Lion Forge Entertainment and Sinking Ship Entertainment have joined forces to finance and co-produce a new music-driven live-action series with a YouTube-first strategy, launching on April 22, Earth Day.
Lila Goes Viral, targeted at kids 9 to 14, launches with its first two episode blocks on YouTube Kids. Each of the eight packages includes one narrative episode, original music, vlogs, and vertical shorts. It stars Ava Ro as its title character, who launches a YouTube channel about the degradation of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
“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. It’s a new genre – a mash-up of the best features of premium and digital storytelling.”
Magic Star, the kids and family division of The Orchard, will release the official soundtrack of the show, with each song accompanied by an official music video, acoustic version, lyric video and short-form videos, including dance challenges and creator-friendly formats that invite participation.
“YouTube is an incredible platform for reaching young audiences where they already are,” said David Steward II, founder and CEO of 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.”
“Gen Alpha isn’t just watching content—they’re participating in it, shaping it, and using it to express what they care about,” said J.J. Johnson, co-founder of Sinking Ship Entertainment. “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 show also includes a partnership with The Climate Initiative, encouraging kids to tackle climate issues in real life. Further, 10% of the show’s earnings will be donated to organizations that support environmental sustainability and climate awareness.
“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. “Alongside projects like Lostlings, it reflects our commitment to building original series designed for the platforms where young audiences are discovering new voices and new worlds. 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.”
