TMNT 2007 Licensing Show news

[VaughnMichael]

I just got this e-mail from Dan!!!
Howdy folks,

Mirage's C.E.O. Gary Richardson and Director of Licensing Steve Murphy attended the Licensing Show in New York City last week and here's the scoop regarding the future for the TMNT:

TMNT movie sequel: Mirage and its partners (Imagi, Warner Brothers and the Weinstein Group) are still discussing the possibility of a sequel for the CG film. Hopefully a decision will be made by the end of summer. Think positive - create good karma!

TMNT cartoon on 4Kids TV (USA): Six new episodes of "Fast Forward" will air this fall beginning in September. From January to May of 2008, 4Kids TV will air most or all of the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes (although episode #110, "Nightmares Recycled", WILL NOT be completed or aired). Series producer Lloyd Goldfine and TMNT co-creator/owner Peter Laird are currently in talks regarding a new direction for the series to take in the fall of '08, but no definite decision has been made regarding what this new direction may be. Time will tell - but mum's the word for now.

Playmates Toys: movie-themed toys will continue to be released until mid 2008. No decisions have been made yet regarding what will be released for the second half of '08. Rumors of a 5' tall robotic action figure that can talk and do seven different martial arts moves are not true.

Ubisoft: Mirage is in negotiations with Ubisoft to produce a new TMNT video game. The CG movie models will be used, although the game will be independently produced (so it won't be directly based on any preexisting media like a TV show or film). If all goes well, the game will be out in late 2008 or early 2009. More than likely it will not be released on all of the same platforms that the movie game appeared on.

A retro-licensing program will kick into high gear in 2008 with merchandise based on the 1980s TMNT cartoon series. Lots of adult-sized gear will be available! Can we get a "Cowabunga!" from the faithful? Awe yeah!

Steve Murphy will be spearheading (katana-heading?) special events and merchandise programs to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the TMNT comic book in May, 2009. It's too early to say what will be involved, but Mirage plans to celebrate this monumental achievement in style!

Cheers!
Dan Berger
Mirage Studios' Official Web Dude
http://www.ninjaturtles.com
Some really good news there! I'm so happy they plan to do things for the old toon and mirage comics finally!

[Roseangelo]

Well, this is definitely all good news!

The video game news is unexpected, but very welcome. I know the release platforms could change, but I would be sooo happy if a new game so far down the road got released on GameCube. I'm just too attached to that darn system.

And I'm looking forward to what they might have planned for the 25th anniversary; I was bummed when the 20th anniversary went pretty much ignored.

Hopefully Peter and 4Kids will work out the detail of a new TV series sooner rather than later.

[Revan]

Wow good news! I'm glad they will continue to release figures. Any idea if they will be releasing FF figs or original 2k3 line toys?

[Ava Collier]

I am so exhausted I read "Adult sized gear" as "Adult themed gear" >_>
Anyway...just..YAY TO IT ALL!

[SassyGal]

YAY! So much good news! Thanks for posting Putrescent!! :D

[Toonami Tom]

Awesome! Thanks for the info. 4Kids is finally going to air the 'lost season', that should make a lot of people happy.:)

[a_big_apple]

I am so exhausted I read "Adult sized gear" as "Adult themed gear" >_>
Anyway...just..YAY TO IT ALL!

Now THAT would be interesting...


I'm so excited to see what's going to happen for the 25th anniversary! And I'll be thinking positive about a movie sequel! I had a dream a few weeks ago that I was at the movies watching one, I'll take that as a positive sign. ;)

Also, hooray for airing Ninja Tribunal. Now if they'd only release the DVD.

[The Shelf]

Very good news. I hope they show season 4 episodes leading up to the season 5 debut, though, for the sake of folks who jumped in during Fast Forward... or folks like me who had to stop watching after the first couple seasons due to a busy schedule and are too cheap to buy the dvds. >_>

EDIT: Hmm how was the plot in that dream-sequel, avalon? Have any spoilers for us? ;)

[Spike Spiegel]

OLD...

TOON....

MERCHANDISE?!

Cool, I can spend paychecks on even more TMNT....:D :D :D

[VaughnMichael]

Wow good news! I'm glad they will continue to release figures. Any idea if they will be releasing FF figs or original 2k3 line toys?
Dans working on getting that info for me.

[Scandia]

From January to May of 2008, 4Kids TV will air most or all of the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes

I may be at work right now, but that did not prevent me from doing a "YES!" motion with both arms upon reading this.

I did win the Ninja Tribunal Region 4 DVDs from Ebay. But I WILL still buy the North American release when it is available. Not to mention that people who cannot quite buy the DVDs will be able to see Ninja Tribunal.

And if it succeeds, we will hopefully get even more NT episodes. With the same quality previous ones have had.

These news have totally made my day.

[Kendamu]

Dans working on getting that info for me.
TMNT movie sequel: Mirage and its partners (Imagi, Warner Brothers and the Weinstein Group) are still discussing the possibility of a sequel for the CG film. Hopefully a decision will be made by the end of summer. Think positive - create good karma!

We're looking at 70/30 right now, right? Do you think if we all "concentrate... concentrate hard" that we'll get one?

From January to May of 2008, 4Kids TV will air most or all of the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes (although episode #110, "Nightmares Recycled", WILL NOT be completed or aired).

Sweet! This probably means a US release of the episodes on DVD as well! Woohoo! Too bad so many people will have seen the episodes by the time they get aired.

Series producer Lloyd Goldfine and TMNT co-creator/owner Peter Laird are currently in talks regarding a new direction for the series to take in the fall of '08, but no definite decision has been made regarding what this new direction may be. Time will tell - but mum's the word for now.

Great. More speculation afront. I hope we get news on this regualrly on this as it progresses.

Ubisoft: Mirage is in negotiations with Ubisoft to produce a new TMNT video game. The CG movie models will be used, although the game will be independently produced (so it won't be directly based on any preexisting media like a TV show or film). If all goes well, the game will be out in late 2008 or early 2009. More than likely it will not be released on all of the same platforms that the movie game appeared on.

Let's hope Ubisoft took the awesome reviews of the Gameboy Advance version of the movie game to heart. I want another one of those! Well, that and maybe a Wii release, too.

A retro-licensing program will kick into high gear in 2008 with merchandise based on the 1980s TMNT cartoon series. Lots of adult-sized gear will be available! Can we get a "Cowabunga!" from the faithful? Awe yeah!

Looks like Mirage took it to heart when a bunch of OT-faithful ignorant TMNT fanboys started complaining that the new movie wasn't enough like they vaguely remember as children.

All-in-all, some good news I was hoping to hear and some good news I wasn't expecting but I'm glad to see anyway. The only bad thing is that the stuff everyone was worried about, the movie and the toon, are still there to be worried about.

[X]

Well, if the percentage doesn't raise to 80/20 or 90/10 due to strong DVD sales (come on now we know it'll sell good,) then Warner is just stupid.

Sales of Family Guy brought it back from death (first time in 28 years I ever saw something like that happen,) and Pitch Black DVD sales cause a sequel, now it's TMNT's turn, even though I see the theatrical run as succsessful.

-X-

[Kendamu]

The theatrical run made back twice (and some change) it's production budget. Let's hope they consider it successful.

[CyberCubed]

Very good news, especially about Ninja Tribunal finally airing.

Although technically this Fall won't have anything truly new, since the last six eps of FF are coming out on DVD in August and the Lost Season has been watched by most of the fandom already, although I'm happy the rest of us can get to see it now.

[odupianist]

Also, hooray for airing Ninja Tribunal. Now if they'd only release the DVD.

I think it'll take longer now if they're planning that. Think about it. They didn't want to release the other DVD's til the shows aired. So this might delay the US Ninja Tribunal release.

or folks like me who had to stop watching after the first couple seasons due to a busy schedule and are too cheap to buy the dvds. >_>

I'm with ya on that. Although I did fork out the money for all of the DVD's

[a_big_apple]

I think it'll take longer now if they're planning that. Think about it. They didn't want to release the other DVD's til the shows aired. So this might delay the US Ninja Tribunal release.

Good point. Phooey.

[jenna]

Thanks for the update Putrescent. :D

[TristanHuwJones]

Hopefully now that all this good news is coming regarding the Turtles on screen you'll all continue to support the publishing stream too ;) (read: shameless plug for comics on behalf of myself and the rest of the comic crew! :lol: )

[jenna]

Hopefully now that all this good news is coming regarding the Turtles on screen you'll all continue to support the publishing stream too ;) (read: shameless plug for comics on behalf of myself and the rest of the comic crew! :lol: )

I will! I have just discovered my inner comic geek. And I have you to thank. After your earlier post I marched into my comic store and demanded they order more stuff in. And I came away with Tales 33 & 34 and tales collected book 2 :D So, new convert over here. Now I just want them all. :ohwell:

[TristanHuwJones]

Glad to hear Jenna, and thanks for the support! You can still order almost all the Tales back issues from the official website and I know the next few months have some awesome things coming from Tales! Heck, my own is out in only a few weeks I think (I just got some very awesome news about it from Steve, but I'll save that for another time - bit more personal :) )!

[jenna]

Glad to hear Jenna, and thanks for the support! You can still order almost all the Tales back issues from the official website and I know the next few months have some awesome things coming from Tales! Heck, my own is out in only a few weeks I think (I just got some very awesome news about it from Steve, but I'll save that for another time - bit more personal :) )!

Woohoo! Can't wait to read it! I intend to order bck issues from the official site, and will have to ask them if they will ship to the UK. Congrats on the awesome news. Whatever it is - awesome new is always great :)

[Mutated Leo]

Wowie Wow, Wow! (Best Borat voice)

This is good news and its way better than the alternative of turtles vanishing into obscurity again.

This is why I come here.

[VaughnMichael]

Thanks for the update Putrescent. :D
Very very Welcome!
Dan Just wrote back to me about Fast Forwards Toys and the ending of the show I'm officially happy now about the show atleast.
Howdy Vaughn,

I talked to Steve Murphy and he said he's been trying to pin down
Playmates about the unreleased FF toys for weeks to no avail... so no
news on that end.

The plan is to connect the last episode of FF to the first episode of
the new direction - so FF will have an ending.

Thanks for writing!

Cheers!
Dan Berger
That last bit makes me a very very VERY happy fan boy!
And the bit about Murphy trying to get news from playmates shows me how much he cares.

[Kendamu]

Sweet. Everything falls into place... just a little out of order, I guess.

Oh well, I can watch it in whatever order I want as it comes out on those Season Sets.

[PipingPringle]

Squee! So excited!

[Courk]

First off *happiness all around*

Now, what to do. I'll still have 3 or so seasons to catch up on when Ninja Tribunal airs. I don't think I'll be able to fight it, I think I'll have to watch them without knowing what happened in the seasons in between. Oh well. :-)

[The Terror of Death]

Lets just hope Nightmare Recycled is completed for the DVD relese. I actually like Garbageman and the show will not feel 100% completed without that episode in my eyes.

[odupianist]

Lets just hope Nightmare Recycled is completed for the DVD relese.

I think I read in another thread it probably wouldn't air.

[The Terror of Death]

I think I read in another thread it probably wouldn't air.

I dont know why they cant put it on the dvd like Insane in the Membrane for season four. Just put the dvd or episode as not rated. There are cartoons on dvd that have shown far worse.

[TristanHuwJones]

It was because while IitM was completed and pulled before it got to air, NR never finished the production phase.

[METALHEAD]

*rubbs my fox paws together* excilent. :thyper:

[CyberCubed]

Thanks for the info from Dan! So they're actually going to tie the Turtles returning to the present time with the first ep of the next season?

I guess that confirms that continuity is being kept between all three series and FF has an ending after all. I remember saying this was likely to happen for a couple months now.

Man, I love being right. :)

[Scandia]

Of course we will keep supporting the comic books.

However, I'm still waiting for my order that I placed in May,

[The Terror of Death]

I have a feeling season seven is going to be the best yet. Thats probably me just being optimistic though. But still I dont see how the show could get any worser than FF. I like FF its just that I felt it was the weakest of the six seasons.

PL turning down that pitch (I hope we find out what exactly the pitch was) makes me think he really cares about the turtles and he wants them represented as best as possible. I respect him for his decision.

On a side note, here is a list of my hopes for season seven:
Slashur as the main villian
All the loose ends are tied up
Another Battle Nexus tournament
We get to see Mikeys super hero career
Leatherhead living with the utroms instead of on earth
The turtles wear their FF gear or atleast use their fusion weapons from time to time.
More brawling than ever before
The turtles reach the next ninja rank
And Space Usagi because of no FF season 2

[a_big_apple]

First off *happiness all around*

Now, what to do. I'll still have 3 or so seasons to catch up on when Ninja Tribunal airs. I don't think I'll be able to fight it, I think I'll have to watch them without knowing what happened in the seasons in between. Oh well. :-)

It shouldn't be too confusing... Ninja Tribunal stands on its own more than other seasons, though there will be things that confuse you if you haven't seen the stuff beforehand.

[TheShowstoppa]

I've been waiting in anticipation for the last few weeks wondering just when this Licencing show was, and now that I've finally, FINALLY gotten the news, all I can say is that I'm totally excited!

What makes me happy is that OUR 2K3 boys will RETURN!!!! I seriously cannot get enough of that voice cast. I am starting to LOVE FF the more I watch *SOME* of the episodes, and I am super estatic to hear that it's taking a new direction.... THANK YOU PETER AND GANG!!!! You've made this 10 year old trapped in a 22 year old body extremely happy again.

I honestly cannot express how happy this all makes me. EVERYONE ON THIS FORUM HAD BETTER IMMEDIATLY RUN OUT AND GET FF PART 2 IN ORDER TO KEEP IT A FLOAT!!!!!

[Spitfire]

Well tickle me happy

[Dragon Turtle]

Playmates Toys: movie-themed toys will continue to be released until mid 2008. No decisions have been made yet regarding what will be released for the second half of '08. Rumors of a 5' tall robotic action figure that can talk and do seven different martial arts moves are not true.

Ubisoft: Mirage is in negotiations with Ubisoft to produce a new TMNT video game. The CG movie models will be used, although the game will be independently produced (so it won't be directly based on any preexisting media like a TV show or film). If all goes well, the game will be out in late 2008 or early 2009. More than likely it will not be released on all of the same platforms that the movie game appeared on.


I hope Ubisoft takes their time in developing the next game, and really take advantage
of next gen hardware, as well as address the many gameplay issues of the first game,
we probably won't see PS2, GB Advance, or GameCube versions, hopefully
the GBA gameplay will be carried over to PSP and NDS(and maybe even
the PS2).




A retro-licensing program will kick into high gear in 2008 with merchandise based on the 1980s TMNT cartoon series. Lots of adult-sized gear will be available! Can we get a "Cowabunga!" from the faithful? Awe yeah!



Is there any possibility that we might see a figure line dedicated to the
original comic, as a sort of "deluxe" line?

[Spawn Guy]

I would but I have issues about touching other guys.



My father never hugged me, sorry.


Any news on a UK release for the Lost Season? FF hasn't made it to Jetix over here and the new toon is on fairly spasmodically in the mornings and afternoons. The Lost Season might boost it back into a better air time position.

[Cure]

Yay. I'll have a reason to get up Saturday mornings again. Unless Spider-Man comes out before then. Either way, yay!

[VaughnMichael]

Is there any possibility that we might see a figure line dedicated to the
original comic, as a sort of "deluxe" line?
Dan told me its something they've wanted to do for years and I think now is the right time to do somethig like this.

[jenna]

Any news on a UK release for the Lost Season? FF hasn't made it to Jetix over here and the new toon is on fairly spasmodically in the mornings and afternoons. The Lost Season might boost it back into a better air time position.

Do you have CITV? It's on freeview. FF is playing on CITV every Saturday & Sunday mornings at 9.25.

No idea about release date for TLS here though.

[Whitewolf89]

Indeed. I'd LOVE to see something like that happen myself.

[Ninja Tiptup]

Great to hear the Lost Season will air though I wonder if they can pull that off alright because it seems to push Y7-FV pretty dang far at times from what little I've seen.

More old toon merch is great news.

More Mirage classic hype is great news.

A possible sequel is expected but possitve news.

A new TMNT game from Ubisoft could be great news, we'll have to wait and see. I too hope they took the reviews of their console and portable versions to heart because if they did we'll get a good TMNT game out of this and if they didn't well... maybe they could at least finer tweak the console versions engine and give us an interesting plot to play through.

Nothing decided about the 2008 series is dissapointed but oh well...

But for now we've got nothing but a bunch of reruns ahead of us. And that's a drag.

[Spawn Guy]

Do you have CITV? It's on freeview. FF is playing on CITV every Saturday & Sunday mornings at 9.25.

Haven't watched since I was five or ten. Forgot it existed actually.

[CyberCubed]

But for now we've got nothing but a bunch of reruns ahead of us. And that's a drag.

Technically they're not reruns because they haven't aired on TV.

The last 6 episodes of FF are still "new" episodes, even if they'll be out on DVD before they air. And since the Lost Season was never officially released in the US in any format, those are still new episodes as well.

I understand for some that the entire next year will be nothing but reruns to them, but officially it is still a year worth of 18 new episodes, (6 FF eps + 12 Lost Season eps), and that almost adds up to a complete season.

[Duke]

I'm really excited over all this news. Retro–licensing to the ending of Fast Forward, it all sounds great to me. Especially, if they could pull off some sort of Comic toy line.

[Drtooth]

Possible Sequal PLEEEEEEEEEAAAASSSEEE!!!! Pretty Please with Pepperoni and Marshmellows on top!

FF Toys-or lack there of I really hope they can release some of them. I hated the wrestling episode, but I do want the action figure... plus the Matrix-look Don varient (or was it Leo, I forget) was also pretty sweet... plus I'm still missing Don.

new Direction By which it better return to the darkness and well thought out plot lines of the original 2k3 series before then.

4Kids airing the Lost season I would rather see the DVD's released first, so I wouldn't feel the need to tape them off the air.

Nightmare recycled Of course it won't be completed... but then again, what's wrong with the story boards/animatics (if completed) being a special feature on the DVD when it comes out?

[jenna]

Haven't watched since I was five or ten. Forgot it existed actually.

Yeah... embarrassing for me, I know. I only watch it for the turtles though :D
It's not CITV on ITV, though - it's the CITV channel. FF. It's how I start my weekends. :)

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

4Kids airing the Lost season I would rather see the DVD's released first, so I wouldn't feel the need to tape them off the air.



I asked Dan about that, seeing as how the collective minds at 4 Kids have formed a competent idea and decided to air the lost season, we'll more than likely see the DVD around early 2008.

I'm stoked about everything. I'm feeling even more positive about a TMNT sequel, and I can't wait for the 25th Anneversary.

I also can't wait to rock some of that retro gear.

[Time Mistress]

Definately a cool list of stuff. I look forward to it.

[Janus Prospero]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone (especially Roseangelo and Putrescent) who kept on the ball and relayed all the recent news to the drome. Looks like we have a bright future to look forward to. :D

I was kinda tempted to e-mail Dan myself, but I kinda figured the poor guy was getting hammered with questions as it was. I knew I could count on one of you to pester him for us all. :evilgrin:

[VaughnMichael]

you folks are very welcome I'd never want to hide news from my fellow turtle fans I'm not some big company they do that kind of stuff.:lol:

[Roseangelo]

Likewise. :)

I'm thinking Dan needs a blog of his own to put the answers to all these questions, to maybe save him from answering the same thing two dozen times. :lol:

[VaughnMichael]

Likewise. :)

I'm thinking Dan needs a blog of his own to put the answers to all these questions, to maybe save him from answering the same thing two dozen times. :lol:
would be a very smart idea...and I'm sort of getting the hint that they are getting very p1ssed off at playmates.:evil:

[gobo]

I'm thinking Dan needs a blog of his own to put the answers to all these questions, to maybe save him from answering the same thing two dozen times. :lol:
Unfortunately, that wouldn't stop most of the people to ask without trying to find the answers on their own. Laziness is nigh incurable. >_<

[J Legault]

Nightmare recycled Of course it won't be completed... but then again, what's wrong with the story boards/animatics (if completed) being a special feature on the DVD when it comes out?

I so hope they will include what's finished/almost finished from that episode on DVD. Cause I find it disappointing that it'll never be revived or altered. I don't care if it's storyboard and animatic. I'm etchy to see a bit of GarbageMan and Hun's family connection as mentioned from the offical website.