Lion Forge Animation has rebranded as Lion Forge Leisure, increasing its manufacturing slate to incorporate live-action along with animation, and named veteran household leisure govt Stephanie Sperber as President and Chief Content material Officer. Lion Forge Leisure will proceed to develop and produce content material concentrating on the Children & Household and YA audiences, constructing on the success Lion Forge Animation (Academy Award-winning Hair Love) has achieved since CEO David Steward based the corporate in 2019. Sperber will report back to Steward and Edward Hamati, COO.
In her newly created function, Sperber will concentrate on constructing international transmedia franchises across the studio’s IP, increasing strategic manufacturing and distribution partnerships, spearheading licensing and merchandising initiatives, and overseeing all elements of the corporate’s new live-action movie and TV division. She can even proceed in her function as Government Producer on The Tiny Chef Present for Think about Leisure.
Earlier than becoming a member of Lion Forge, Sperber was President of Think about Children+Household, a division she launched to increase Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Think about Leisure into the youngsters’ house. Sperber oversaw all elements of artistic IP growth and manufacturing of IKF’s TV and movie initiatives in animation and live-action codecs, together with Annie Award-winning Nick Jr exhibits The Tiny Chef Present and Bossy Bear. She produced the live-action collection The Astronauts, which acquired an Emmy nomination for Finest Kids’s Program. Sperber additionally govt produced the upcoming characteristic The Slumber Social gathering for Disney+ and has developed and bought quite a few collection and options throughout all platforms, together with Nickelodeon, Netflix, Apple, HBO Max, Disney+.
Earlier in her profession, Sperber was President of World Client Merchandise, Digital Gaming and Model Promotions at Common Studios, the place she oversaw international Client Merchandise and Retail for Common Footage and NBC Networks, Digital Gaming, Product Placement and Movie Promotions world-wide. Throughout her tenure, Sperber led a number of the most profitable shopper merchandise and digital packages in Common’s historical past, most notably creating the worldwide technique, gross sales and advertising execution for the Despicable Me/Minions franchise throughout all shopper merchandise platforms. Sperber was additionally Government Director of Advertising and marketing at Turner Broadcasting, overseeing model advertising for Hanna-Barbera Productions.
Sperber’s background will additional help in Lion Forge’s technique to monetize its personal IP, to construct franchises, and create new IP throughout its publishing companies. Lion Forge’s mum or dad firm, Polarity, additionally owned by Steward, owns Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group – one of many business’s most revered and acclaimed impartial comedian guide firms, publishing greater than 60 unique graphic novels yearly, along with an intensive checklist of periodical comics. Oni-Lion Forge’s curated line consists of award-winning unique and licensed comedian books and graphic novels, together with Grownup Swim’s “Rick and Morty;” Nickelodeon’s “Invader ZIM;” Bryan Lee O’Malley’s “Scott Pilgrim;” Ted Naifeh’s “Courtney Crumrin;” Anthony Johnston and Christopher Mitten’s “Wasteland;” Sophie Campbell’s “Moist Moon;” Okay. O’Neill’s “The Tea Dragon Society;” Brenna Thummler’s “Sheets and Delicates;” Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer;” Jarrett Melendez and Danica Brine’s “Chef’s Kiss;” Ezra Claytan Daniels’ “Improve Soul;” and the Eisner award-winning anthology “Puerto Rico Robust.”
“This can be a distinctive second within the youngsters and household house and whereas some are retreating, Lion Forge is taking the chance to lean into its distinctive potential to inform numerous tales authentically and to co-finance initiatives, de-risking the inexperienced gentle determination for consumers,” stated Sperber. “I’ve identified Dave, Edward and the Lion Forge workforce for years and couldn’t be extra excited to work with them to increase the alternatives for numerous storytellers in addition to to create a pipeline for behind-the-scenes careers.”
Steward said, “We’re so thrilled to have Stephanie be a part of the Lion Forge household on this key expansionary second. An completed chief within the household leisure house, Stephanie is uniquely outfitted to construct deep and layered franchises and run a multidimensional enterprise unit supporting them although all correlating verticals. Her unparalleled expertise, artistic instincts, business relationships, enterprise acumen, and work ethos can be a driving pressure for Lion Forge and pave the best way for us to enter thrilling new frontiers. The Lion Forge model has stood for range and illustration in animation for the previous 4 years and I’m thrilled to take that model and that mission into the dwell motion collection and have house. We imagine that it’s vital for teenagers and youths to see themselves and their experiences mirrored within the content material, and we sit up for showcasing tales throughout race, identification and gender for the youngsters, YA and household audiences.”
“Stephanie is knowledgeable franchise builder and has a really eager eye and imaginative and prescient for the youngsters and household house” said Hamati. “Her observe file is properly established when it comes to constructing great, novel properties which join with audiences. Lastly, she is a extremely collaborative and well-respected chief, who not solely enhances the robust tradition and focus of our firm however brings a powerful working historical past with key Hollywood gamers.”
Supply: Lion Forge Leisure
Whitney is a contract author specializing in VFX-driven fantasy movie & TV in addition to preschool animation.
