Lion Forge Animation Bolsters Leadership Team

David Steward II’s Lion Forge Animation studio (Hair Love) has expanded its leadership team with a pair of new appointments.

Two-time Emmy Award-winning animation director Saxton Moore has been promoted to VP of production for Lion Forge Animation. Moore, who joined the company as executive creative director last year, has previously worked with Netflix, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, FUSEtv and A+E.

Neely Shamam has been hired to serve as the studio’s VP of development. Shamam has over 15 years of experience developing, producing and programming content for various platforms and networks. She has worked in creative leadership roles at Disney and Maker Studios, Zone TV and Ficto.

In addition to hiring Saxton and Neely, Lion Forge Animation is adding director and producer level talent to its team. Further, Carl Reed, Lion Forge Animation’s chief creative officer will be shifting his focus to provide executive producer services and concentrate his work with Lion Forge Animation on several key projects.

Lion Forge Animation sits within Steward II’s holding company, Polarity, a diversified global media company with a mission to bring authentic content to a diverse global audience. Its portfolio includes Illustrated Syndicate and Magnetic Press, as well as Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group.

Steward II said: “Our incredible growth trajectory can be attributed, in large part, to the best-in-class team executing our distinct vision. Saxton is an instinctive leader with tremendous creative acumen and a powerful ability to deliver. Equally, Neely is an executive producer with a penchant for unique storytelling and a strategic eye for talent and material that translates to great TV series, movies and digital properties.”

Edward Hamati, president of Polarity, said: “The company built several high-profile content partnerships (Imagine Kids + Family, BRON, Bento Box and Polygram among them), delivered on multiple productions (the latest with Disney), has established key entertainment industry alliances and has scaled the IP portfolio. The latest leadership and subsequent team hires complement and enhance the company’s profile and capabilities. We are excited and have some upcoming announcements which we think the industry will find compelling.”

Steward II added: “Authenticity matters across Polarity’s portfolio of companies. Our expanding leadership teams are taking the reins of brands with a singular, unique mandate to deliver diverse, authentic content representing underserved cultures, communities, voices and groups. We’re proud of what the teams are accomplishing and thrilled as Lion Forge Animation enters an exciting growth phase.”