Lion Forge Entertainment

About Lion Forge Entertainment

Lion Forge Entertainment (LFE) is an Academy Award-winning, Black-owned animation and live-action studio dedicated to producing diverse stories for kids, family, and young adult audiences. Founded in 2019 by David Steward II, LFE is a division of the media company Polarity and is based in Los Angeles, with a pre-production studio in Atlanta. Steward, whose passion for storytelling was rekindled by graphic novels, initially founded Lion Forge Comics in 2011 to address the lack of diversity in the industry by giving an outlet to ethnically diverse creators. This publishing venture merged with Oni Press in 2019 to form the Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Polarity that holds an extensive IP library.

Lion Forge Entertainment was established to develop and produce content based on this extensive IP library and original concepts. The company's mission is to ensure under-represented communities see themselves authentically represented on screen, a commitment that extends to providing career opportunities for women and minorities. The studio's very first project, the animated short film "Hair Love," won an Academy Award in 2020, validating its mission and creative direction. The business model focuses on building global transmedia franchises through intellectual property development, co-production financing, distribution partnerships, and licensing initiatives. Lion Forge generates revenue through these partnerships and by serving as a full-service animation studio for select projects. The company has secured significant deals, including a multi-year first-look agreement with Nickelodeon for animated series and features. In September 2025, HarbourView Equity Partners led a $30 million investment round to help the studio expand its IP portfolio and franchise pipeline.

The studio serves a global audience through partnerships with major distributors and platforms like HBO Max, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. Key productions include the breakout hit series "Iyanu" on Cartoon Network and Max, which has been greenlit for a second season and feature films. Other projects in development include adaptations of books like "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" and a series in partnership with the Bob Marley estate titled "Marley & The Family Band". The company also collaborates with notable figures and entities such as George R. R. Martin and Penguin Young Readers.