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!!

[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]

Originally Posted by Ava Collier

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....

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Neutrino

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]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

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]

Originally Posted by odupianist

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.

[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! )

[jenna]

Originally Posted by 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! )

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 So, new convert over here. Now I just want them all.