Latest news with #Iyanu
Black America Web
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
BLERD ALERT! Cartoon Characters We All Can Agree Are Black
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU Black animation has been on our minds since the start of this year with the bittersweet ending of Cartoon Networks' Craig Of The Creek , which left us feeling a bit worried for the niche culture overall and future entertainment of Blerds everywhere. In a surprising twist though, things have been rolling out with optimism over these past few months with the introductions of Iyanu , the hilarious Oh My God…Yes! , the highly-anticipated Eyes of Wakanda and (finally!) a new season to look forward to of The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder . RELATED: BLERD ALERT ! Is A 'White' Black Panther On The Horizon? With the future looking so bright, we'd be remiss if we didn't give a shoutout to the pioneering Black cartoons of the past — props to Static, Storm, Susie Carmichael, Huey and Riley just to name a few. If we're being honest, you've even got a few of the ambiguous ones that can always come to the cookout as well. Think about it: we all have a favorite character that either comes from a race-free universe, is an anthropomorphic animal or was specifically written in a way that kept their racial identity elusive for the sake of universal marketing. At the same time though, you can't help but notice the AAVE in their dialogue, a wardrobe design inspired by urban attire and in some cases a voice actor that pretty much seals the deal. Remember when Jaleel White (and Tahj Mowry as Young Sonic!) voiced the titular role in the classic 1990s cartoon series adaptation of Sonic the Hedgehog ? We believe the term kids nowadays are calling it is 'Black-coded.' Don't think of this as a deep race debate; it's just us Blerds having a little fun. You can choose to agree or disagree, but either way it's strictly about expanding your imagination even further to see the argument that we're trying to make. Does Lola Bunny give off Mariah Carey vibes like she does for us? Doesn't Elmo feel like the universal lil bro we must protect at all costs? Is the hair on the heads of Marge and all her sisters in The Simpsons not kinky like ours?! SEE ALSO
The South African
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
African animated series 'Iyanu' set for Showmax debut this June
The groundbreaking Nigerian animated series Iyanu will premiere on Showmax across 44 African countries on Friday, 13 June. The release is perfectly timed for Father's Day and the school holidays. This thrilling series draws deeply from Nigerian culture, music, and mythology. THE STORY OF 'IYANU' It tells the story of a teenage orphan who discovers her divine powers and her destiny to save the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland. Iyanu follows its courageous heroine as she navigates a magical world steeped in Yoruba traditions. While yearning for a normal life, Iyanu's world turns upside down when a looming threat awakens powers. These powers have been unseen since the legendary Age of Wonders, according to Shomax Stories. Accompanied by her friends Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard named Ekun, she embarks on an epic quest to uncover the source of evil and save her people. The series is adapted from Roye Okupe's acclaimed graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder , published by YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics. This is the same powerhouse behind The Umbrella Academy and Hellboy . Roye Okupe, born and raised in Nigeria, serves as creator, executive producer, and showrunner. He said, 'One of the reasons I started YouNeek Studios and created Iyanu is because I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, watching superhero stories on DStv. To now see Iyanu launching on Showmax across 44 African countries is truly a full-circle moment. I'm beyond thrilled that kids, adults, and families across the continent will get to see a superhero who looks, sounds, and feels like them'. Produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, the Emmy-winning studio behind the Oscar®-winning Hair Love , Iyanu boasts an all-African voice cast. The voice cast is led by award-winning Serah Johnson as Iyanu. The cast also features African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) winner and Vogue US cover star Adesua Etomi-Wellington. Three-time AMAA nominee Stella Damasus, multi-award-winning Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Shaffy Bello, known for The Black Book, also join. Nigerian Grammy nominee Yemi Alade lends her voice to the theme song, expressing her pride. 'Iyanu showcases the resilience, the beauty and the strength of our culture. Growing up, I always hoped to watch cartoons with characters that looked and sounded like me. Right now, it's happening, and I'm really happy to be part of it'. Since its US debut in April 2025, Iyanu soared to become the #1 series on Cartoon Network. The show was ranked in the top 10 kids and family series on Max. It has already been greenlit for a second season and two linked feature films. Screenrant praised it as 'The Last Airbender and Black Panther hybrid you didn't know you needed,' highlighting its unique blend of fantasy and African heritage. Dr Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of General Entertainment at MultiChoice, remarked, ' Iyanu brings Nigerian culture and mythology to life excitingly and authentically. We are proud to be the home of its African premiere. I can't wait for audiences across the continent to experience this epic adventure on Showmax.' This launch marks a significant milestone for African animation. The show joins the ranks of other award-winning productions like Tabby McTat and The Smeds and The Smoos . These shows are also available on Showmax. Iyanu offers a fresh and vibrant superhero tale that resonates with African identity and pride. It's a chance to see a hero who looks like us, speaks to our cultures, and celebrates our stories. With its captivating animation, rich storytelling, and all-star African cast, Iyanu promises to be a must-watch hit this June on Showmax. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Hacks' Renewed for Season 5 at Max
'Hacks' has been renewed for a fifth season at Max. The news comes just ahead of the Season 4 finale on Thursday, and was announced by creators and showrunners Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky at a screening in Los Angeles on Tuesday. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Season 4 has been the series' most-watched so far, with each episode's viewership improving upon the last. More from Variety Warner Bros. Discovery, U-Next Strike Global Distribution Deal for Japanese Dramas (EXCLUSIVE) 'Iyanu' Renewed for Season 2 at Cartoon Network and HBO Max, Alongside Two New Feature Spin-Offs (EXCLUSIVE) John Oliver Compares HBO Max/Max Branding Fiasco to Trump's Renaming the Gulf of Mexico 'Hacks' follows the ups and downs in the relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary comedian in her 70s, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), an up-and-coming comedy writer who works for her. Season 4, which debuted on April 10, begins with the two at odds after Deborah becomes the host of a venerated late night talk show and Ava blackmails Deborah into giving her the head writing job she initially promised her and then took away. Along with Smart and Einbinder, the cast includes Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato and Rose Abdoo. Executive producers of 'Hacks' include Downs and Aniello via their Paulilu banner, Statsky via First Thought Productions, Michael Schur via Fremulon, David Miner for 3 Arts Entertainment and Morgan Sackett. Universal Television is the studio. 'Yes! More! We congratulate 'Hacks's' singularly talented cast and crew and our great partners at Universal Television,' Max's original programming head Sarah Aubrey said in a statement. 'Like Deborah Vance herself, 'Hacks' only gets bolder, sharper and more iconic with time,' said Erin Underhill, president of Universal Television. 'We're beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen, Paul, Lucia, our extraordinary cast and crew and our partners at Max.' Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Iyanu' Creator Roye Okupe & Creative Team On 'Weaving The Emotional Journey' With Cultural Authenticity & Empathy
Animation has always been one of the best mediums for storytellers to reach young audiences, especially for a young Roye Okupe who says it was his 'first love'. After creating a successful graphic novel series, and a meeting with Lion Forge Entertainment facilitated by Impact X Capital's Erica Dupuis, Okupe managed to make his dream of creating an animated series come true. Based on Okupe's graphic novel series Iyanu: Child of Wonder, the Cartoon Network series follows Iyanu, an orphaned teenager living on the outskirts of civilization who discovers she has divine powers and a destiny to save the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland. Okupe's dream was to infuse the culture he grew up with into the series, along with the help of some veterans of the animation industry – story editor Brandon Easton, writer Kerri Grant and supervising director Vincent Edwards. More from Deadline How Independent Animation Underdogs Like 'Flow' And 'Memoir Of A Snail' Are Disrupting The Awards Race: There's "Never Been A Better Time" 'The Last Of Us': Neil Druckmann On Directing Pivotal Joel & Ellie Flashbacks That Pinpoint "Where The Relationship Explodes" 'Found' Star Shanola Hampton Unpacks Season 2 Finale Rollercoaster That Leaves Gabi & Sir In Jeopardy Although the first season has yet to have its finale, the series has already been renewed for a 10-episode second season as well as two feature-length films. The first animated film, The Age of Wonders, is set to release later this year. The season finale on Cartoon Network is on May 24th, and will be available to stream on Max the following day. DEADLINE: Roye, what made you want to bring your graphic novel into the animated space? ROYE OKUPE: I've always been a fan of animation since I was a kid. For me, animation was my first love, and I think it has obviously stayed that way. I grew up watching Ninja Turtles, Batman, X-Men… I can literally go on for hours and hours. I moved to the U.S. in 2002, and the closer I got to Hollywood, the more I felt the desire to create an animated show that was based on some of the things that I learned growing up about my history and my culture. I started off in the graphic novel because it was a lower barrier to entry, and then fell in love with the graphic novel medium. But for me, the motivation has always been to showcase Africans, specifically in this case, with the young Nigerian culture to a global audience. And I think there's no better medium than animation to do it. There's something that Brandon always says, and ever since he told me this in the writer's room, I've always held onto it. 'The more specific you get, the more global and the more broadly acceptable your story becomes.' So, from day one, we wanted to lean into what made this show special culturally. For me, as someone who is a Yoruba person, it was the ultimate privilege. It was also a very, very delicate task to balance imputing culture into a story without, as Vincent would say, 'making people drink through a water hose' where they're just overwhelmed with so much new information. Finding the right balance of story comes first, but at the same time, let's not shy away from what makes this different, what makes this beautiful, what makes this authentic. I'm extremely proud of this because, as specific as we get with the culture, it's never done in a way where it excludes anybody who doesn't know anything about Yoruba culture or Nigerian culture. DEADLINE: Kerri, Vincent and Brandon, as three people who have worked on different animated series, how do you go about making sure you're infusing this culture without singling it out? KERRI GRANT: I think what Roye said earlier, we all kind of learn as writers really early on. That whole thing about the more specific you are, the more universal the story is… the reason for that is these are just kids. They're kids on a journey, on an epic coming-of-age journey that includes some pretty amazing fantasy and supernatural elements. But at the core of it, it's about telling this coming-of-age, fantasy, adventure, epic tale. That in itself as a foundation, makes it appealing and universal for anyone who loves good stories. I think what's different and cool about Iyanu is a lot of people aren't as familiar with Yoruba culture and the cultures within it, so it's exciting that people get to know these specifics about the culture, even the details from the costumes, the clothes they wear, the food they eat, the differences in the parts of the land that they travel to and encounter… But ultimately, at the heart of it, it's about this girl who's coming into her powers, and it's a classic hero's journey. BRANDON EASTON: What made it a lot easier also was that Roye was in the writer's room with us, as a writer and a producer. Every step of the way, if there was a question, he was there to answer it or to make it make more sense for us in a storytelling context. But most importantly, the doorway is always emotional accessibility with these types of stories. It doesn't matter whether you're talking about ancient fantasy Nigeria or you're talking about Iraqis or you're talking about things that don't exist, there is an emotional path that we all love as consumers of story content. We all want to walk the same emotional path, and I feel like Iyanu's is, 'Who am I? Why am I here?' I've never spent time in Nigeria, but there's things that are kind of universal that we can tap into, and Iyanu's journey is a very, very relatable one. VINCENT EDWARDS: And to speak to the cultural authenticity aspect of it, in any story universe, you have to have a clearly realized vision of what that world looks like and what the people in it look and sound like. If you break your own rules, the audience disconnects because they don't feel like it's authentic to what you're trying to say you're doing. In terms of Iyanu, the cultural authenticity aspect of it was really granular and consistent throughout the production of the show. The look of food, the look of clothing, the look of props… all the different visual styles, even though it's a mythological fantasized world, it has to still feel like it's real and authentic to the point where if a bowl of rice doesn't look like what it's supposed to look like, Roye's like, 'Hey, that doesn't work.' This would be analogous to if we made a show about America and we had a hamburger with a purple bun. We would be like… What? So, all that stuff really combines to create an authentically realized world that supports all of the more thematic and character driven elements of the story. DEADLINE: It's obviously a different culture, but this series reminds me of being exposed to a new culture as a kid when I first watched , and I think would have had a similar effect on me back then. OKUPE: I always tell people, you have no idea how much influence entertainment has over the minds of children and adults. Actually, I think we're in an age where there's information all around us and everything is all mangled up, but when it comes entertainment… It's funny you mentioned Avatar, because I fell in love with New York by watching Spider-Man. So eventually when I came to the U.S. and I was able to experience it, it was a different kind of emotion because I've been so far away from it. And when I finally got here, it was this visceral feeling where it's like, 'Oh, wow, I'm actually in the same place as Peter Parker,' even though he is a fictional character. It goes back to the roots and the inspiration behind all this, to try to show what I saw growing up, what I heard about, what I ate, and some of the things I went through. Obviously, like Brandon said, it's also weaving the emotional journey for each of these characters because, as much as we love the authentic parts of this story, it's icing on the cake to me. If you lose people with the character moments, all the other stuff becomes a flaw. But I think one of the big things we try to do with this show, one of the big themes, is empathy. And it was very important to intertwine empathy with everything that has to do with Iyanu. Her powers, her mission, her story, her journey… all of that is encompassed around empathy. Because I think we live in a time now where we as human beings could use a lot more of that. And it's important for children from a very young age to understand the power of empathy, even though it's a very difficult emotion to express. Best of Deadline Every 'The Voice' Winner Since Season 1, Including 9 Team Blake Champions Everything We Know About 'Jurassic World: Rebirth' So Far 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
With ‘Iyanu,' Lion Forge Continues Breaking Barriers In Animation
The animated fantasy-adventure series Iyanu, which debuted on Cartoon Network and MAX April 5, is part of a new wave of kid-friendly content coming from Africa. Along with Garbage Boy and Trash Can, which arrived in 2023, Disney's afrofuturist anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (2023) and Super Team 4, which ran two seasons on Netflix in 2023, Iyanu taps the culture and aesthetic of African cultures and showcases the rising generation of talent emerging from the continent. Roye Okupe, creator of Iyanu Cameron White, Courtesy of Lion Forge Entertainment The series follows a teenage orphan girl Iyanu (Serah Johnson), from the mythical west African kingdom Yorubaland, who discovers she has magical powers and a destiny. She and her friends Biyi (Okey Jude) and Toye (Samuel Kukbiyi) embark on a journey of discovery that promises to bring them into conflict with an evil conspiracy inside their kingdom. The show is based on a series of graphic novels by Roye Okupe and Godwin Akpan published by Dark Horse Comics. Okupe is showrunner on the animated series, produced by Lion Forge Entertainment. Akpan is art director and designed the characters for the show based on his original concepts from the comics. 'I saw this project 10 years ago when Roye was doing the comics,' said David Steward II, founder and president of Polarity Studios, the parent company of Lion Forge Entertainment, in an exclusive interview in mid-April. 'We stayed in contact and, when they were looking to develop the project, they came to us and it definitely fit in with what we were trying to do.' Steward says he launched Lion Forge Entertainment to 'bring something different and authentic to the landscape from a diversity standpoint' as one of the leading Black-owned entertainment studios in the United States. The company's first production, Hair Love, directed by Matthew A. Cherry (Song Pictures Animation) won an Academy Award for best Animated Short in 2020, and Lion Forge has gone on to form relationships with Paramount/Nickelodeon, Disney, HBO Max and PBS. Though Lion Forge is exploring live action productions as well, Steward says animation 'always has my heart.' 'To have a project like Iyanu, based on African mythology, gets us into something we haven't really explored, which is a truly global context,' said Steward. 'There's some importance to showing the value of stories coming from Africa, for Roye showcasing elements of his Nigerian and European background. He created this story for his daughter, and he wanted to give her a chance to see herself onscreen.' Steward says the company reached out to work with Nigerian talent throughout the production, including the cast of voice actors. 'Authentici ty is imbued in what we do, not just from a creative standpoint, but also from a representation standpoint. It's definitely a core to our strategy.' While many voices in America's current politics and culture are trying to turn back the clock on diversity, Steward rejects the notion that these kinds of projects are divisive. 'Diversity is not being exclusionary,' he said. 'The key is to be all-encompassing. It's important to create diverse content, but not just for the people we are representing in the content. Iyanu is not just for Africans or African-Americans. Everyone can enjoy a fun action-adventure story and learn something about another culture. Looking at it from that lens, it's always going to be needed in society.' The show has not been out for very long and has not yet had much audience reaction, but the lively, high-energy episodes and colorful look of the series seems bound to appeal to young viewers. In a world where borders are going up and minds seem to be closing to new perspectives, sometimes the most important thing we can do is tell our stories to the world, and to see ourselves in stories told by others.
