Lion Forge Animation
Lion Forge Animation is a St Louis-based entertainment production company that adapts digital comic and literary IP into live-action film and television content for global distribution, partnering with digital comic platforms and entertainment studios.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSt Louis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lion Forge Animation does
Lion Forge Animation is a private entertainment production company founded in 2019 and headquartered in St Louis, Missouri. The company specializes in adapting digital comic and webcomic intellectual property into multi-platform live-action film and television content, positioning itself at the intersection of digital-first IP and Hollywood production. Its announced portfolio includes two projects: ShootAround, a zombie horror-comedy webcomic with 28 million views on Webtoon being adapted into a YA live-action film, and Beyond the Paddock, a YA novel by Kimberly Ann Harrison being developed as a television series with the author attached as showrunner.
The company operates a production-financed model, financing content internally and partnering with major platforms for IP sourcing and with entertainment studios for distribution. Revenue is generated through licensing deals, production financing returns, and distribution revenues from completed projects. The company targets digital comic platforms (primarily Webtoon Productions) as its primary customer segment for IP sourcing and entertainment studios and streaming platforms as distribution and co-financing partners. The go-to-market motion combines enterprise deal-making with strategic co-development partnerships, including direct engagement with original content creators as showrunners and screenwriters.
Lion Forge Animation employs 51-100 people and is led by founder David Steward II and president Stephanie Sperber. In September 2025, the company closed a $30 million funding round led by HarbourView Equity Partners, marking its first disclosed institutional capital raise and signaling investor confidence in its IP adaptation thesis. The company also operates under the trade name Lion Forge Entertainment.
Lion Forge Animation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lion Forge Animation
- Legal name
- Lion Forge Animation
- Website
- https://lionforgeanimation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Lion Forge Animation is a St Louis-based entertainment production company that adapts digital comic and literary IP into live-action film and television content for global distribution, partnering with digital comic platforms and entertainment studios.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lion Forge Animation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animation and Live-Action Content Production
- NAICS
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510), Graphic Design Services (54143), Commercial Screen Printing (323113)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animation Pipeline, Asset & Render Services (MPADACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH), 2D (Traditional & Digital) Animation Production (MPADACAA), 3D/CGI Animation Production (MPADACAB)
Keywords
Where Lion Forge Animation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St Louis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Lion Forge Animation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- IP Adaptation and Production: Lion Forge finances and produces adaptations of digital comic IP into live-action film and television content. Revenue is generated through production financing, licensing deals with platforms like Webtoon, and eventual distribution revenues from completed films and series.
- Content Production Services: The company acts as production entity, financing and producing content in-house with production leadership (founder, president) and partnering with platforms for executive production support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Lion Forge Animation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lion Forge Animation is a production studio that adapts digital comic and webcomic intellectual property into live-action film and television content. The company develops and produces screen properties derived from established digital-first comic IP, working with original creators and publishing partners such as Webtoon to translate proven audience-engaged stories into multi-platform entertainment franchises.
Product overview
Lion Forge Animation is a content production company specializing in adapting digital comic and literary intellectual property into multi-platform entertainment. The company's portfolio includes 'ShootAround,' a zombie horror-comedy webcomic being adapted into a live-action film in partnership with Webtoon Productions, and 'Beyond the Paddock,' a YA novel being adapted into a television series. These productions represent Lion Forge's focus on transforming proven digital IP with established fan bases into film and television franchise content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ShootAround Live-Action Film A live-action feature film adaptation of digital comic IP produced in partnership with Webtoon Productions, targeted at theatrical and streaming distribution audiences.
- Beyond the Paddock TV Series A live-action television series co-created with Kimberly Ann Harrison, part of Lion Forge's slate of adapted screen content for distribution partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 28 million views achieved by 'ShootAround' webcomic prior to adaptation, demonstrating proven audience demand
Companies that use Lion Forge Animation
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Lion Forge Animation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lion Forge Animation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Webtoon ProductionscoreLion Forge Entertainment and Webtoon Productions announced a partnership to adapt the zombie horror-comedy webcomic 'ShootAround' into a YA live-action film. Aiyana K. White is set to write the feature. The project will be financed by Lion Forge, with founder David Steward II and president Stephanie Sperber producing, while Webtoon Productions' president David Madden and Jason Goldberg are executive producing. This marks an expansion of digital comic IP into multi-platform franchise content.
- Kimberly Ann HarrisoncoreLion Forge Entertainment acquired the rights to adapt Kimberly Ann Harrison's novel 'Beyond the Paddock' into a YA TV series. Harrison will serve as showrunner for the adaptation, following two teenagers from Los Angeles' foster care system who discover their talents in equestrian sports after relocating to Kentucky.
- Aiyana K. WhiteminorAiyana K. White is set to write the 'ShootAround' feature adaptation based on the webcomic. She is the screenwriter for the project.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lion Forge Animation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Skybound Entertainment: Skybound Entertainment adapts creator-owned comic IP (The Walking Dead, Invincible) into film, TV, and interactive media. Directly comparable to Lion Forge as a comic-IP-to-screen adaptation studio pursuing multi-platform franchises.
- Boom! Studios: Boom! Studios is a comic publisher with an active film and television adaptation arm (e.g., Mouse Guard, Irredeemable, Something Is Killing the Children). Directly comparable as a publisher-producer packaging comic IP for Hollywood.
- Webtoon Productions: Webtoon Productions is the adaptation arm of Webtoon and Lion Forge's strategic partner. Directly comparable because it also sources from the Webtoon digital comics library to produce film and TV adaptations — overlapping sourcing and target output.
- AWA Studios: AWA (Artists, Writers & Artisans) is a creator-owned comic publisher with a film/TV adaptation arm. Comparable to Lion Forge as an independent publisher-producer focused on premium creator-owned IP for screen adaptation.
- Oni Press: Oni Press is an independent comic publisher that has developed adaptation deals (e.g., The Tea Dragon Society, Scott Pilgrim). Comparable to Lion Forge as a comic publisher packaging IP for film/TV adaptation.
- Tapas Media: Tapas Media operates a digital-first comics platform with growing adaptation activity. Comparable to Lion Forge's Webtoon pipeline thesis as a digital comics platform where IP licensing is the primary path to screen adaptation.
- Vertigo Entertainment: Vertigo Entertainment is a long-running production company specializing in adapting graphic novels and comic IP (The Sandman, The LEGO Batman Movie) into film and TV. Closely comparable business model to Lion Forge's IP adaptation focus.
Broad incumbents
- Legendary Entertainment: Legendary Entertainment is an established film and TV producer with deep roots in franchise IP (Dune, Pacific Rim, The Dark Knight). Comparable as a major independent studio that finances and packages IP-driven content for global distribution.
- A24: A24 is an independent film and TV studio known for genre-defining productions across film and series. Comparable as an established independent studio operating in the same premium content and adaptation space where Lion Forge aims to compete.
Emerging players
- Rooster Teeth: Rooster Teeth is a digital-first content and animation studio that built franchises (Red vs. Blue, RWBY, gen:LOCK) from digital-native IP. Comparable emerging player demonstrating the digital-IP-to-multi-platform-franchise model Lion Forge is pursuing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lion Forge Animation social profiles
Digital presenceLion Forge Animation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lion Forge Animation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Lion Forge Animation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lion Forge Animation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lion Forge Animation
What does Lion Forge Animation do?
Lion Forge Animation is a production studio that adapts digital comic and webcomic intellectual property into live-action film and television content. The company develops and produces screen properties derived from established digital-first comic IP, working with original creators and publishing partners such as Webtoon to translate proven audience-engaged stories into multi-platform entertainment franchises.
Is Lion Forge Animation a public or private company?
Lion Forge Animation is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Lion Forge Animation founded?
Lion Forge Animation was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lion Forge Animation based?
Lion Forge Animation is headquartered in St Louis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lion Forge Animation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. IP Adaptation and Production is the primary driver. The others are content Production Services.
Who are Lion Forge Animation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Skybound Entertainment, Boom! Studios, Webtoon Productions, AWA Studios, Oni Press, Tapas Media and Vertigo Entertainment. Broad incumbents are Legendary Entertainment and A24. Rooster Teeth is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lion Forge Animation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lion Forge Animation.
What industry is Lion Forge Animation in?
Lion Forge Animation's product category is Animation and Live-Action Content Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAM, Animation Pipeline, Asset & Render Services, with a secondary code of MPADACAG, Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming). Its NAICS code is 711510 and its SIC code is 7812.