By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Lion Forge Entertainment and Sinking Ship Entertainment have partnered to finance and co-produce ‘Lila Goes Viral’, a live-action series premiering April 22 on YouTube in honor of Earth Day.
The show follows a teenager, played by Ava Ro, who launches a YouTube channel after witnessing the degradation of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. After posting an original song inspired by climate change that goes viral, she must navigate newfound fame while using her platform to advocate for environmental issues. The series launches with its first two episode blocks on YouTube Kids, followed by weekly releases of eight packages, each containing one narrative episode, original music, confessional vlogs and multiple short-form videos.
The series, designed for audiences aged 9 to 14, carries significant licensing opportunities across music, digital content and cause-related marketing. Its multi-platform structure — combining narrative episodes, original music, vlogs and vertical short-form content across YouTube and social media — reflects the growing trend of IP developed natively for digital distribution rather than adapted to it.
Music rights represent a core component of the property’s licensing framework. The show’s soundtrack will be released by Magic Star, the kids and family division of The Orchard, a Sony Music Entertainment company. Each original song will be supported by official music videos, acoustic versions, lyric videos and short-form content including dance challenges; a rollout strategy mirroring that of mainstream recording artists and designed to maximize cross-platform engagement.
“Lila Goes Viral came from wanting to create something that reflects how kids actually consume and create content today,” said co-creators Erica Rabner and Robby LeDoux. “As songwriters, music is how we process our world, so the songs are the heartbeat of the show. It’s about finding your voice, what happens when people actually start listening, and how that can lead to real change.
“We call it a creator-native narrative, a fictional series that unfolds as a YouTube channel and across socials, but with a full story arc, music franchise, and impact strategy,” they added. “It’s a new genre; a mash-up of the best features of premium and digital storytelling.”
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J.J. Johnson, co-founder of the Emmy Award-winning Sinking Ship Entertainment, says the multifaceted approach to the series is a deliberate strategy to reach the Gen Alpha generation.
“Gen Alpha isn’t just watching content; they’re participating in it, shaping it, and using it to express what they care about,” Johnson said. “Lila Goes Viral meets them in that world, using music and storytelling to turn something as big as climate change into something personal, actionable and deeply entertaining.
“Partnering with Lion Forge feels like a natural fit because we share a belief in crafting authentic stories that remind young audiences that their voice matters.”
The series also incorporates a cause-marketing component that may appeal to licensees seeking environmental brand alignment. The production has already partnered with The Climate Initiative, which supports climate education and youth leadership in 49 states and internationally, and has committed 10 percent of the show’s earnings to organizations supporting environmental sustainability and climate awareness.
“YouTube is an incredible platform for reaching young audiences where they already are,” said David Steward II, founder and CEO of Oscar-winning Lion Forge Entertainment. “Lila Goes Viral is exactly the kind of storytelling we believe in.
“It’s entertaining, culturally relevant and grounded in a meaningful purpose. Partnering with Sinking Ship allows us to bring this story to life while encouraging viewers to engage with issues that matter for the future of our planet.”
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The series fits within a broader expansion strategy we’ve seen in the past at Lion Forge Entertainment, which has recently secured partnerships with Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, and Scouting America, as well as a collaboration with author George R.R. Martin on an adult animated feature. The studio’s animated fantasy series Iyanu performed well across HBO Max and Cartoon Network, signed multiple licensing deals, and is set to debut its second season this spring.
Lion Forge says the new series fits well into the ethos of the company, and its overall strategy.
“Lila Goes Viral is part of Lion Forge Entertainment’s growing slate of digital-first storytelling,” said Stephanie Sperber, president and chief creative officer at Lion Forge Entertainment. “With its mix of music, creator culture and environmental themes, Lila Goes Viral is exactly the kind of bold, platform-native project we’re excited to bring to life.”
The series was developed by Sinking Ship and directed by David Gorvy. It is executive produced by Johnson and Blair Powers of Sinking Ship, along with Amy Friedman of Redhead Consulting, who brought the project to Sinking Ship through the Aspen Institute’s Planet Media initiative, which provided original development funding. Ava Ro also serves as a producer on the project.