trailer giving audiences another glimpse into the captivating story based on Nigerian culture and mythology.

Adapted from Roye Okupe’s graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder—published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics – the show is helmed by Roye Okupe himself, who was born and raised in Nigeria and now serves as Creator, Executive Producer and Showrunner. The series is produced by Lion Forge Entertainment.

Drawing on Nigerian culture, music, and mythology, the animated series follows Iyanu, a brave young orphan living in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland. While studying history and ancient arts, she yearns for a normal life—until a looming threat awakens divine powers not seen since the legendary Age of Wonders. Accompanied by newfound friends Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard named Ekun, Iyanu sets out to uncover the source of this evil, unlocking her destiny along the way.

The talented all-African Iyanu voice cast includes:
Serah Johnson as Iyanu
Okey Jude as Biyi, Iyanu’s carefree adventurer friend
Samuel Kugbiyi as Toye, Iyanu’s bookworm companion
Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori
Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kanfo, Toye’s father
Stella Damasus as Sewa
Shaffy Bello as Emi – The One Mother
Ike Ononye as Elder Alapani

Previously announced streaming partner Showmax has set its launch date for June 13, when the entire first season of Iyanu will be available across 44 African countries. Recently announced partner ITVX will also stream the series across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland this summer.

The show’s executive producers are David Steward II, Stephanie Sperber, Kirsten Newlands and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Roye Okupe of YouNeek Studios, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe of Superprod.

NYCC 2024: IYANU gets the spotlight with new trailer, clips and more!

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At New York Comic Con, Cartoon Network, Max, and Lion Forge Entertainment released the first feature trailer for the highly-anticipated series Iyanu. In this trailer, viewers are treated to a breathtaking introduction to the series’ captivating story based on Nigerian culture and mythology. The scene opens in a lush, vibrant landscape, where the main characters, Iyanu and Biyi, find themselves in a heart-pounding moment of peril when tranquility is shattered by the thunderous charge of a wild rhino, a powerful symbol of nature’s raw force. Then, in a stunning display of courage and intuition, Iyanu channels the ancestral wisdom of her heritage, stopping the rhino in its tracks and unveiling her true nature as the chosen one.

The series adapted from the popular graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics set to premiere on Cartoon Network and Max in Spring 2025.

This feature trailer made its debut during the show’s “IYANU: Lion Forge Brings African Fantasy to Cartoon Network” panel at NYCC.

The event brought together key creative members behind the series, including the show’s creator, lead writer, voice director, and episodic director for the first time—a testament to the series’ truly global production spanning four continents. This unprecedented gathering offered attendees rare insights into the intricate process of casting and directing animation and voice actors across the world, providing a glimpse into the making of this global phenomenon.

Panelists from the “Iyanu” series Included:

  • Roye Okupe –Creator, Executive Producer and Showrunner
  • Paula Gammon Wilson – Voice and Casting Director for “Iyanu” 
  • Darnell Johnson – Episodic Director
  • Brandon Easton – Story Editor and Writer
  • Karama Horne – Moderator – Lion Forge Integrated Marketing Lead

Iyanu will premiere in Spring 2025 on Cartoon Network and Max in the US, and will stream exclusively on Showmax across 44 African countries. The global distribution of the series reflects its universal appeal, and with the passionate audience at New York Comic Con—known for its love of fantasy, animation, and comics—this unveiling perfectly aligns with the show’s ambition to bring a fresh African fantasy narrative to fans who appreciate imaginative storytelling and diverse content.

Iyanu is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from Nigerian culture, music and mythology. Drawing deeply from the rich tapestry of Yoruba people, the animated series follows a teenage orphan girl, Iyanu, who spends her days studying history and ancient arts but yearns for a normal life. One day, responding to danger, she unknowingly triggers her divine powers, the likes of which have not been seen since the Age of Wonders. With newly discovered superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other teenagers, Biyi and Toye, as they embark on a remarkable journey to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Throughout her adventure, she’ll uncover the truth about her past, her parents, and her ultimate destiny to save the world.

The talented Nigerian voice cast is led by Serah Johnson as Iyanu and includes:

  • Okey Jude as Biyi, Iyanu’s carefree adventurer friend
  • Samuel Kugbiyi as Toye, Iyanu’s bookworm companion
  • Adesua Etomi-Wellington as Olori
  • Blossom Chukwujekwu as Kanfo, Toye’s father
  • Stella Damasus as Sewa
  • Shaffy Bello as Emi – The One Mother
  • Ike Ononye as Elder Alapani

NYCC 2024: Lion Forge debuts new Iyanu footage, afterparties, giveaways, book signings, and more!

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Lion Forge Entertainment has lots of plans for New York Comic Con at the Javtis Center this weekend. The lineup includes parties, signings, cosplay and more!

Their Saturday panel is the main event, where their creative team will feature new Iyanu footage, plus a major announcement. Iyanu the animated series launches on Cartoon Network, Max, and Showmax in 2025.

Friday October 18th

SonicBoomBox Party

Friday, 10/18/2024
8:00 PM- 2:00 AM
Spin: 48 E. 23rd Street

Join us for an unforgettable night at the Sonic Boombox Unofficial New York Comic Con Afterparty, where you’ll get a sneak peek of the opening sequence of Iyanu, featuring the theme song performed by Nigerian Afropop superstar Yemi Alade. Experience her signature energy in this highly anticipated 2025 series.

Plus, enjoy the chance to win exciting prizes from the upcoming series, play ping pong, dance to Afrobeats, and more! Don’t miss out on this epic night of fun and fandom!

SonicBoomBox Party

Saturday October 19th

The official IYANU Panel!

Saturday 10/19/2024
12:30PM – 1:30PM
Jacob Javits Convention Center, 429 11th Ave
Room 406.3

Be among the first to experience new footage of the upcoming 2025 series Iyanu.

This is an opportunity to dive into the journey of Iyanu, from story development to voice casting and directing, alongside key members of the creative team.

Hear firsthand insights from:

  • Roye Okupe – Creator/EP
  • Paula Gammon Wilson – Voice and Casting Director
  • Darnell Johnson – Episodic Director
  • Karama Horne – Host and LFE Integrated Marketing Lead
  • Brandon Easton – Story Editor
The official IYANU Panel!

Book Signing

Saturday 10/19/2024
2:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Showfloor Booth #4542

Roye Okupe, creator of the “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” is signing copies of his hit graphic novel series

  • Roye Okupe -Creator/EP
  • Brandon Easton – Story Editor

Book signing sponsored by Lion Forge Entertainment and Blerd.com

Meet and Greet

Saturday 10/19/2024
3:30 PM- 4:300 PM
Blerd Booth #45831

  • Roye Okupe – Creator/EP
  • Paula Gammon Wilson – Voice and Casting Director
  • Darnell Johnson – Episodic Director
  • Karama Horne – Host and LFE Integrated Marketing Lead
  • Brandon Easton – Story Editor

Giveaways, prizes and more!

LAN Party & Blerd NYCC After Party

Saturday October 19th
8:00 PM – 2:00 AM
OS Gaming Lounge, 50 Bowery

Get ready for an epic night of fun, music, gaming, and giveaways at OS NYC Gaming Lounge

Sponsored by the upcoming animated series Iyanu, this event is hosted by Fantastic Frankey, Shonen Showdown, and Brianna, Blerd’s AI VTuber.

Groove to the tunes of FreeSoulSociety while you game and connect with fellow fans! Don’t miss out on this unforgettable NYCC after-hours experience!

SDCC 2024: Iyanu gets a first-look clip

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Cartoon Network and Max at San Diego Comic-Con revealed a first-look clip of the highly-anticipated series Iyanu, the epic superhero animated-series steeped in Nigerian culture and mythology, showcasing for the first time a glimpse at the series set to captivate audiences with its magical storytelling and breathtaking visuals. A Lion Forge Entertainment production, Iyanu is an adaptation of Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios’ graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by award-winning Nigerian creator and filmmaker Roye Okupe.

The clip was exclusively revealed during the “Crafting IYANU: An Inside Look at Lion Forge Entertainment’s Animated Series” panel at San Diego Comic Con which featured some of the creative team, including Roye Okupe (EP/Creator/Director), Vincent Edwards (Supervising Director), Brandon Easton (Story Editor/Writer), Kerri Grant (Writer), Vincent Edwards (Supervising Director), as well as moderator/host Karama Horne.

Iyanu is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from Nigerian culture, music and mythology. Drawing deeply from the rich tapestry of Yoruba people, the animated series follows a teenage orphan girl, Iyanu, who spends her days studying history and ancient arts but yearns for a normal life. One day, responding to danger, she unknowingly triggers her divine powers, the likes of which have not been seen since the Age of Wonders. With newly discovered superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other teenagers, Biyi and Toye, as they embark on a remarkable journey to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Throughout her adventure, she’ll uncover the truth about her past, her parents, and her ultimate destiny to save the world.

The talented voice cast is led by Serah Johnson as Iyanu, a teenage heroine who must uncover the mystery behind her newfound powers to save her people from an ancient curse threatening to destroy humanity. In Addition to Johnson, the “Iyanu” voice cast also includes Okey Jude (“Hotel Labamba,” “The Governor’s Daughter”) as Biyi, Iyanu’s carefree adventurer friend, Samuel Kugbiyi (“Tafiya Lafiya: The Journey”) as Iyanu’s bookworm friend Toye, Adesua Etomi-Wellington (“King of Boys,” “Gangs of Lagos”) voices Olori; Toye’s father Kanfo is voiced by Blossom Chukwujekwu (“Falling,” “Stolen Lives”); Stella Damasus (“Gone”) plays Sewa; Shaffy Bello (“The Score,” “Battleground”) voices Emi – The One Mother; and Ike Ononye (“Doc Martin,” “The Lovers”) is Elder Alapani.

Iyanu is slated for release in the US on Cartoon Network and Max in 2025.

Brandon Easton (Transformers: War for Cybertron: Seige, Marvel’s Agent Carter) headed the writers’ room, with Roye Okupe serving as the executive producer, writer, and director on multiple episodes. The show’s Executive producers are David Steward II and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe.

An All-Nigerian voice cast has been unveiled for Iyanu based on the comic from Roye Okupe and YouNeek Studios

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Cartoon Network and Max have announced the all-Nigerian cast for Iyanu, the epic superhero animated-series steeped in Nigerian culture and mythology. A Lion Forge Entertainment production, Iyanu is an adaptation of Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios’ graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder by award-winning Nigerian creator and producer Roye Okupe.

Leading the voice cast is Serah Johnson as Iyanu, a teenage heroine who must uncover the mystery behind her newfound powers to save her people from an ancient curse threatening to destroy humanity. Johnson, known for her extensive voiceover work within the animation industry and audiobooks, is the first Nigerian and African to win the Society of Voice Arts Award (SOVAS) for Outstanding Animation Character – Film or TV – Best African VoiceOver for her work on “Moji.”

In Addition to Johnson, Iyanu is made up of promising new talent along with experienced and esteemed actors including TV personality and City People Award winner for Fast Rising Male Actor Okey Jude (“Hotel Labamba,” “The Governor’s Daughter”) who joins the cast as Biyi, Iyanu’s carefree adventurer friend. Recognized as the official IVR (Interactive Voice Response) on Nigeria’s largest telecommunications network MTN between 2013 and 2015, Jude also earned an Africa Choice Awards nomination for “The Most Promising Male Movie Star of 2022.” Samuel Kugbiyi, a multifaceted artist with a career spanning from childhood, comes on board as Iyanu’s bookworm friend Toye. Noteworthy among Kugbiyi’s creative endeavors is the acclaimed musical drama “Tafiya Lafiya: The Journey,” where he was both a writer and performer.

African Movie Academy Awards winner and Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington (“King of Boys,” “Gangs of Lagos”) will voice Olori, who Vogue named as one of their 14 global superstars in 2019 alongside Scarlett Johansson, Deepika Padukone and Vanessa Kirby; set to play Toye’s father Kanfo is one of Nollywood’s foremost leading men Blossom Chukwujekwu (“Falling,” “Stolen Lives”) who is celebrated with multiple wins and nominations across Nigeria’s award shows like the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, Best Of Nollywood Awards, Golden Movies Awards, among others; Nigerian- born entertainer and author of “Màmá, It’s A Girl” Stella Damasus (“Gone”) is set to play Sewa; Shaffy Bello (“The Score,” “Battleground”), a Best of Nollywood Awards nominee, has signed on to voice Emi – The One Mother; and esteemed actor Ike Ononye (“Doc Martin,” “The Lovers”) is Elder Alapani.

Iyanu is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from Nigerian culture, music and mythology. Drawing deeply from the rich tapestry of Yoruba people, the animated series follows a teenage orphan girl, Iyanu, who spends her days studying history and ancient arts but yearns for a normal life. One day, responding to danger, she unknowingly triggers her divine powers, the likes of which have not been seen since the Age of Wonders. With newly discovered superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other teenagers, Biyi and Toye, as they embark on a remarkable journey to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Throughout her adventure, she’ll uncover the truth about her past, her parents, and her ultimate destiny to save the world.

Iyanu is slated for release in the US on Cartoon Network and Max in 2025 and has a 26 episode, two season order.

Brandon Easton (Transformers: War for Cybertron: Seige, Marvel’s Agent Carter) headed the writers’ room, with Roye Okupe serving as the executive producer, writer, and director on multiple episodes. The show’s Executive producers are David Steward II and Matt Heath from Lion Forge Entertainment, Erica Dupuis of Impact X Capital, Ryan Haidarian of Forefront Media Group and Doug Schwalbe.

Lion Forge Entertainment heads to Virtuous Con with an exclusive first look at ‘Iyanu’ Animated Series

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Iyanu

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.

“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