David Steward II
David Steward II is a trailblazing Academy Award®-winning producer and entrepreneur, renowned for his commitment to enhancing multicultural and diverse content within the entertainment sector. In 2018, he established Polarity, a dynamic holding company that oversees a diverse portfolio of creative ventures, including Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, Magnetic Press, and Illustrated Syndicate, focusing on graphic novels, comics, animated content, streaming, cinematic features, and gaming. Steward's Lion Forge Animation, launched in 2019, quickly made headlines by producing "Hair Love," an animated short that clinched the 2020 Academy Award® for Best Animated Short. This achievement underscored Lion Forge Animation's status as a leading Black-owned studio, celebrated for its authentic representation of underrepresented groups. The studio's innovative work earned it a spot among Fast Company Magazine’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021. Looking ahead, Steward and his team are developing several exciting projects, including the animated series "Iyanu: Child of Wonder" for HBO Max, a "Hair Love" spinoff series, and collaborations with notable figures and organizations in the entertainment industry. These projects continue to build on his vision of creating content that celebrates diversity and inclusivity.