EXCLUSIVE: Lion Forge Leisure, the corporate behind the Oscar-winning Hair Love, and Nickelodeon Animation are teaming on a first-look deal overlaying animated sequence and options, with a dedication to create content material that options numerous voices in entrance of and behind the digital camera.
Underneath the pact, Nickelodeon Animation could have a primary take a look at all Lion Forge Leisure children and household IP throughout animated sequence, options, short-form and digital content material. The corporate additionally might deliver choose Nickelodeon and Paramount IP to Lion Forge to develop and produce.
Lion Forge Leisure additionally could have the choice to co-finance sure initiatives the corporate brings to Nickelodeon, in addition to function the animation studio on choose Nickelodeon initiatives.
Preliminary initiatives recognized for potential growth embody Born Pushed, a narrative primarily based on the lifetime of Wendell Scott, the primary Black NASCAR driver; comedy journey Iron Dragon, primarily based on unique IP created by Jay Kim at Mostapes studio in South Korea and Lion Forge; and Marley and the Household Band, an animated sequence primarily based on Cedella Marley’s image e book, co-produced by Polygram Leisure.
Lion Forge Animation, based by the son of U.S. know-how billionaire David Steward, was rebranded to Lion Forge Leisure earlier this yr. It is likely one of the only a few Black-owned animation studios in North America and is acknowledged for numerous tales, authentically instructed. The Steward household, who management one of many U.S.’ largest Black fortunes, is aiming to boost as much as $50 million to spice up efforts to create racially numerous movie and tv content material, Bloomberg reported, citing an individual acquainted with the plans.
Lion Forge goals to monetize its personal IP to construct franchises, in addition to create new IP that may be leveraged throughout its publishing companies.
Lion Forge Leisure at the moment develops and produces animated and live-action content material concentrating on children and household, YA and grownup audiences, constructing on the success of earlier Lion Forge Animation initiatives together with the Oscar-winning Hair Love, and the upcoming Iyanu animated sequence for Max primarily based on Yoruban mythology.
Lion Forge Leisure CEO David Steward II and President and Chief Content material Officer Stephanie Sperber oversaw the deal, which was brokered by Activist Artists Administration’s Greg Suess and Jon Kanak. The deal expands the connection between Sperber and Nickelodeon, the place Sperber oversaw inventive IP growth and manufacturing of the Annie Award-winning The Tiny Chef Present and Bossy Bear and served as govt producer of Nickelodeon’s live-action sequence The Astronauts throughout her time at Think about Children+Household Leisure.
“Lion Forge Leisure is on the vanguard of so many thrilling and new tales being instructed in animation, and we’re so extremely glad to be coming into into this deal to create new content material collectively for our international viewers,” stated Ramsey Naito, President Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation.
“I’m thrilled to work with Ramsey and her world-class groups at Nickelodeon Animation. Nickelodeon has at all times been a inventive north star, and the chance to companion in creating new content material that options numerous characters and builds a path for numerous expertise within the animation business is extremely thrilling,” stated Steward.
“I stay up for persevering with the fantastic inventive partnership with the Nickelodeon group. Collectively, we have now a implausible alternative to impression children and households around the globe by displaying range on display in addition to making a pipeline for younger numerous expertise throughout the animation business,” stated Sperber. “Plus, Nickelodeon is likely one of the finest franchise-builders within the enterprise and will probably be a tremendous companion as we collectively launch into different extensions.”
