‘Iyanu,’ ‘Hair Love’ Producer Lion Forge Entertainment Lands $30M Investment To Fuel Expansion

Oscar-winning studio Lion Forge Entertainment has secured a $30 million minority investment led by HarbourView Equity Partners, with continued support from the Steward Family and Polarity. The funding is set to expand Lion Forge’s original IP portfolio and enhance its pipeline of high-end kids, family, and YA content.

Lion Forge, founded by Steward, first gained international attention with the Oscar-winning short Hair Love. The studio’s current breakout series Iyanu has become a hit on HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with a second season and two feature films in the works. Projects in development include Marley & The Family Band with the Bob Marley Estate, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with Simon & Schuster, and Iron Dragon.

“We believe that content has the extraordinary power to influence the world,” said HarbourView founder and CEO Sherrese Clarke in a release. “This is a unique moment in the kids & family space and Lion Forge is seizing an opportunity to lean into its ability to tell compelling stories authentically and cultivate global franchises at scale.”

Lion Forge founder David Steward II called the deal “a validating moment for our young company,” adding: “The synergy between the shrewd investment strategy of HarbourView and the franchise-building blueprint at Lion Forge will enable us collectively to optimize opportunities at the nexus of entertainment, culture, and content and grow into a category-defining leader from a position of strength.”

President and Chief Creative Officer Stephanie Sperber emphasized that the backing will expand the company’s ability to invest in new projects. “Sherrese and her team see what we see – an opportunity in the marketplace for premium kids, family, and YA franchises, which motivates us to double down on what we believe we do best – create global content and build franchises.”

Lion Forge first gained mainstream attention with the Oscar-winning short Hair Love. The studio’s recent breakout series, Iyanu, has become a hit on HBO Max and Cartoon Network, with a feature, Iyanu: The Age of Wonders, released last month. Projects in development include Marley & The Family Band with the Bob Marley Estate, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom with Simon & Schuster, and Iron Dragon.

For HarbourView, the deal deepens its growing focus on family and animation as part of a broad IP-driven portfolio spanning music, media, and sports. This summer, the firm co-led an $85 million funding round in Animaj, the Paris- and London-based AI-powered media company that relaunched Pocoyo and quickly became one of YouTube’s top five digital kids’ players.