Many people will argue that Africa is aggressively taking its space on the global stage because of its growing impact considering the continuous rise of the African tech startup ecosystem on one hand and the fast growth of the African entertainment industry on the other hand.
Lovers of cartoon and animated movies will be getting their fill of entertainment from Cartoon Network’s recent animated series “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” which will be shown on Cartoon Network and HBO Max soon.
HBO Max and Cartoon Network announced a 2D animated adaptation of “Iyanu: Child of Wonder,” a Dark Horse Comics/YouNeek Studios graphic novel series heavily influenced by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The project will be financed and supervised by Black-owned animation studio Lion Forge Animation.
“Iyanu: Child of Wonder” gives you a peek into a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yoruba-land, an extract from Nigerian culture, music, and mythology.
Synopsis
The series talks about Iyanu, a teenage orphan who spends her days studying Yoruba history and ancient arts but desires a normal life. One day, her exposure to danger triggers her godly powers, the likes of which have not been seen since the Age of Wonders.
Wielding her newly activated superpowers, Iyanu joins forces with two other teenagers as they embark on a remarkable journey to discover the truth about the evil lurking in her homeland. Throughout her adventure, she will later uncover the truth about her past, her parents, and her ultimate destiny to save the world.
The animated series is said to have it all, from vast world-building, authentic characters, a strong African female hero at the center of it all, and a first-class team of stellar creators and producers,” said Amy Friedman, head of kids and family programming at Warner Bros.
The Series is said to be kid-focused, but who says adults can’t watch too? Seeing as it will be a perfect fit for anyone looking for an adventure-filled watch with surprise, magic, lore, and legend.
“The authenticity of the ‘Iyanu’ story will mean everything to the African community of animation lovers, especially those of western-African origin.
The Motivation for Iyanu: Child of Wonder
“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 to 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.”
We are excited for the animation to start showing on our favourite cartoon network, and we hope that more original content like this comes out of the African continent to feed the growing demand for content out of the African continent created by Africans.
You can subscribe to our newsletter so we can share with you when the movie launches to the public, and also share with you other interesting information we have for our readers.
