Lion Forge Entertainment (LFE) is an American production studio based in Los Angeles, California. It develops and produces live-action and animated films, television series for children, families, and young adults, often emphasizing diverse storytelling and multicultural themes.
Lion Forge was founded in 2011 as Lion Forge Comics in St. Louis, by David Steward II and Carl Reed. It operated under the imprint, Comics for Everyone, and developed a diverse library of intellectual property that was later adapted for screen productions.
In August 2019, Steward and Reed launched Lion Forge Animation, and its debut credit, Matthew A. CherryâÂÂs short Hair Love, won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
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). 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.
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.
Lion ForgeâÂÂs award run began when its very first animated short, Hair Love, received the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Two years later, the studioâÂÂs hometown partnership with Nine PBS yielded Drawn In, which collected a Mid-America Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Content.
In 2021, Fast Company named Lion Forge Entertainment on its annual list of innovative film and television companies.
On the ratings front, flagship series Iyanu premiered as the #1 kidsâ program on Cartoon Network and entered MaxâÂÂs Top 10 Kids & Family chart. The show also debuted on Showmax as the streamerâÂÂs most-watched Kids & Family title across 44 African territories.