Prospects for Future 4Kids Merchandise?

[The-Shredder]

Considering how this twenty year nostalgia cycle works, with the 90s now being in vogue, what are the chances that we will see some appreciation for the 2003 4Kids series in terms of toys and merchandise by the 2020s? I didn't know many people who were a fan of the show back when it was on the air, and it somewhat got the shaft with airing exclusively on Saturday mornings on the FoxBox/4Kids TV for most of its run, and I believe very briefly on Cartoon Network.

So, I have some reservations about seeing enough resurgence in popularity to warrant new merchandise, unless Viacom has something to capitalize from, like how Saban regained the rights to and rereleased the Next Mutation right around when the Nick 2012 show premiered.

[Andrew NDB]

Prospects? 0.

[EddieNES]

As much as people like the 2003, I think turtle resurgence will always default to the original cartoon. Might see some things, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I'm interested in seeing how long this Nick line last. As far as I can tell, it's nowhere near the popularity of the original show; yet here we are coming up on on about the halfway point of the original. Will be interesting to see what happens.

[thundermaster612]

Yeah, the upper two are right. The 2k3 series was great, yet its still overlooked. Even the Nick cartoon is floppy on it considering Hun is Bruce Lee except he's evil.

[Powder]

I think we'll see something sometime, but the odds aren't good for much at all.

[Krutch]

Originally Posted by EddieNES

As much as people like the 2003, I think turtle resurgence will always default to the original cartoon. Might see some things, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Yup! You said it.

[Huzzah]

While not intentional likely, the DreamEx a Prototypes bear a striking resemblance to the 03 Turtles.

[Donatello19]

A few years back, around when the Nick show could still be considered new, I found a belt buckle of the 4Kids turtles at Spencer's. That's the only thing I've seen though, unless you want to count the 4Kids Leo figure in the history of Leonardo 8 pack that came out not too long ago.

[hitmonkey]

Viacom will release the series on DVD eventually. They're sitting on a decent amount of money and the work is already done for them. Beyond that, probably nothing else of substance.

[***First of Two Latin Kings***]

I could see Mega Bloks doing a collector's series tribute at some point.

[The-Shredder]

I wonder if it's not just TMNT with this dilemma, but other 80s revivals in the 2000s as well, like the He-Man and the Transformers cartoons. He-Man hasn't had any shows or movies since the 2000s, and I never hear anyone talk about the Transformers Unicron Trilogy (Armada, Energon, and Cybertron). However, both have gotten full DVD releases.

[sdp]

To get a "nostalgic" cycle to work you actually have to be successful which 2k3 wasn't, I still remember the 2007 film being billed as the return of the turtles since the 90s. It's almost as if the show didn't exist even if it lasted 7 seasons it just seemed to keep a very low profile. If we see any 2k3 merchandise it'll be more because of its cult status and not mainstream nostalgia.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by sdp

you actually have to be successful which 2k3 wasn't

Nonsense, it was successful. Just because it wasn't as huge as the original or that casuals don't remember it doesn't mean it didn't do well as any other similar animated series.

[Leonardo87]

This was one thing with Peter Laird's art colored in the 2k3 colors back in 2014. I got a few pairs of them.

[Powder]

Oh wow, those are dope.

[snake]

The odd thing here and there, but nothing major I'd assume