FROM TOONZONE!NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 7, 2002-- 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE - news) and Mirage Licensing, Inc., the holder of the rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, announced today that 4Kids will produce twenty-six (26) episodes of a new animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series.
The new Ninja Turtles series is scheduled to premiere in the first quarter of 2003 on the Fox Saturday Morning Block programmed by 4Kids. In addition to producing the television series, 4Kids will also serve as the exclusive merchandise licensing agent for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property worldwide.
"We are delighted to be working with Peter Laird, the co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to introduce the Ninja Turtles to a new generation of fans," said Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. "The Ninja Turtles property enjoys worldwide popularity and we expect the new Ninja Turtles series to be must see TV for kids around the globe. There has always been tremendous interest in the Turtles and we expect that the master toy licensee, Playmates Toys, Inc., will quickly be joined by other leading children's merchandise companies around the globe in supporting the re-launch of the Ninja Turtles."
"We are thrilled to partner with 4Kids to produce a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series," said Gary Richardson, CEO of Mirage. "4Kids has established itself as a leading producer of quality children's entertainment with such shows as Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! at the top of the children's television ratings. 4Kids also enjoys a stellar reputation as a leading merchandise licensing agent."
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created in May 1984 when Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman published a forty page black and white comic book. The original Ninja Turtles animated series debuted in 1987. It was the #1 children's television show throughout the late 1980's and early `90's. Ninja Turtles merchandise licensees, including master toy licensee Playmates Toys and videogame licensee Konami were also enormously successful, selling in excess of $1 billion in sales at retail for toys, videogames and other merchandise within all product categories.
"In reintroducing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I am pleased to say that 4Kids will be going back to the Turtles' comic book roots," said Peter Laird, co-creator of the Turtles. "We anticipate that the new Ninja Turtles seres will contain the same irreverent contemporary humor and compelling action sequences that the Turtles are famous for, updated for the 21st century."
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