Who Should get the animation rights after 4Kids ?

[Adamag]

When the contract expires between Mirage and 4Kids about the franchise
who should get rights to the turtles ?

[CyberCubed]

I'd say after the 4kids cartoon ends the franchise takes a "break" for a few years before they try another re-launch.

There was something of a 6-7 year break between the original cartoon and the new toon, (of course we had the Next Mutation in between for 1 year), so another break before the series re-boots would be fine.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

I think they should take a break from doing a half hour series. The 2003 one adapts the comics so well anyway.

However, I think it would be interesting to see someone make a straight to DVD cartoon that's an almost exact adaptation of the Mirage comic. Have it kind of replicate the art style like Justice League New Frontier. While I appreciated the OT for being different from the Mirage comic, an adaptation of the Mirage comic would still be really neat and would introduce more comic fans to how cool those first issues were.

[Drtooth]

... yeah, but who's left? Warners is out of the picture (unless they fire their head of animation, and get someone who actually cares about cartoons more than just making various DC Superhero DTV's)... Fred Wolf is long gone. Dic? NO WAY! Not even when they were good. Sony? Hmmmmm... if they want to, then they should (the way the new Spider-Man series turned out). But after them, there's no one else. At least, state side.

I'd like to see Nelvana try their hands at it. As long as they go back to hand drawn digital.... I don't like their new Flash animation stuff. Jacob Two Two and My Friend Rabbit look so stiff (leaving the horrible subject matter in both shows out).

Then there's the European firm, Xilliam. {here's two (http://youtube.com/watch?v=xBiliwsSO_I&feature=related#) examples (http://youtube.com/watch?v=MdDSnmm79xM) of some of their more recent work. I'm sure they can also do a more serious, action related animation. But this is some of the BEST animation I've seen in years. Rivals Disney's last 2-D Traditional animation.

And, I'd say Imagi, but that;s out of the question now. Plus, they don't have a tv animation firm....

[NameGoesHere1066]

I'd like to see Nelvana try their hands at it. As long as they go back to hand drawn digital.... I don't like their new Flash animation stuff. Jacob Two Two and My Friend Rabbit look so stiff (leaving the horrible subject matter in both shows out).

Nelvana!? Are you kidding! I don't want them going near the turtles. After what they did to Card Captor Sakura I'll never trust their judgement again!

[Andrew NDB]

After 4Kids, they'll need to put TMNT as a cartoon back into the freezer for 5 years or so, and come back fresh as they did from the original cartoon into the 4Kids cartoon. Maybe with some subsidiary of Fox again.

[Drtooth]

Nelvana!? Are you kidding! I don't want them going near the turtles. After what they did to Card Captor Sakura I'll never trust their judgement again!


As an ANIMATION company, they're great. It wasn't smart of them to go anywhere near dubbing anime.Besides... it was one of like 3 self owned animation studios still in business I can think of.

After 4Kids, they'll need to put TMNT as a cartoon back into the freezer for 5 years or so, and come back fresh as they did from the original cartoon into the 4Kids cartoon. Maybe with some subsidiary of Fox again.

That's a great idea. A strategic retreat between the shows to let its popularity cool off and warm up again. That's why 2k3 was such a success.

I just hope there's still some animation company out there by then. Unless all the stock in crappy live action tweencoms bottoms out, and the studios have to scramble about for animated programming.

[Sage Ninja]

If it does retreat for five or more years and comes back it'll probably be flash animation or CGi instead of the lovely 2D animation. Since hand drawn animation is a dying medium and all. :cry:

[Drtooth]

If it does retreat for five or more years and comes back it'll probably be flash animation or CGi instead of the lovely 2D animation. Since hand drawn animation is a dying medium and all. :cry:

ONLY in the US. And just until the CGI market crashes from over-exposure.

Plus, CGI doesn't really have the heft it does on TV as it does in the theaters.

But I would agree with Flash. I don't mind flash animated TV shows... that is if anyone actually did it RIGHT. (once again, Jacob Two Two and My Friend Rabbit) Too many motion tween short cuts. It looks so plastic and fake if done wrong. World Of Quest had some great Flash animation, though.

[Roseangelo]

The variable none of you are considering is that 4Kids is not just the home of the TMNT cartoon, but they are also Mirage's licensing partner. They play the same role as Surge Licensing used to. They can't just cut ties with 4Kids because they don't like the cartoons they're making. They would have to be willing to sever ALL ties to 4Kids, and so long as licensing interest is strong enough to justify keeping that going, it's not going to happen anytime soon.

[jerome]

I just want bruce timm to do a dark comic adaptation...maybe direct to dvd maybe a series.

[Ra]

Just give the show a rest for five or so years. Seven? Eight? Let everything shimmer and settle down. The "freshness" of the 4Kids show is slowly starting to grow stale (then again, that's probably me and the after-taste of Fast Forward lingering in my mouth).

4Kids can get a few more seasons out of the current TMNT series, but I don't think anyone should try and test it out right after 4Kids stops the show. Just let Mirage pick up the pieces and let it all settle, in my opinion. After that...well, maybe they could fund a Direct-to-DVD movie? Otherwise future looks pretty bleak for the cartoon. I don't think no one in their current stance is willing enough to take on the responsibility of producing a new TMNT cartoon.

[Drtooth]

The variable none of you are considering is that 4Kids is not just the home of the TMNT cartoon, but they are also Mirage's licensing partner. They play the same role as Surge Licensing used to. They can't just cut ties with 4Kids because they don't like the cartoons they're making. They would have to be willing to sever ALL ties to 4Kids, and so long as licensing interest is strong enough to justify keeping that going, it's not going to happen anytime soon.

That wouldn't happen until TMNT becomes unprofitable and they drop them as a license (or in the event they wind up going bankrupt).

I'm sure when the time comes, the turtles will hide back in the sewer for a few more years, and come back out with a new licensing partner, and a new animation studio.