Dan Berger seems like such a nice fella.

[X]

Ok so I emailed Dan to ask what's up with the future of TMNT. Here's what I asked and how he responded.

> 1. Will the Turtles ever return home so that the Bishop/Stockman,
> Chaplin, Karai, and Hun stories can play out?
> 2. If the Turtles never return home, will Fast Forward explain all
> those aspects to put an end to those arcs?

Hopefully the questions around those characters will be answered in
the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes that are currently airing on Comcast
Video On Demand and will be released on DVD sometime in early 2007.

> 3. Someone mentioned that there has been stories planned out for
> seasons 6 and 7, where we would see more of Hun, Chaplin, Karai,
> Bishop, and whatnot, as well as a return home? Is this information
> accurate?

As far as I know, there are no plans beyond the first season of Fast
Forward at the moment.

> Is there anyway you can relay info to Laird so he can put some
> handle on this to get the Turtles back to the glory days of the
> past 4 seasons?

I'll forward your message, but there's little that anyone at Mirage
can do to go back to the series as it was. It was failing in the
ratings and the merchandise sales were dropping off dramatically, so
to keep the series moving forward, a change was necessary. As much as
we loved the first four seasons, the marketplace was not supporting it.

Thanks for writing!

Man he replies fast. Really awesome. Anyhow some of my hopes could be quenched here. Meaning a conclusion to Bishop, Stockman, and maybe Karai, Hun and Chaplin. As long as I see those stories end in the lost season, I can move onto Fast Forward without worry (no one likes abrupt endings.) However, it also saddened me to see him say that the ratings slump would possibly stop the Turtles from going back to the glory days of season 1-4. I can accept change however, as long as Karai, Bishop, Hun, Stockman are at least settled so the series can move onto new things.

Here's hoping the Turtles stay on the air, but also that a fitting end is put on Bishop, Karai, Hun and Stockman at least.

-X-

[Leonardo_Warrior_Turtle]

He just said there that if Fast Forward fails, so does the Turtles on TV. Yep, looks like we're getting just FF from here on out.

[VaughnMichael]

Yea Dan's great but it's not the shows fault that the toy line sucked that's on Peter for taking the toys back to Playmates and on Playmates for not making better toys like every other toy company.

[Raph's Girl]

As far as I know, there are no plans beyond the first season of Fast Forward at the moment.

I dunno... that FIRST SEASON of FF bit kinda scares me....like they're thinking of other seasons for FF...cuz I sure don't want the TMNT to be stuck in the future for years.....

[VaughnMichael]

I dunno... that FIRST SEASON of FF bit kinda scares me....like they're thinking of other seasons for FF...cuz I sure don't want the TMNT to be stuck in the future for years.....
That I don't want either....That's kinda why I'm thinking that they're doing this because they very well may be moving the show to WB.

[Jo Dawn]

I dunno... that FIRST SEASON of FF bit kinda scares me....like they're thinking of other seasons for FF...cuz I sure don't want the TMNT to be stuck in the future for years.....

Yeah, wasn't there another email from Dan that said that if FF did well we were gonna get that from here on out?

Damned if we do, and damned if we don't, it seems...

[Raph's Girl]

That I don't want either....That's kinda why I'm thinking that they're doing this because they very well may be moving the show to WB.

Oh gods no... WB wanted to air a TMNT series in 2001 where April and Casey were Teenagers too! This is the proposed look of the TMNT for WB in 2001:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/tmntline.jpg

[Jo Dawn]

I remember that. *shudders*

[Raph'N'Roll]

Well at least we had four great seasons, Firefly while also great was cancelled after only a few episodes.
Then we have the movie to look forward to, and if that does really well, Imagi might decide to do a TV series if the current cartoon fails, who knows?
I haven't seen fast forward yet myself, but it's definitely not the way I'd want the series to go, maybe it'd work as a 4 or 8 ep arc but not a whole season.
I'm not mad about the armour the turtles are wearing either.

[gobo]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/tmntline.jpg
This pic reminds me of the parody of TMNT in the Alf comics...

[VaughnMichael]

Oh gods no... WB wanted to air a TMNT series in 2001 where April and Casey were Teenagers too! This is the proposed look of the TMNT for WB in 2001:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/tmntline.jpg
Yes, but that's not to say that's what they were going to look like..atleast it wasn't that gawd awful computer animated show we saw clips from some time ago.
I just really think The turtles need to move away from their past.
Liard needs to regroup and rethink all of this. If I was him and gawd do I wish I was lol I'd start by dumping Fox for good! And then tell Playmates to take a hike.
What he also needs to do is take the next step he took the first one by starting his first publishing company. Now what he needs to do is say screw everyone and just start his own production company I'm quite sure the man has enough money to do so or could take the chance with a loan to start this new animated series studio as well as toys.
If peter started this it would be amazing! just my 5 dollars :)

[X]

I replied to Dan's reply with a couple more questions. Hope this helps all TMNT fans as it did for me, he was very helpful in answering a lot of my questions.

> 1. Has Mirage ever considered pitching the 2003 series to another
> station who may treat it a bit better?

We tried Cartoon Network but the series didn't perform to their
requirements.

> 2. Has Mirage ever considered doing direct to DVD releases?

Yes, the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes were completed to be released
direct-to-DVD. 4Kids ended up getting a deal with Comcast Video On
Demand to air the series before the DVDs were shipped, but the
original intent was direct-to-DVD. This was because the vast portion
of the money to produce these episodes was already spent. It's very
unlikely that we'll do anymore direct-to-DVD releases unless the
"Ninja Tribunal" set sells incredibly well. It costs in the
neighborhood of $300,000.00 to produce one episode of the show.

> A lot of anime series that are brought over are never aired but
> still see brisk sales when released to DVD.

They have the advantage of having full production costs covered by
the Japanese companies, so their sales don't need to be as brisk as
ours do.

> Is the lost season a test to see how well an unaired Turtles would
> do for sales?

Somewhat, but more importantly it was a way to ensure that fans of
the series could see how the story line played out.

> The reason I ask about Adult Swim

Cartoon Network didn't want to air the TMNT series in that time slot,
and they're the people in control. They tried a few other time slots,
but were unhappy with the ratings, so they dropped the show.

So there ya have it. I asked if doing the direct to DVD releases was any kind of a test for a market for TMNT on DVD in way of new episodes to keep the story going. Well all I can say from all this, is here's hoping the TMNT lost season closes the doors on Karai, Hun, Stockman and Bishop so we can open some new doors in Fast Forward, for which I will be looking forward to watching if the past doors are shut.

-X-

[Krangstein]

I replied to Dan's reply with a couple more questions. Hope this helps all TMNT fans as it did for me, he was very helpful in answering a lot of my questions.

> 1. Has Mirage ever considered pitching the 2003 series to another
> station who may treat it a bit better?

We tried Cartoon Network but the series didn't perform to their
requirements.

> 2. Has Mirage ever considered doing direct to DVD releases?

Yes, the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes were completed to be released
direct-to-DVD. 4Kids ended up getting a deal with Comcast Video On
Demand to air the series before the DVDs were shipped, but the
original intent was direct-to-DVD. This was because the vast portion
of the money to produce these episodes was already spent. It's very
unlikely that we'll do anymore direct-to-DVD releases unless the
"Ninja Tribunal" set sells incredibly well. It costs in the
neighborhood of $300,000.00 to produce one episode of the show.

> A lot of anime series that are brought over are never aired but
> still see brisk sales when released to DVD.

They have the advantage of having full production costs covered by
the Japanese companies, so their sales don't need to be as brisk as
ours do.

> Is the lost season a test to see how well an unaired Turtles would
> do for sales?

Somewhat, but more importantly it was a way to ensure that fans of
the series could see how the story line played out.

> The reason I ask about Adult Swim

Cartoon Network didn't want to air the TMNT series in that time slot,
and they're the people in control. They tried a few other time slots,
but were unhappy with the ratings, so they dropped the show.

So there ya have it. I asked if doing the direct to DVD releases was any kind of a test for a market for TMNT on DVD in way of new episodes to keep the story going. Well all I can say from all this, is here's hoping the TMNT lost season closes the doors on Karai, Hun, Stockman and Bishop so we can open some new doors in Fast Forward, for which I will be looking forward to watching if the past doors are shut.

-X-
Thanks for posting that. Did you ask him about Insane in the Membrane's future DVD release??

[Raph's Girl]

Now what he needs to do is say screw everyone and just start his own production company

Or um.. ask Kevin Eastman nicely to use HIS production company, Heavy Metal films....currently producing a Vampire cowboy film that stars Steel (Iron/Dark Enforcer in Who Wants To Be A Superhero).... *caughs*.....

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

I kinda feel for Dan, having to answer all of these questions regarding FF and TLS, and the series future, even though he doesn't really do much on the show.

I wish Laird would issue some kind of letter the fans regarding the shows future, or what we can do for the show to get it back to not sucking.

[VaughnMichael]

Thanks for posting that. Did you ask him about Insane in the Membrane's future DVD release??
check out the official site he just updated it with info...
www.ninjaturtles.com
Or um.. ask Kevin Eastman nicely to use HIS production company, Heavy Metal films....currently producing a Vampire cowboy film that stars Steel (Iron/Dark Enforcer in Who Wants To Be A Superhero).... *caughs*.....
or they could stop being babies and just get back together...:trazz:
good idea though if they would actully put their heads together they could really bring back TMNT full force I bet it's hard on Peter doing all of this on his own.
I kinda feel for Dan, having to answer all of these questions regarding FF and TLS, and the series future, even though he doesn't really do much on the show.
I wish Laird would issue some kind of letter the fans regarding the shows future, or what we can do for the show to get it back to not sucking.
write to peter laird he very well may answere you...just send it to the fan mail and adress all of it to peter or the comic book.

[Spitfire]

Oh gods no... WB wanted to air a TMNT series in 2001 where April and Casey were Teenagers too! This is the proposed look of the TMNT for WB in 2001:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/tmntline.jpg
Sadly those look better then FF

[Krangstein]

check out the official site he just updated it with info...
www.ninjaturtles.com


I didn't see any thing about Insane in the membrane???

[VaughnMichael]

I didn't see any thing about Insane in the membrane???
he posted links to other sites...seriously just wait for the damn thing to come out on dvd...how long do we have to wait for it to come out?

[Jon]

he posted links to other sites...seriously just wait for the damn thing to come out on dvd...how long do we have to wait for it to come out?


It's a little under a month now til TMNT Season 4's DVD (on Sept. 12th)!!

[VaughnMichael]

It's a little under a month now til TMNT Season 4's DVD (on Sept. 12th)!!
very good then we will all know for sure what's on it.:)

[Tigerfog]

Hmm... the situation is quite critical indeed.
If (and really, IF) TMNT 2003 and FF gets cancelled, there is always one solution: it worked for Futurama and Family Guy, and it might as well work for TMNT.
DVD sales are often the reason why some series are brought back from the dead.
This is another unfortunate point though. The English TMNT DVDs are not sold as season boxes (unlike the French version where I live). I don't think they would sell well unless something is done about it.

BTW, yeah, Berger is a very nice guy. It shows that he carefully replies to fans' messages instead of sending automated messages.

[Jon]

Hmm... the situation is quite critical indeed.
If (and really, IF) TMNT 2003 and FF gets cancelled, there is always one solution: it worked for Futurama and Family Guy, and it might as well work for TMNT.
DVD sales are often the reason why some series are brought back from the dead.
This is another unfortunate point though. The English TMNT DVDs are not sold as season boxes (unlike the French version where I live). I don't think they would sell well unless something is done about it.

BTW, yeah, Berger is a very nice guy. It shows that he carefully replies to fans' messages instead of sending automated messages.


I know some like Sets better, and sure-enough they're great. But I'm fine with single-disc style too. Long as a show's put on DVD, the way it's done isn't really a problem. So long as they end up having the whole series put out (that's my only beef, when it's cut-short -- *cough* G.I. Joe, Gargoyles *cough*).

[Tigerfog]

It has been mentioned countless times, but I think they shouldn't have messed up the order of the episode with the DVD releases. If they end up missing an episode...!

Also, I'm fine with single DVD releases... but I really don't like how 4KIDS decided to change the style/labelling numbers every 3 or 4 DVD releases. Just my opinion, but they obviously don't have collectors in mind when they released those DVDs.

[VaughnMichael]

It has been mentioned countless times, but I think they shouldn't have messed up the order of the episode with the DVD releases. If they end up missing an episode...!

Also, I'm fine with single DVD releases... but I really don't like how 4KIDS decided to change the style/labelling numbers every 3 or 4 DVD releases. Just my opinion, but they obviously don't have collectors in mind when they released those DVDs.
yea it seems they don't have the fans or collectors in mind when the release anything tmnt related for the most part.

[Krangstein]

yea it seems they don't have the fans or collectors in mind when the release anything tmnt related for the most part.
Then why do they bother releasing them in the first place, most of the paople that buy these DVDs are collectors. Why doesn't 4Kids care? I can't imagine any one who is new to the series wanting to buy all these DVDs with only 3-6 episode per disc and all mixed up. It is a big turn off. Maybe if they didn't release them like that people would give the series a chance and they'd sell more DVDs... I wan't season sets!

[Kingpin]

I will utter no small notion of jealousy at getting such a good industry contact, us RGB fans are dead in the water with no kind of lifeline to any info so it's refreshing to see someone like Dan doing something that goes a long way to pleasing the average Turtle fan.

*cough* Sony, you could learn to do this *cough*

Or um.. ask Kevin Eastman nicely to use HIS production company, Heavy Metal films....currently producing a Vampire cowboy film that stars Steel

They're making a film of Darkwatch now? :tsurpris:

[VaughnMichael]

Then why do they bother releasing them in the first place, most of the paople that buy these DVDs are collectors. Why doesn't 4Kids care? I can't imagine any one who is new to the series wants to buy all these DVDs with only 3-6 episode per disc and all mixed up. It would be a big turn off. Maybe if they didn't release them like that people would give the series a chance and they'd sell more DVDs... I wan't season sets!
they are bring the dvd's out for kids believe it or not *gasp!*

[Krangstein]

I actually think more most of the people that buy these DVDs are in their late teens and adults...

[Raph's Girl]

They're making a film of Darkwatch now? :tsurpris:

No.. it's called "A Fistful of Blood"... sounds like a vampire cowboy spoof of "A Fistful of Dollars" to me :roll:

[VaughnMichael]

I actually think more most of the people that buy these DVDs are in their late teens and adults...
yes thats not why the company is bringing them out though...
if it was the reason they would have brought out season box sets or episodes in order..I think that would make more sence.

[Ecto Jedi]

Then why do they bother releasing them in the first place, most of the paople that buy these DVDs are collectors. Why doesn't 4Kids care? I can't imagine any one who is new to the series wanting to buy all these DVDs with only 3-6 episode per disc and all mixed up. It is a big turn off. Maybe if they didn't release them like that people would give the series a chance and they'd sell more DVDs... I wan't season sets!

I agree, TMNT 2K3 season sets would be totally boss...

[Krangstein]

Not that i want to be rude or anything but Dan Berger seems to be the last one to know these things. The fans usually get all the info long before he does.

[Spitfire]

Why are shows like Thundercats and He-man in boxsets?

Because the people who watched them growing up will buy them. Not 5 year olds.

Why do anime DVDs cost 25 bucks and come with 3 episodes. Because 12 year olds will buy them, think their the best thing ever and buy the whole seires*Of most likely over 60 episodes*. They make bank off it.

So why are TMNT DVDs 3-5 episodes a disk and 10 bucks each? Their cheap, a little kid can afford it. Bam cash. The first boxset for TMNT sold like ass and they made no profit off it because kids don't have 40 bucsk to throw down on a DVD set and parents won't buy their kids something that expensive. They go to Wal-mart and their parents go "Pick a DVD" So they grab ONE TMNT DVD and their parents get it.

There hasn't been a box set since the first 4 DVDs because like I said they didn't sell well.

And no news there Dan has news last because no one tells him much he's just a webmaster.

[iris]

I think that the statement that Dan is "just a webmaster" vastly underestimates his role. He's sometimes the Mirage rep, and I've seen him field questions from reporters as well as fans.

Official sites do usually get the details after the fans do, in part because of time constraints, but unlike fans they can verify information.

[VaughnMichael]

I think that the statement that Dan is "just a webmaster" vastly underestimates his role. He's sometimes the Mirage rep, and I've seen him field questions from reporters as well as fans.

Official sites do usually get the details after the fans do, in part because of time constraints, but unlike fans they can verify information.
they also aren't crazy lol :lol:

[iris]

they also aren't crazy lol :lol:
Yeah... that was the other part. ;)

[Vegita-San]

Yea Dan's great but it's not the shows fault that the toy line sucked that's on Peter for taking the toys back to Playmates and on Playmates for not making better toys like every other toy company.


Dan Explained the Playmates Situation to me, and it does make sense, but I agree. The Playmates people have NOT Been doing their jobs well latley. I STILL have yet to see any solid sales figures that indicate VARIENTS sell better than original toy characters. It should be a contest among toy designers. Make up a cool looking toy, and maybe it can appear in the show, rather than the other way around..

I don't know if the Playmates thing is public knowledge, so if Dan see's this and gives me the OK, I'll fill the rest in. :)

[Vegita-San]

That I don't want either....That's kinda why I'm thinking that they're doing this because they very well may be moving the show to WB.


Hmm, interesting point. It would make sense. If the WB wants to do Future movies, they'd also want to put on a series as well to promote the movies.
I have alot of conspiracy theories that just popped up, but since this is the first place I've seen this mentioned, we'll hold them off for now :).

Anyone know when 4Kids TMNT Liscence runs out?

[Vegita-San]

There hasn't been a box set since the first 4 DVDs because like I said they didn't sell well.

That's because no one got their value for the money they spent on those things. If memory serves, it was just a repackage of the first 3/4 DVD's, with no new content, no space saving in place, and even MORE expensive than buying them individually. Now tell me why they wouldn't have sold, huh 4Kids? :)


What they need to do, is first ADVERTISE these things. I see NO advertisements for the Turtles Cartoon anywhere these days, unlike the old series wich was advertised up the wazoo on WPIX in NY, during every hour of the day except prime time and weekends.

Second, Get SEASON SETS with DECENT EXTRAS done that add a little fun to it. Show a kid how to properly draw a turtle, or Shredder with one of the shows artists leading the way. HAve a 'voice acting lesson' to sound like Michelangelo. Have the turtles themselves dance around the menu screen and help you navigate through it while still being funny for an adult. And for goodness sake, get RID of the confusing denomination numbers they use to identify these things, and put episodes back in order.

If the average parent can't remember what DVD they picked up for their kid last time, guess what, a lost sale! 'Hmm, I bought Season 3, 3.11 last time? No, I but Season 4 2.11, or was it Season 2?' As episode order goes... Shredder gets banished to the ice asteroid. Next episode inline, whoops, there's Shredder again! That'll confuse a kid, and maybe even frustrate them.

It's amazing how people can muck things up so quickly.

[Raph's Girl]

I think that the statement that Dan is "just a webmaster" vastly underestimates his role. He's sometimes the Mirage rep, and I've seen him field questions from reporters as well as fans.


Dan's more than the webmaster of the Mirage site...he's also a comic book artist and created the comic book series Gutwallow.

[iris]

Yes, he's got a whole career going apart from the TMNT site. He's worked for Mirage for well over 15 years. I think the fans should be thanking their lucky stars that someone like that is the fan liason instead of a newbie intern.

[Spitfire]

That's because no one got their value for the money they spent on those things. If memory serves, it was just a repackage of the first 3/4 DVD's, with no new content, no space saving in place, and even MORE expensive than buying them individually. Now tell me why they wouldn't have sold, huh 4Kids? :)
Uhh actually is was 4 DVDs, every DVD had an interview with Laird on it explaining the episodes on each disk. And there was a Making Of on there as well where they introduce the VA's and show the crew. It also came with 4 mini TMNT toys. It cost 40 bucks*Like 45 with tax. Which is the same as if you bought them seperate. The DVDs were 10 by themselves.

[gobo]

I think the fans should be thanking their lucky stars that someone like that is the fan liason instead of a newbie intern.
Thank you, luck stars! Other fans are always after me lucky stars. :D

[Ecto Jedi]

Uhh actually is was 4 DVDs, every DVD had an interview with Laird on it explaining the episodes on each disk. And there was a Making Of on there as well where they introduce the VA's and show the crew. It also came with 4 mini TMNT toys. It cost 40 bucks*Like 45 with tax. Which is the same as if you bought them seperate. The DVDs were 10 by themselves.

Actually, I ran into this package a while ago and almost blew a fuse when I saw it was priced at nearly $100 Canadian. I probably would've bought the thing had it been reasonably priced...But one hundred bananas!? That's insane. :o

[Spitfire]

That's news to me. I bought mine for 30 online*It was on sale and didn't come with the stupid toys I didn't want anyway* And it was like 40 in the stores.

But their out of print so maybe that's why you saw it priced so highly. Anyways my point remains no parent is going to shell out*no pun intended* 30-40 bucks for some DVDs for a kid. And no kid is going to either.

[iris]

Thank you, luck stars! Other fans are always after me lucky stars. :D
Your stars are ever-so magically delicious, gobo-san.

[oldtoonTMNTfan]

Oh gods no... WB wanted to air a TMNT series in 2001 where April and Casey were Teenagers too! This is the proposed look of the TMNT for WB in 2001:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/Dierna/tmntline.jpg


Kids WB and the WB network is now defunt. Its called CW, since they merged with UPN, and it looks like the new CW does not have a saturday morning lineup.