South Africa: Executive Producer Doug Schwalbe Oversees Distribution of First Animated Series, 'Iyanu: Child of Wonder'

3 February 2021
Triggerfish
press release

Following a monumental 10-book deal with Dark Horse Comics, YouNeek Studios has secured VC investment from Impact X Capital to develop a groundbreaking animation series based on a world of superhero and fantasy stories inspired by African history and mythology. Highly regarded former senior VP of co-productions at DreamWorks, Doug Schwalbe, has joined as executive producer and will oversee distribution.

Dark Horse Comics, one of the world's leading entertainment publishers, welcomed YouNeek and its pioneering founder Roye Okupe into its fold in January 2021 in a deal that will publish all 10 of YouNeek's graphic novels. Okupe, a Nigerian-born rising star of the industry, is working  with TV industry veteran Erica Motley, creative partner at Impact X Capital, to bring the magical series to screens worldwide, starting with 'Iyanu: Child of Wonder,' a classic children's fantasy quest in the tradition of shows like 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.' More uniquely, 'Iyanu' features a teenaged, Black female lead whose story and world are inspired by Yoruba history, culture and folklore. An award-winning filmmaker, Okupe tells stories through the lens of extraordinary, compelling and inspirational African characters, and was just nominated for the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, meant to honor "commitment to excellence and inclusion."

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