Lion Forge Entertainment
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Genre | |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder |
|
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products |
|
| Owner | Polarity |
| Website | lionforgeentertainment |
Lion Forge Entertainment (LFE) is an American production studio based in Los Angeles, California.[1] It develops and produces live-action and animated films, television series for children, families, and young adults, often emphasizing diverse storytelling and multicultural themes.[2]
History
[edit | edit source]Founding and early success (2011–2020)
[edit | edit source]Lion Forge was founded in 2011 as Lion Forge Comics in St. Louis, by David Steward II and Carl Reed.[3] It operated under the imprint, Comics for Everyone, and developed a diverse library of intellectual property that was later adapted for screen productions.[1]
In August 2019, Steward and Reed launched Lion Forge Animation, and its debut credit, Matthew A. Cherry’s short Hair Love, won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[4]
Expansion and rename (2021–January 2025)
[edit | edit source]In July 2022, Lion Forge Animation received its first global series order for Iyanu, a 2-D animated fantasy series approved by Cartoon Network and HBO Max (now Max).[5] In March 2023, co-founder Carl Reed departed to form Composition Media, and the company renamed itself as Lion Forge Entertainment; David Steward II remained in his role as CEO, and Edward Hamati continued as COO. Stephanie Sperber, previously an executive at NBCUniversal, was appointed President and chief content officer.[6][7]
Projects
[edit | edit source]Animation
[edit | edit source]- Hair Love (short, 2019): Lion Forge co-produced Matthew A. Cherry’s short film; won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[2]
- Drawn In (short-form series, 2023): literacy-driven kids’ show created with Nine PBS; won the 2023 Mid-America Emmy for Short Form Content.[8]
- Iyanu (series, 2025–present): premiered April 2025 on Cartoon Network/Max;[9] Showmax Africa rollout June 2025;[10] ITVX U.K. debut July 2025;[11] renewed for Season 2 and two companion films.[12]
- A Dozen Tough Jobs (feature, 2026): animated retelling of the Hercules’ twelve labors set in 1920s Mississippi; collaboration with George R. R. Martin announced May 2025.[13][14][15]
- Iron Dragon (animated fantasy-adventure series, 2026): premiering in 2026 on Nickelodeon, co-developed with Nickelodeon Animation Studio and Canadian animation studio 9 Story Media Group, following two girls managing their new life in a multivitamin environment with a tiny dragon by their side.[16][17]
- Marley and the Family Band (animated series, TBA): adaptation of Cedella Marley’s 2022 children's book, developed with Polygram Entertainment and the Tuff Gong Collective.[18][16]
Live-action
[edit | edit source]- Best Wishes (film series, TBA): multi-picture adaptation of Sarah Mlynowski’s best-selling Scholastic novels; optioned March 2024, screenplay in progress.[19][20][21]
- Lostlings (YA series, TBA): live-action adaptation of TalesVision’s mystery series with 17 million YouTube views; development deal signed June 2025.[22][23]
- Secret Society of Rebel Girls (series, TBA), co-developed with Rebel Girls and DK Publishing, inspired by the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls brand; announced May 2024.[24][25][26]
Other projects
[edit | edit source]In addition to long-form programming, Lion Forge Entertainment has co-produced short-form projects such as the Disney+ musical short Rise Up, Sing Out and the animated series Young Love, a spin-off of Hair Love, which premiered on Max in 2022.[27][28][29]
Awards and recognition
[edit | edit source]Lion Forge’s award run began when its very first animated short, Hair Love, received the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.[2][30] Two years later, the studio’s hometown partnership with Nine PBS yielded Drawn In, which collected a Mid-America Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Content.[8][31]
In 2021, Fast Company named Lion Forge Entertainment on its annual list of innovative film and television companies.[32][33]
On the ratings front, flagship series Iyanu premiered as the #1 kids’ program on Cartoon Network and entered Max’s Top 10 Kids & Family chart.[34][10] The show also debuted on Showmax as the streamer’s most-watched Kids & Family title across 44 African territories.[34][10]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2019/10/31/why-this-st-louis-animation-studio-believes-it.html
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2023/03/02/oscar-animation-carl-reed-composition-lion-forge.html
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2023/07/11/lion-forge-nickelodeon-paramount-animation-deal.html
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).