MUMBAI: Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand in 2009, 4Kids Entertainment will introduce the new series TMNT: Back to the Sewer to global broadcasters at this year’s Mipcom.
The announcement was made by 4Kids Entertainment EVP International business Brian Lacey.
In the UK, cITV has just acquired 13 half-hour episodes of the series, which is anticipated to launch in the first quarter of 2009. Additionally, 4Kids has already secured broadcast deals with leading programmers including Alter (Greece), DRTV (Denmark), MTV3 (Finland), Children‘s Channel via UCOI (Israel), Indosiar (Indonesia) and RTE (Ireland).
“We’re delighted to be continuing our TMNT relationship with ITV, particularly as we build toward the 25th Anniversary of the Turtles. TMNT has been a strong performer on cITV, and we’re confident that kids will be thrilled with their newest series of adventures,” said Lacey.
4Kids Entertainment will also be initiating consumer activities internationally that include competitions, cross-promotions with licensees, in-store promotions and displays.
Several events will also highlight the milestone, including one in London, England, in which 4Kids will work with the Animation Art Gallery at County Hall to put on an exhibition of the original Turtles comic artwork from creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made their public premiere in May 1984 in a comic book published and distributed by Mirage Studios. A hugely successful TV series quickly followed, along with a licensing program and three successful theatrical films. In 2003, the Turtles were re-introduced to a new generation through a fresh TV series, a CGI theatrical film and new merchandising program.
In the new series, Ninja Turtles arrive back in their own time (present-day NYC), but are shocked to find that Master Splinter didn’t make the trip with them. It seems that on the harrowing journey back through time their beloved Father was digitally decompiled into hundreds of tiny “data bits” which were then scattered through the vast nether regions of cyberspace. Now, to save Master Splinter, the Turtles must enter cyberspace and collect all of his lost data bits – only then will they have a chance of making Splinter whole again. Cyberspace is a dangerous place with a wide assortment of megabyte baddies lurking around every encoded corner. The stakes are high, the challenges are many, and the fate of Splinter hangs in the balance.
