Iyanu, the animated superhero series adapted from Roye Okupe’s graphic fantasy novel, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, has been renewed for a second season by Cartoon Network and HBO Max, with two feature spin-offs officially announced.
By Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku
Iyanu, the animated superhero series adapted from Roye Okupe’s graphic fantasy novel, Iyanu: Child of Wonder, has been renewed for a second season by Cartoon Network and HBO Max, with two feature spin-offs officially announced.
The Yoruba mythology-inspired fantasy series, created by Okupe and produced by Lion Forge Entertainment, a Black-owned North American animation studio, debuted in April on HBO Max and Cartoon Network. According to reports, the series ranks as the top series among kids from ages two to twelve on Cartoon Network, is among the top ten kids and family series on HBO Max, and has been watched by more than 525,000 viewers.
Iyanu follows the eponymous character, a teenage orphan girl who discovers that she has divine powers that have not been seen since the age of wonders. In the ten-episode second season, expected in 2026, Iyanu will continue to master her abilities to defeat a new opponent, alongside her companions Biyi, Toye, and a magical leopard called Ekun.
The series’ universe will also be expanded with two feature films already in the works. The first film, The Age of Wonders, is a prequel film set in the titular Age of Wonders, five hundred years before the time of Iyanu, and is set to premiere sometime this year. The second film is in production and is expected to be released in 2026.
The series’ renewal and spin-off announcements signal HBO Max and Cartoon Network’s confidence in the franchise’s potential, as well as the sustained interest in African stories on the global scene.
Afrocritik previously reported on the announcement of Iyanu, its release, and its all-African voice cast, including Serah Johnson, Okey Jude, Samuel Kugbiyi, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Stella Damasus, Shaffy Bello, Ike Ononye, Lord Frank, Paul Utomi, and Eghosa Eboigbe.
However, African audiences continue to wait for access to the first season of Iyanu which is yet to become available for streaming in Africa. Fortunately, the wait will soon be over as the series will start streaming on Showmax on 13th June, 2025.