Lion Forge Entertainment Signs First Look Agreement With Nickelodeon Animation – Deadline

exclusive: Lion Forge Entertainmentthe company behind the Oscar-winning film hair loveand Nickelodeon are collaborating on a priority deal covering animated series and feature films, and are working on creating content that presents different voices in front of and behind the camera.

Under the agreement, Nickelodeon Animation will prioritize all of Lion Forge Entertainment’s children’s and family IP, spanning animated series, feature films, short films and digital content.The company may also bring select Nickelodeon and Paramount IP to Lion Forge for development and production.

Lion Forge Entertainment also has the option to co-finance some of the projects the company brings to Nickelodeon and serve as the animation studio for some Nickelodeon projects.

Initially identified potential development projects include born to drive, Story Based on the Life of Wendell Scott, the First Black NASCAR Driver; Comedy Adventure iron dragonbased on the original IP created by Jay Kim at Mostapes Studio in South Korea and Lion Forge; and marley and the house band, Animated series based on Cedella Marley’s picture book, co-produced by Polygram Entertainment.

Lion Forge Animation, founded by the son of an American tech billionaire david stewart, which changed its name to Lion Forge Entertainment earlier this year. It is one of very few black-owned animation studios in North America and has a reputation for authentically telling diverse stories. The Stewart family, which controls one of the largest black fortunes in the United States, aims to raise as much as $50 million to drive the creation of racially diverse film and television content. Bloomberg reportsciting a person familiar with the plan.

Lion Forge’s goal is to monetize its own intellectual property to build a franchise and create new intellectual property that it can leverage in its publishing business.

Lion Forge Entertainment is currently developing and producing animated and live-action content for kids and families, teens and adult audiences, building on the success of earlier Lion Forge animation projects, including Oscar-winning films. hair love, and the upcoming want to know Max animated series based on Yoruba mythology.

David Steward II, CEO and President and Chief Content Officer, Lion Forge Entertainment Stephanie Speber The deal was brokered by Greg Suess and Jon Kanak of Activist Artists Management.The deal expands the relationship between Sperber and Nickelodeon, with Sperber overseeing the development and production of creative IP for Annie Award-winning titles little chef show and Domineering Bear and executive producer of the Nickelodeon live-action series astronaut While working at Imagine Kids+Family Entertainment.

“Lion Forge Entertainment is at the vanguard of many exciting new stories in animation, and we are thrilled to enter into this agreement to create new content for audiences around the world,” said Paramount Animation president Ramsey Naito. ’ and Nick Animated.

“I am thrilled to be working with Ramsey and her world-class team at Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon has been a creative North Star and the opportunity to collaborate on new content with diverse characters and provide diverse talent for the animation industry It’s unbelievably exciting to blaze a trail,” Stewart said.

“I look forward to continuing the wonderful creative partnership with the Nickelodeon team. Together we have a fantastic opportunity to impact children and families around the world by showcasing diversity on screen and creating a pipeline for young, diverse talent in the animation industry ,” said Sperber. “Additionally, Nickelodeon is one of the best franchises in the business and will be an amazing partner as we roll out other expansions together.”