LOS ANGELES – Before Roye Okupe, a filmmaker from Nigeria, had his daughter, he wanted to make a special character for her. This character would be a good role model for her and kids everywhere. That’s how he created the graphic novel and animated TV show called “Iyanu: Child of Wonder.”
“Iyanu is a love letter to my four-year-old daughter,” Okupe said. “I wanted to create a show that she and other children could enjoy and also learn about their culture and heritage.”
This animated series, made by Lion Forge Animation, a Black-owned studio, will premiere on Cartoon Network this Saturday and on Max Sunday. The voice cast is entirely Nigerian.
“Iyanu” is based on Okupe and artist Godwin Akpan’s graphic novel. It tells the story of Iyanu, a teenage girl who is an orphan. She learns that she has special powers that can help her fight evil forces in her homeland.
Dave Steward II, the CEO of Lion Forge, believes this show shows how African stories are becoming more popular worldwide. “It’s exciting to see shows that explore African mythology,” Steward II said. He noted that most shows are usually based on stories from Roman, Norse, or Greek legends.
“We’ve seen Black characters in many cartoons and shows, but having a focus on African culture is remarkable,” said Sam Kugbiyi, who voices a character named Toye. “This is historic for us,” he added.
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