http://news.toonzone.net/articles/31520/ni...eries-and-movie
Thoughts?
Full Version: TMNT Rights Picked Up
CG-animated, huh? Well, we'll see. A part of me is just happy that TMNT is still gonna go on (presuming this is a new continuity, though).
And with 4Kids out of the picture we might get some union voice actors and thus a wider and more talented cast than what the 2k3 series had to work with. Don't get me wrong, the primary actors for the 2k3 series were excellent, but everything outside of them was really limited and as more and more characters were introduced, mainstay characters began to sound pretty bad (Karai's singsongy asian accent was pretty obnoxious).
One thing I have to wonder about, though, is just WHAT is this new series going to do, exactly?
The 2k3 series adapted 99% of all the canon Mirage TMNT stories, and aside from exceptions such as "Sons of the Silent Age" and "City At War", did a fantastic job adapting them.
So this new series is either going to rehash those classic stories again, or give us all new adventures. I'm hoping for the latter, myself, since most of thsoe 2k3 adaptations were about as perfect as you can get while still keeping it "Saturday morning".
My perfect world scenerio?
Laird concedes to fan demand and gives Nick permission to integrate Archie characters and adapt those stories. With the recent straight to video movie basically being an Old Toon lovefest, I think Laird has finally accepted the fact that fans want to see more than just the stories HE wrote for Mirage and is willing to branch out.
As for the movie? I wonder if they're still gonna go with the proposed live action angle from a while back or if it's now gonna be all CG.
Ah well. I look forward to any new Turtles media that doesn't involve them having adventures in Cyber Space, gathering Splinter's "bits".
And with 4Kids out of the picture we might get some union voice actors and thus a wider and more talented cast than what the 2k3 series had to work with. Don't get me wrong, the primary actors for the 2k3 series were excellent, but everything outside of them was really limited and as more and more characters were introduced, mainstay characters began to sound pretty bad (Karai's singsongy asian accent was pretty obnoxious).
One thing I have to wonder about, though, is just WHAT is this new series going to do, exactly?
The 2k3 series adapted 99% of all the canon Mirage TMNT stories, and aside from exceptions such as "Sons of the Silent Age" and "City At War", did a fantastic job adapting them.
So this new series is either going to rehash those classic stories again, or give us all new adventures. I'm hoping for the latter, myself, since most of thsoe 2k3 adaptations were about as perfect as you can get while still keeping it "Saturday morning".
My perfect world scenerio?
Laird concedes to fan demand and gives Nick permission to integrate Archie characters and adapt those stories. With the recent straight to video movie basically being an Old Toon lovefest, I think Laird has finally accepted the fact that fans want to see more than just the stories HE wrote for Mirage and is willing to branch out.
As for the movie? I wonder if they're still gonna go with the proposed live action angle from a while back or if it's now gonna be all CG.
Ah well. I look forward to any new Turtles media that doesn't involve them having adventures in Cyber Space, gathering Splinter's "bits".
I thought the new movie was already a go ahead before this?
*Open audition for foot clan members comes to mind*
*Open audition for foot clan members comes to mind*
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 21 2009, 12:14 PM) 
So this new series is either going to rehash those classic stories again, or give us all new adventures. I'm hoping for the latter, myself, since most of thsoe 2k3 adaptations were about as perfect as you can get while still keeping it "Saturday morning".
I certainly wouldn't mind if it did like the original cartoon series and totally did it's own thing.
My first thought when I read the title was "Oh... dear".
But then I remembered how ludicrous and off the wall the original cartoon was, and figured that so long as it didn't mirror most of nickelodeons dreck in terms of animation, then it can't really be all that bad.
Live action movie?!? I'd pay to see it in theaters, full price even.
But then I remembered how ludicrous and off the wall the original cartoon was, and figured that so long as it didn't mirror most of nickelodeons dreck in terms of animation, then it can't really be all that bad.
Live action movie?!? I'd pay to see it in theaters, full price even.
I wonder if the series is gonna look like the CGI movie that came out or have any connections to it.
QUOTE
Laird concedes to fan demand and gives Nick permission to integrate Archie characters and adapt those stories. With the recent straight to video movie basically being an Old Toon lovefest, I think Laird has finally accepted the fact that fans want to see more than just the stories HE wrote for Mirage and is willing to branch out.
Laird won't have any future say in the matter. Nickelodeon owns the TMNT lock, stock, and barrel. The entire property.
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=28731
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=28730
I guess 'Forever' is a finale in more ways than one, now. At this point it's like Mirage's goodbye to TMNT.
QUOTE(wonko the sane? @ Oct 21 2009, 12:20 PM)
My first thought when I read the title was "Oh... dear".
But then I remembered how ludicrous and off the wall the original cartoon was, and figured that so long as it didn't mirror most of nickelodeons dreck in terms of animation, then it can't really be all that bad.
Live action movie?!? I'd pay to see it in theaters, full price even.
But then I remembered how ludicrous and off the wall the original cartoon was, and figured that so long as it didn't mirror most of nickelodeons dreck in terms of animation, then it can't really be all that bad.
Live action movie?!? I'd pay to see it in theaters, full price even.
Wait... Avatar was dreck?
Recall that Avatar: The Last Airbender was a Nickolodeon show.
QUOTE(J0HN @ Oct 21 2009, 01:09 PM)
QUOTE
Laird concedes to fan demand and gives Nick permission to integrate Archie characters and adapt those stories. With the recent straight to video movie basically being an Old Toon lovefest, I think Laird has finally accepted the fact that fans want to see more than just the stories HE wrote for Mirage and is willing to branch out.
Laird won't have any future say in the matter. Nickelodeon owns the TMNT lock, stock, and barrel. The entire property.
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=28731
http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=28730
I guess 'Forever' is a finale in more ways than one, now. At this point it's like Mirage's goodbye to TMNT.
WHOAH!
Jeez! Juh? Huh? WHA!?
I just....I don't even...GAH.
That was my immediate reaction after viewing those threads. I'm...shocked. I had never imagined Laird would part with the TMNT. He JUST recently acquired complete ownership from Kevin Eastman, now he's sold the property?
Insane.
Now I REALLY have no idea what this could mean.
A couple things:
ONE: A possible wider distribution of the TMNT comics depending on how much control Nick has over them. You see, Mirage does not sell its comics in book stores or most major online retailers. Because they're such a small company, they can't handle the sendbacks they'd receive of unsold units. And since that's a mandatory part of doing business with stores like Borders and Barnes & Nobel, Mirage has for years opted not to bother with any of them and just make their books available through comic shops and their own online store.
This has SEVERELY limited their distribution. Did you wonder why Borders wasn't flooded with trade paperback collections of the original Mirage comics when the Imagi movie came out? Or why none of the collections of any of their recent books have made it to major retailers? Well, now you know.
So, if Nick has control over the distribution of the comics, then we might start seeing them in major retailers, which would be a GOOD thing.
TWO: As with the Disney purchase of Marvel, there's no cause yet to start freaking out that Nick's going to step in and butcher the franchise. If anything, they may enforce deeper pooling of various TMNT characters from outside the Laird/Eastman canon Mirage stories, like I mused on earlier. I'd rather like to see more of those characters, like the Mutanimals, Slash and all the rest and even adaptations of their storylines in other mediums. If Laird can no longer act as a brick wall forbidding the use of those characters, I find that to be good news.
THREE: If there's one tragedy in this, I suppose, it's that Mirage's legacy as being one of the most esuccessful indy comics publishers is over. I dunno if Nick now owns Mirage (they probably don't), but they now own their biggest and currently only marketed property, so they might as well. I guess it was time, anyway. Their small business status was killing the brand' availability and the stubborness of some of the founders were really impeding progress. Still, it IS the end of an era.
QUOTE(Haro-Z @ Oct 21 2009, 01:24 PM)
Recall that Avatar: The Last Airbender was a Nickolodeon show.
Man, I'd LOVE to see TMNT done by the Avatar team. Probably won't happen, but a guy can dream.
Yeah, it's not really correct to say the rights were picked up, like a license. They were sold. As in, the whole thing. This is a changing of the guard and a major shakeup.
It's a huge shock for what has been for so long known as an independent property to suddenly be within the scope of a giant corporate umbrella. But, as shocking as it is to read this today, I can't say I didn't see this coming eventually. Mirage just hasn't been doing everything they could have been doing, and this has been a point of contention for quite some time. This is probably the best thing to happen in awhile.
But still... dude!
Sayonara.
It's a huge shock for what has been for so long known as an independent property to suddenly be within the scope of a giant corporate umbrella. But, as shocking as it is to read this today, I can't say I didn't see this coming eventually. Mirage just hasn't been doing everything they could have been doing, and this has been a point of contention for quite some time. This is probably the best thing to happen in awhile.
But still... dude!
Sayonara.
As long as they don't pass the production duties onto Larry Schwarz and his company Animation Collective (Kappa Mikey) like they did with Speed Racer, I have no problem with this. Because if they did....*shudder*.
The likely scenario, if it is 3D CGI, is probably O Entertainment, as they've had an extensive history with Nick that dates back a decade. I suppose it could possibly also be Dreamworks Animation (Penguins of Madagascar), but that seems highly unlikely.
The likely scenario, if it is 3D CGI, is probably O Entertainment, as they've had an extensive history with Nick that dates back a decade. I suppose it could possibly also be Dreamworks Animation (Penguins of Madagascar), but that seems highly unlikely.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 21 2009, 01:25 PM)
That was my immediate reaction after viewing those threads. I'm...shocked. I had never imagined Laird would part with the TMNT. He JUST recently acquired complete ownership from Kevin Eastman, now he's sold the property?
In a way, it's kind of sad that the neither of the original creators no longer own the series. On the other hand, he probably realized his time was done, and more than likely made a hefty profit.
QUOTE(Shad @ Oct 21 2009, 01:50 PM)
QUOTE(Haro-Z @ Oct 21 2009, 01:24 PM)
Recall that Avatar: The Last Airbender was a Nickolodeon show.
Man, I'd LOVE to see TMNT done by the Avatar team. Probably won't happen, but a guy can dream.
Oh man. That would be great.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 21 2009, 01:25 PM)
I dunno if Nick now owns Mirage (they probably don't), but they now own their biggest and currently only marketed property, so they might as well. I guess it was time, anyway. Their small business status was killing the brand' availability and the stubborness of some of the founders were really impeding progress. Still, it IS the end of an era.
Nope, Laird still owns Mirage. Heck if I know what there is to do with it now, though.
But yeah, aside from not seeing those threads, my reaction was much the same.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
QUOTE(wonko the sane? @ Oct 21 2009, 11:20 AM)
Live action movie?!? I'd pay to see it in theaters, full price even.
I remember reading tidbits about this. According to the few details out there it would be slightly darker and the turtles would be done using suitmation coupled with face-enhancing CGI. Like the stuff used in Where The Wild Things Are.
Peter Laird has released a statement concerning the deal.
QUOTE
This evening, my daughter Emily wisely advised me to make a statement about the MTVN/Viacom/Nickelodeon buyout of the TMNT property on my blog... so I am going to try to do that. I suspect it won't be the last statement I will make about this subject.
I will try to touch on some of the things that folks have inquired about, but I can't guarantee that all questions will be answered.
First, why did I sell the TMNT? There are a number of reasons, but first and foremost is that I have been doing this TMNT thing for twenty-five years, sixteen of them in partnership with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and the last nine as sole owner of the property. That is a long time. It is almost half my life (I'm 55). I never expected to be working on the same thing for this long. And it has worn me down. I am no longer that guy who carries his sketchbook around with him and draws in it every chance he gets. That guy did all of the pre-TMNT artwork you have been seeing on this blog in many of my "Blast from the Past" posts.
I miss -- I really, really miss -- being that guy.
My fervent hope is that by divesting myself of this wonderful but needful-of-constant-attention property, I might -- I just MIGHT -- get back to being that guy. Or something LIKE that guy.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention that my energy level for things TMNT has flagged in these last few years. As one result, the production of TMNT Volume 4 comics has slowed to a crawl. That's not good. I have a conclusion planned out for that series, and at some point I want to get to it. Maybe this sale will help me get to that point. We'll see.
The idea of a sale of the TMNT property to a third party is not a new one. Kevin and I, while we were still partners, discussed it during the 1990's and actually came to the conclusion that if the right deal came our way, we would take it. We got a couple of offers -- one of which was, in retrospect, pretty decent, and another which was simply ludicrous and insulting. We took neither of them. This one, this sale which was completed on Monday of this week, came out of the blue. I was not actively pursuing selling the property, though Gary (CEO of Mirage) and Fred (my attorney) knew that it was something I might be interested in should the right buyer with the right deal come my way. And then Viacom/MTVN/Nickelodeon showed interest and we started talking.
I've known for a long time that at some point in my life I would sell the TMNT. I just wasn't sure when it would happen. But, as they say, in this case "the stars lined up".
I know that many fans are concerned with how the TMNT will be treated now that they have a new owner. I am also concerned, but I have faith that the new owner will treat the property with due respect and make the most of it. And the simple fact is -- I didn't have it in me any more, and the property DESERVED a new owner. Now it has one, with powerful roots in the entertainment business. I am actually quite excited to see where they take TMNT.
I am pretty certain that what Viacom/MTVN/Nickelodeon will do with the TMNT is NOT going to be what I would have done with it had I kept ownership. But is that necessarily bad? I think not. For example, if Kevin and I had had our way back in 1987, the original TMNT animated series would have been a lot different. It would probably have been a lot more like the 2003 4Kids show. Now, I really like the newer 4Kids series, but I also know that many fans much prefer the lighter, goofier original series. I don't know what the new Nickelodeon series will be like... but maybe it will be something better than either of the old shows, or simply something new and different, with a fresh approach and attitude. I think everyone should wait and see before passing judgment.
One comment -- which I have seen online several times -- expresses the sentiment that this sale will mean "the end of TMNT". This baffles me. Unless I am completely naive, the sale to Viacom could very well mean a brighter future for the TMNT property than was previously feasible.
On a final note (at least for this statement), please understand that I sold the TMNT property, not Mirage Studios. Mirage still exists, and it's still my company. It just doesn't own the TMNT intellectual property anymore. I'm not sure what its future will be. For a little while, it will be helping with the transition of TMNT over to its new owners. But after that...? I don't know. What I am hoping, however, is that this little core group of creators sticks together, both as friends and collaborators. And I think that is certainly possible. -- PL
I will try to touch on some of the things that folks have inquired about, but I can't guarantee that all questions will be answered.
First, why did I sell the TMNT? There are a number of reasons, but first and foremost is that I have been doing this TMNT thing for twenty-five years, sixteen of them in partnership with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and the last nine as sole owner of the property. That is a long time. It is almost half my life (I'm 55). I never expected to be working on the same thing for this long. And it has worn me down. I am no longer that guy who carries his sketchbook around with him and draws in it every chance he gets. That guy did all of the pre-TMNT artwork you have been seeing on this blog in many of my "Blast from the Past" posts.
I miss -- I really, really miss -- being that guy.
My fervent hope is that by divesting myself of this wonderful but needful-of-constant-attention property, I might -- I just MIGHT -- get back to being that guy. Or something LIKE that guy.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention that my energy level for things TMNT has flagged in these last few years. As one result, the production of TMNT Volume 4 comics has slowed to a crawl. That's not good. I have a conclusion planned out for that series, and at some point I want to get to it. Maybe this sale will help me get to that point. We'll see.
The idea of a sale of the TMNT property to a third party is not a new one. Kevin and I, while we were still partners, discussed it during the 1990's and actually came to the conclusion that if the right deal came our way, we would take it. We got a couple of offers -- one of which was, in retrospect, pretty decent, and another which was simply ludicrous and insulting. We took neither of them. This one, this sale which was completed on Monday of this week, came out of the blue. I was not actively pursuing selling the property, though Gary (CEO of Mirage) and Fred (my attorney) knew that it was something I might be interested in should the right buyer with the right deal come my way. And then Viacom/MTVN/Nickelodeon showed interest and we started talking.
I've known for a long time that at some point in my life I would sell the TMNT. I just wasn't sure when it would happen. But, as they say, in this case "the stars lined up".
I know that many fans are concerned with how the TMNT will be treated now that they have a new owner. I am also concerned, but I have faith that the new owner will treat the property with due respect and make the most of it. And the simple fact is -- I didn't have it in me any more, and the property DESERVED a new owner. Now it has one, with powerful roots in the entertainment business. I am actually quite excited to see where they take TMNT.
I am pretty certain that what Viacom/MTVN/Nickelodeon will do with the TMNT is NOT going to be what I would have done with it had I kept ownership. But is that necessarily bad? I think not. For example, if Kevin and I had had our way back in 1987, the original TMNT animated series would have been a lot different. It would probably have been a lot more like the 2003 4Kids show. Now, I really like the newer 4Kids series, but I also know that many fans much prefer the lighter, goofier original series. I don't know what the new Nickelodeon series will be like... but maybe it will be something better than either of the old shows, or simply something new and different, with a fresh approach and attitude. I think everyone should wait and see before passing judgment.
One comment -- which I have seen online several times -- expresses the sentiment that this sale will mean "the end of TMNT". This baffles me. Unless I am completely naive, the sale to Viacom could very well mean a brighter future for the TMNT property than was previously feasible.
On a final note (at least for this statement), please understand that I sold the TMNT property, not Mirage Studios. Mirage still exists, and it's still my company. It just doesn't own the TMNT intellectual property anymore. I'm not sure what its future will be. For a little while, it will be helping with the transition of TMNT over to its new owners. But after that...? I don't know. What I am hoping, however, is that this little core group of creators sticks together, both as friends and collaborators. And I think that is certainly possible. -- PL
Well, one thing's for sure, I doubt Playmates will be able to throw their weight around in dictating the direction of the franchise like they used to. They'll take what's given to them by MTV Networks, and they'll like it, dammit.
Mirage has retained the rights to release a certain number of comics (said to be 18) per year. So that aspect of the Turtles will continue for another year or so. After that, who knows?
However, this probably means that Nick isn't all that interested in licensing out the rights to TMNT comics of their own. Otherwise they'd be more protective of it. A new, mass market, full color TMNT comic would really hit the spot right about now.
Sayonara.
However, this probably means that Nick isn't all that interested in licensing out the rights to TMNT comics of their own. Otherwise they'd be more protective of it. A new, mass market, full color TMNT comic would really hit the spot right about now.
Sayonara.
Nick...doesn't really do comics. Not since the early 90s with the Marvel-Nick comics. They do do a monthly magazine, but it's mostly Spongebob comics. Makes me wonder if we'll see any further TMNT comics once Mirage stops publishing them, period.
It seems Nick wants the original cartoon too. Sucks for fans of the 'toon if Lionsgate doesn't release those last two seasons on DVD, because Paramount has a notoriously terrible track record for DVD releases of TV shows unless they're crazy popular.
It seems Nick wants the original cartoon too. Sucks for fans of the 'toon if Lionsgate doesn't release those last two seasons on DVD, because Paramount has a notoriously terrible track record for DVD releases of TV shows unless they're crazy popular.
QUOTE(Sprocket @ Oct 22 2009, 09:38 PM)
Nick...doesn't really do comics. Not since the early 90s with the Marvel-Nick comics. They do do a monthly magazine, but it's mostly Spongebob comics. Makes me wonder if we'll see any further TMNT comics once Mirage stops publishing them, period.
There's a good chance Nick will just license the series out to a publisher like IDW or somebody. Pete says he's going to finish the last couple issues of TMNT Vol. 4, post them online, and then within a year close Mirage's door (as a full-blown company, though maybe not as a coloborative studio).
TMNT's so ingrained as a comic book franchise, I can't see Nick just pulling the plug altogether on that aspect of the series.
And like I mentioned before, we may actually get more trades of the classic stuff with wider distribution thanks to Nick being able to afford doing business with Borders, Barnes & Nobel, Amazon and so on.
QUOTE
It seems Nick wants the original cartoon too. Sucks for fans of the 'toon if Lionsgate doesn't release those last two seasons on DVD, because Paramount has a notoriously terrible track record for DVD releases of TV shows unless they're crazy popular.
If Nick wants the original cartoon then they'll have to buy it from Fred Wolf Films. As you mentioned, though, it'd be nice if they don't make that deal until after those last two seasons are out on DVD. Yeah, Lionsgate's releases haven't been all that great (they skipped THREE EPISODES!!), but I'd still like to have a complete collection (minus the three episodes they skipped and won't release, of course).
I remember you mentioning it before, but I forgot. Why are those three episodes missing? Some odd rights reason, no decent masters, or something "controversial"?
QUOTE(Sakuya Izayoi @ Oct 22 2009, 10:38 PM)
I remember you mentioning it before, but I forgot. Why are those three episodes missing? Some odd rights reason, no decent masters, or something "controversial"?
Ineptitude on Lionsgate's part, unfortunately.
"Planet of the Turtleoids" Parts 1 and 2 are almost understandable. They were actually initially released as an hour long TV special and broken up into two parts for syndication. As such, they are catalogued separately from the TV episodes. As we all learned with stuff like the DuckTales DVD sets from Disney, unless the people making the sets are paying attention or really know a whole lot about the series they're working on, they aren't going to go looking for "pilot movies", "TV specials" or anything catalogued separately and insert them where they belong.
And as for "Once Upon a Time Machine", I dunno what the heck happened with that one. They just forgot to include it and have yet to rectify that despite quite a few e-mail being launched their way to make sure we get the three missing episodes on SOME set before they're done.
So yeah, nothing exciting about the missing episodes, just that Lionsgate wasn't paying attention and doesn't really care.
Just found out from Dan Berger that with the new deal, Mirage are no longer permitted to print trades, only single issues with no more than 40 pages. And that's only for a couple more months.
This means that the Mirage TMNT Universe Sourcebook is canceled. That REALLY sucks for me, because I was gonna get a credit in that (I was looking forward to adding it to my resume').
Weak.
Oh, and we're not gonna get The Forever War now. Really weak.
So I guess something about the deal finally came around to piss me off. : /
One thing that worries me is that if Nick finds the TMNT manga I've translated, they may force me to remove it. Dan and the guys at Mirage actually loved my work on that stuff and even ENCOURAGED me to do more! Viacom the corporation? Doubtful they'll be so pleased to see some of their intellectual property available for free online by someone else.
I'll just...not tell them about it and see how long I can last.
This means that the Mirage TMNT Universe Sourcebook is canceled. That REALLY sucks for me, because I was gonna get a credit in that (I was looking forward to adding it to my resume').
Weak.
Oh, and we're not gonna get The Forever War now. Really weak.
So I guess something about the deal finally came around to piss me off. : /
One thing that worries me is that if Nick finds the TMNT manga I've translated, they may force me to remove it. Dan and the guys at Mirage actually loved my work on that stuff and even ENCOURAGED me to do more! Viacom the corporation? Doubtful they'll be so pleased to see some of their intellectual property available for free online by someone else.
I'll just...not tell them about it and see how long I can last.
Completely off topic: What happened to your GB blog?
Exciting. I wonder how good a job they can do with this. Will it ever be as varied as Transformers? Will we have a run for #1 brand boys' toys? Thoughts about other versions of the fiction did crop into my head. I don't remember them very well, but I do remember liking them at the time. (I never actually read the original Mirage comics)
QUOTE(Database @ Oct 22 2009, 11:26 PM)
Completely off topic: What happened to your GB blog?
I went a whole year without updating it and I'd only actually written maybe 10 full articles in the 2 1/2 years since I started it. I just didn't have the time to maintain it.
So I'm going to integrate my old articles into PelleCreepy and publish any new Ghostbusters articles there (I have sections for horror comics and cartoons, and so far as I'm concerned, Ghostbusters qualifies for that)
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 22 2009, 10:35 PM)
QUOTE(Database @ Oct 22 2009, 11:26 PM)
Completely off topic: What happened to your GB blog?
I went a whole year without updating it and I'd only actually written maybe 10 full articles in the 2 1/2 years since I started it. I just didn't have the time to maintain it.
So I'm going to integrate my old articles into PelleCreepy and publish any new Ghostbusters articles there (I have sections for horror comics and cartoons, and so far as I'm concerned, Ghostbusters qualifies for that)
I always found it a bit odd that you didnt even put a review up of the game on your blog when it came out. Anyways, was just curious since I seen it missing from your sig.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 22 2009, 11:11 PM)
So I guess something about the deal finally came around to piss me off. : /
Something was bound to. Viacom seems to have a knack for that.
I've been anticipating 'The Forever War' so suffice to say, this blows.
You've got every right to be a little nervous, as Viacom is infamously zero-tolerance when it comes to distribution of their intellectual properties.
Jim Lawson, Lair'd go-to Turtles artist for 15 years, speaks out.
So Viacom "bought out" all the Mirage staffers who worked on TMNT for the past two decades so that they can no longer produce any TMNT work? That's...weird. I'm not sure how that works, exactly. They didn't own the TMNT, Laird did, so I don't really see why Viacom needed to be "buy them out".
I guess it was more along the lines of a "severence package". Viacom's like, "You 6 guys have been drawing TMNT comics for 20 years, thanks for your dedication, here's some money, god speed."
Weird.
QUOTE
In the comment section of my last posting people were starting to write with some of their thoughts regarding the sale of the Turtles. Along with that, I've been getting emails about that same subject. Those emails- the ones that I've answered today, I've included a little form type letter, which goes as follows:
It's all true. As of now, Mirage no longer owns the Turtles. Peter though, has retained the rights to publish up to 18 issues a year of the TMNT.
For me personally, I guess that I'm no longer a Turtle artist. There was a buyout with the artists- so I walk away from here with a bit of money. What I'm going to do now, I'm not really sure. It's all too new, and my head is still spinning. Pete is going to allow us to continue to use our studio spaces, should we choose. Maybe I'll work on some non-Turtle project with Pete, if he wants- or I've thought about trying to do a children's book. Or maybe get a real job like at Barnes and Noble. I don't know....
For the immediate future, I've still got 2 comics that need to be finished and beyond that I hope to wrap up the Paleo TPB that is now, only half done. I'm excited about the changes but somewhat nervous at the same time.
---
With that said, right now I'm walking around the studio in a semi zombie-like state. I'm having difficulty processing the enormity of it all. The thought that I might not ever do another show seems odd. I was looking at my drawing table though. It's pretty much beat to ****. The legs are all wobbly from me rubbing up against it and resting my feet on it. The drawing surface has a huge spot ground into it where, it's my best guess, thousands of pages of comic art has passed by. Kneaded eraser residue has formed a disgusting slime, just off to the side of there. And I'm thinking, yeah- perhaps it IS time.
I don't know really where I'll be a year from now. I guess I'll just wrap this up by thanking everyone who has contacted me, or who has visited this blog. I believe the Turtles, and their fans are really something special and I've been very lucky to have been a part of that.
It's all true. As of now, Mirage no longer owns the Turtles. Peter though, has retained the rights to publish up to 18 issues a year of the TMNT.
For me personally, I guess that I'm no longer a Turtle artist. There was a buyout with the artists- so I walk away from here with a bit of money. What I'm going to do now, I'm not really sure. It's all too new, and my head is still spinning. Pete is going to allow us to continue to use our studio spaces, should we choose. Maybe I'll work on some non-Turtle project with Pete, if he wants- or I've thought about trying to do a children's book. Or maybe get a real job like at Barnes and Noble. I don't know....
For the immediate future, I've still got 2 comics that need to be finished and beyond that I hope to wrap up the Paleo TPB that is now, only half done. I'm excited about the changes but somewhat nervous at the same time.
---
With that said, right now I'm walking around the studio in a semi zombie-like state. I'm having difficulty processing the enormity of it all. The thought that I might not ever do another show seems odd. I was looking at my drawing table though. It's pretty much beat to ****. The legs are all wobbly from me rubbing up against it and resting my feet on it. The drawing surface has a huge spot ground into it where, it's my best guess, thousands of pages of comic art has passed by. Kneaded eraser residue has formed a disgusting slime, just off to the side of there. And I'm thinking, yeah- perhaps it IS time.
I don't know really where I'll be a year from now. I guess I'll just wrap this up by thanking everyone who has contacted me, or who has visited this blog. I believe the Turtles, and their fans are really something special and I've been very lucky to have been a part of that.
So Viacom "bought out" all the Mirage staffers who worked on TMNT for the past two decades so that they can no longer produce any TMNT work? That's...weird. I'm not sure how that works, exactly. They didn't own the TMNT, Laird did, so I don't really see why Viacom needed to be "buy them out".
I guess it was more along the lines of a "severence package". Viacom's like, "You 6 guys have been drawing TMNT comics for 20 years, thanks for your dedication, here's some money, god speed."
Weird.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 23 2009, 12:30 AM)
I guess it was more along the lines of a "severence package". Viacom's like, "You 6 guys have been drawing TMNT comics for 20 years, thanks for your dedication, here's some money, god speed."
Weird.
Weird.
Considering the whole deal is something around $60 Million, I would hope that's the case. Exciting stuff though, wow. I'm feeling good about the future with all this Avatar talk and whatnot. It's all pretty electric.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 22 2009, 11:11 PM)
Oh, and we're not gonna get The Forever War now. Really weak.
What?
Oh, just damn it all to Hell.
Tell me we can get them as singles. Something.
Wait, I thought Archie was printing those. And Nick said that all current contracts would be honored, or something to that effect. The damn thing was supposed to be out already, what the hell is going on here?!
If we don't get The Forever War, I am going to be severely pissed off that Laird couldn't have at least negotiated for the stuff they were doing to be finished. That would be extremely selfish, in my view, for us to be teased for how long over this, only to have it yanked away in the 11th hour...
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 23 2009, 03:52 AM)
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 22 2009, 11:11 PM)
Oh, and we're not gonna get The Forever War now. Really weak.
Tell me we can get them as singles. Something.Possibly. A provision in the contract apparently gives Laird the right to publish up to 18 TMNT comics a year (each no longer than 40 pages). He said he wants to focus on finishing up TMNT Vol. 4 and that's his only plans for now. Berger says that as it is, Forever War has now been indefinately shelved.
QUOTE
Wait, I thought Archie was printing those. And Nick said that all current contracts would be honored, or something to that effect. The damn thing was supposed to be out already, what the hell is going on here?!
Nah, it was gonna be Mirage. Sort of confusing, but both Archie and Mirage publish two trades of TMNT Adventures material at the same time. Archie published the "Heroes in a Half Shell" collection which contained the first TMNT Adventures 3-issue miniseries. Mirage, meanwhile, published "Future Tense", which collected all the storylines that would build up to the Forever War and was even billed as being a prelude to that upcoming mini.
Not gonna happen, now.
QUOTE
If we don't get The Forever War, I am going to be severely pissed off that Laird couldn't have at least negotiated for the stuff they were doing to be finished. That would be extremely selfish, in my view, for us to be teased for how long over this, only to have it yanked away in the 11th hour...
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
3 years. They've been telling us "Forever War is right around the corner" for three years. Apparently, amid those three years, not one letter of the script had been typed (Murphy claims that the script wasn't even written yet by the time of the deal).
At times, Mirage takes their old jokey motto of "If it ain't late, it ain't Mirage" a little too seriously.
So I imagine if a script or art layouts by Allan had already been ready, the project might not've been shelved by this deal. I mean, Mirage is going to publish the last two issues of the Donatello: The Brain Thief miniseries and the last two issues of Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2 because the scripts and most of tha rt are already completed and ready to go.
But because after 3 years fo teasing NOTHING was actually finished on the Forever War, it got shelved by the deal.
Really sucks. We were this close.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 23 2009, 11:24 AM)
Possibly. A provision in the contract apparently gives Laird the right to publish up to 18 TMNT comics a year (each no longer than 40 pages). He said he wants to focus on finishing up TMNT Vol. 4 and that's his only plans for now. Berger says that as it is, Forever War has now been indefinately shelved.
Where was this? With Ninja Pizza, Murph had said that he simply wasn't sure where things are.
QUOTE
3 years. They've been telling us "Forever War is right around the corner" for three years. Apparently, amid those three years, not one letter of the script had been typed (Murphy claims that the script wasn't even written yet by the time of the deal).
You've GOT to be kidding me. He hasn't even updated his blog in over a year, what the hell has he been doing?
And considering it was solicited and there have been scans of art from the original for some time, I consider it three years with interest.
QUOTE
But because after 3 years fo teasing NOTHING was actually finished on the Forever War, it got shelved by the deal.
Really sucks. We were this close.
Really sucks. We were this close.
I really don't know what to say. Honestly, THIS feels like the ultimate betrayal to me. If we don't get The Forever War, I will honestly say... well, I won't say it here. But I'm sure you know where I'm going with this.
Just... beyond words.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
Lawson's got some more to say:
So just because we can get upt to 18 Mirage-published TMNT comics a year, doesn't mean we will. In fact, we likely won't.
It appears that the order of priorities is this:
1: Finish Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2/Donatello: The Brain Thief
2: Finish TMNT Vol. 4
3: Anything else (Forever War)
So yeah, with that in mind, we are likely never going to get Forever War. Even if the 18 books a year rate could facilitate ALL of those tasks being completed in one year...well..."if it ain't late, it ain't Mirage" and all that.
Observing the reactions across the interweb, I see they vary depending on what part ofthe franchise you're interested in.
According to the Mirage guys, Nick aims to return the TMNT to something similar to the 80s Toon with their new series and additional media. Fans of the Old Toon are jumping for joy, naturally.
Then there's also the live action movie coming out, though what that'll be like considering Nick's "Old Toon" direction, I dunno.
It seems its those of us who read the comics that are bummed by the deal, as we're really getting the short end of the stick. Granted, there weren't a whole lot of us to begin with, so we should've expected that the comics would be the part of the franchise that'd get the shaft since they bring in the least revenue.
Still sucks for us, though.
QUOTE
"Volume 4...I haven't talked to Pete about this so I'm only conjecturing here. It's my belief that there will be no more TMNT books from this point on. At least for the time being- although Mirage still exists as an entity, it's my belief that Pete wants to stop all business. The 18 issues that he negociated for himself to use annually, I think was more of a sort of failsafe, should he ever at some point in the future decide that he wants to wrap up the Turtle story, for instance. Like I said, these are just my thoughts, and Pete may have a different take entirely."
So just because we can get upt to 18 Mirage-published TMNT comics a year, doesn't mean we will. In fact, we likely won't.
It appears that the order of priorities is this:
1: Finish Tales of the TMNT Vol. 2/Donatello: The Brain Thief
2: Finish TMNT Vol. 4
3: Anything else (Forever War)
So yeah, with that in mind, we are likely never going to get Forever War. Even if the 18 books a year rate could facilitate ALL of those tasks being completed in one year...well..."if it ain't late, it ain't Mirage" and all that.
Observing the reactions across the interweb, I see they vary depending on what part ofthe franchise you're interested in.
According to the Mirage guys, Nick aims to return the TMNT to something similar to the 80s Toon with their new series and additional media. Fans of the Old Toon are jumping for joy, naturally.
Then there's also the live action movie coming out, though what that'll be like considering Nick's "Old Toon" direction, I dunno.
It seems its those of us who read the comics that are bummed by the deal, as we're really getting the short end of the stick. Granted, there weren't a whole lot of us to begin with, so we should've expected that the comics would be the part of the franchise that'd get the shaft since they bring in the least revenue.
Still sucks for us, though.
It makes me want to say the entire thing can just go to hell, honestly.
I hope that while Nick's TMNT might be more like the old toon, they don't go overboard. Leave out the fourth-wall breaking and some of the other too-goofy stuff.
I hope Lawson's wrong on this. It would simply be THE biggest slap in the face, and give Laird's words of the Turtles deserving better than he was giving a LOT more weight.
God, why can't the man just act in a supervisory capacity until things are done?
Then again, if what you say about Murph is true, then I guess the problem goes far deeper.
Is it so wrong for fans of the past however many years to want a little bit of closure? Clearly, it is.
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
I hope that while Nick's TMNT might be more like the old toon, they don't go overboard. Leave out the fourth-wall breaking and some of the other too-goofy stuff.
I hope Lawson's wrong on this. It would simply be THE biggest slap in the face, and give Laird's words of the Turtles deserving better than he was giving a LOT more weight.
God, why can't the man just act in a supervisory capacity until things are done?
Then again, if what you say about Murph is true, then I guess the problem goes far deeper.
Is it so wrong for fans of the past however many years to want a little bit of closure? Clearly, it is.
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 24 2009, 04:12 PM)
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
If anything, I get the feeling that Turtles Forever is going to serve as a "reintroduction" of sorts for the younger audience into the goofier Turtles of the 80s toon. Basically working as a transition from the grittier 4Kids era Turtles back into the sillier Fred Wolf era Turtles.
Ah well, there's a chance that the live action movie will be "adult" enough for those of us who'd like more comic accurate Turtles series.
But if Nick feels for a second that it might "confuse" kids who are enjoying their goofier CG TV series, then it's "Secret of the Ooze" all over again.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 24 2009, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 24 2009, 04:12 PM)
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
If anything, I get the feeling that Turtles Forever is going to serve as a "reintroduction" of sorts for the younger audience into the goofier Turtles of the 80s toon. Basically working as a transition from the grittier 4Kids era Turtles back into the sillier Fred Wolf era Turtles.
Ah well, there's a chance that the live action movie will be "adult" enough for those of us who'd like more comic accurate Turtles series.
But if Nick feels for a second that it might "confuse" kids who are enjoying their goofier CG TV series, then it's "Secret of the Ooze" all over again.
Is it bad to admit that Secret of the Ooze was the one I always enjoyed more?
QUOTE(Database @ Oct 24 2009, 04:35 PM)
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 24 2009, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 24 2009, 04:12 PM)
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
If anything, I get the feeling that Turtles Forever is going to serve as a "reintroduction" of sorts for the younger audience into the goofier Turtles of the 80s toon. Basically working as a transition from the grittier 4Kids era Turtles back into the sillier Fred Wolf era Turtles.
Ah well, there's a chance that the live action movie will be "adult" enough for those of us who'd like more comic accurate Turtles series.
But if Nick feels for a second that it might "confuse" kids who are enjoying their goofier CG TV series, then it's "Secret of the Ooze" all over again.
Is it bad to admit that Secret of the Ooze was the one I always enjoyed more?
Admiting you enjoy Vanilla Ice in any capacity is always a bad thing.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 24 2009, 03:56 PM)
QUOTE(Database @ Oct 24 2009, 04:35 PM)
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 24 2009, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 24 2009, 04:12 PM)
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
If anything, I get the feeling that Turtles Forever is going to serve as a "reintroduction" of sorts for the younger audience into the goofier Turtles of the 80s toon. Basically working as a transition from the grittier 4Kids era Turtles back into the sillier Fred Wolf era Turtles.
Ah well, there's a chance that the live action movie will be "adult" enough for those of us who'd like more comic accurate Turtles series.
But if Nick feels for a second that it might "confuse" kids who are enjoying their goofier CG TV series, then it's "Secret of the Ooze" all over again.
Is it bad to admit that Secret of the Ooze was the one I always enjoyed more?
Admiting you enjoy Vanilla Ice in any capacity is always a bad thing.
No, I don't like him, and its not like I'm saying him or 'Cool as Ice' is good. btu I've always prefer Oooze overall to the others. Three is still horrid though.
It's been mentioned before in this thread, but I thought I'd link to some proof.
So Viacom is indeed trying to purchase the 80s toon from Fred Wolf Films. It's funny. If they succeed, then they'll own more Ninja Turtle content than Laird and Mirage EVER did.
I do hope they buy it. It'll be nice to have ALL pieces of Turtle media finally housed under a single roof. And for God's sake maybe now new media will be able to use that ****ing theme song I love so much.
QUOTE
Currently, the CW network carries a new version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," but that will go off the air next year. Nickelodeon will get rerun rights to that show and said it was also looking into acquiring the rights to the 1980s version of the program.
So Viacom is indeed trying to purchase the 80s toon from Fred Wolf Films. It's funny. If they succeed, then they'll own more Ninja Turtle content than Laird and Mirage EVER did.
I do hope they buy it. It'll be nice to have ALL pieces of Turtle media finally housed under a single roof. And for God's sake maybe now new media will be able to use that ****ing theme song I love so much.
I like version 2 of the 2K3 theme better, myself, but nothing against the old theme. It has a neat sort of nostalgic feel as well. I just don't know that I'd want it to become like TransFormers, where every single show and such use some variation of it.
Plus, I want Raph to stay Raph. Maybe they can change "cool but rude" to "has an attitude" or something. That, assuming they even keep the same lyrics. Doing so would kind of once again make Shredder the spotlight villain, though, but that's probably likely-- if not inevitable-- either way.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
Plus, I want Raph to stay Raph. Maybe they can change "cool but rude" to "has an attitude" or something. That, assuming they even keep the same lyrics. Doing so would kind of once again make Shredder the spotlight villain, though, but that's probably likely-- if not inevitable-- either way.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
I'm probably the only one who prefers "80's toon sarcastic Raph" to "overly brooding angsty Raph".
Maybe. I just think it ultimately makes him a jokester, which is more or less Mikey's schtick. The other way at least brings something different to the team, and matches well with Casey.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
In fairness, it's not actually Raph's fault that I'm sick to death of his character archetype.
QUOTE(Database @ Oct 24 2009, 04:35 PM)
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 24 2009, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 24 2009, 04:12 PM)
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
If anything, I get the feeling that Turtles Forever is going to serve as a "reintroduction" of sorts for the younger audience into the goofier Turtles of the 80s toon. Basically working as a transition from the grittier 4Kids era Turtles back into the sillier Fred Wolf era Turtles.
Ah well, there's a chance that the live action movie will be "adult" enough for those of us who'd like more comic accurate Turtles series.
But if Nick feels for a second that it might "confuse" kids who are enjoying their goofier CG TV series, then it's "Secret of the Ooze" all over again.
Is it bad to admit that Secret of the Ooze was the one I always enjoyed more?
I've always enjoyed it more, mainly because it was more like the cartoon than the comics. As a kid, I kinda didn't like the first movie. I liked it because it was Turtles, but I hated that it was so dark, grimy, and "wrong" (the cartoon being the only thing I knew at the time).
Even today, while I enjoy the first movie more than I did as a kid, I'll still take Secret of the Ooze. It's more fun, brighter, cheery, has more mutants....
Shredder went down like a total punk though.
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 26 2009, 01:40 AM)
Maybe. I just think it ultimately makes him a jokester, which is more or less Mikey's schtick. The other way at least brings something different to the team, and matches well with Casey.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
I wouldn't mind something closer to Raph's portrayal in the first season of the Old Toon.
His sarcastic remarks were more mean-spirited and he still retained his short temper, yelling things like "Eat hot lead, turkeys!" while manning a laser machinegun, or "Get out of my face!" while fighting Foot Soldiers. Like most things from season 1, though, Raph's personality got neutered and he just became a superfluous wise-cracker.
Angsty rage-filled Raph leads to very limited storytelling, admitedly. It's been done before and its been done A LOT; I can see why most people are getting a little sick of it.
So, again, a fusion of both personalities would be ideal, at least to me.
QUOTE(Sakuya Izayoi @ Oct 26 2009, 11:32 AM)
QUOTE(Database @ Oct 24 2009, 04:35 PM)
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 24 2009, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE(LBD @ Oct 24 2009, 04:12 PM)
Next thing you know, Turtles Forever will be canceled.
If anything, I get the feeling that Turtles Forever is going to serve as a "reintroduction" of sorts for the younger audience into the goofier Turtles of the 80s toon. Basically working as a transition from the grittier 4Kids era Turtles back into the sillier Fred Wolf era Turtles.
Ah well, there's a chance that the live action movie will be "adult" enough for those of us who'd like more comic accurate Turtles series.
But if Nick feels for a second that it might "confuse" kids who are enjoying their goofier CG TV series, then it's "Secret of the Ooze" all over again.
Is it bad to admit that Secret of the Ooze was the one I always enjoyed more?
I've always enjoyed it more, mainly because it was more like the cartoon than the comics. As a kid, I kinda didn't like the first movie. I liked it because it was Turtles, but I hated that it was so dark, grimy, and "wrong" (the cartoon being the only thing I knew at the time).
Even today, while I enjoy the first movie more than I did as a kid, I'll still take Secret of the Ooze. It's more fun, brighter, cheery, has more mutants....
Shredder went down like a total punk though.
I recall really liking Secret of the Ooze as a kid because it had more mutants, but even back then, I hated how Tokka and Rahzar were made into "babies" and turned into walking jokes. A waste of such awesome Jim Henson Company effects.
Watching it now, there's just so much more I hate about the movie. All the slapstick gets tiresome after the opening fight, the logical disconnect that NOBODY would tell the police that the Shredder's corpse was in the dumptruck, Donatello's face being way too fat, Casey being replaced by the kid-friendlier Keno, EVERYTHING involving Vanilla Ice...
I just can't stand the movie. I mean, there are things I DO like about it. Henson's suit designs, the special effects and the overall fight choreography were a total improvement over the first film (aside from Don's chubby face), David Warner is awesome in every single thing he does, Shredder's new armor was kickass (oh, AND he was played by the guy who voiced Quick Kick in GI Joe!), and some of the humor WAS genuinely funny.
"It's quiet."
"A little too quiet."
"Look! It's Raph![/i]"
"A little too Raph."
Storywise, I think that TMNT III was better on a conceptual level. It was just very poorly executed. Those suits were sub Next Mutation or even the Coming Out of their Shells Tour. Just so bad. If the Henson Company had returned I think that might've made all the difference.
QUOTE(DrSpengler @ Oct 26 2009, 11:43 AM)
I wouldn't mind something closer to Raph's portrayal in the first season of the Old Toon.
His sarcastic remarks were more mean-spirited and he still retained his short temper, yelling things like "Eat hot lead, turkeys!" while manning a laser machinegun, or "Get out of my face!" while fighting Foot Soldiers. Like most things from season 1, though, Raph's personality got neutered and he just became a superfluous wise-cracker.
Angsty rage-filled Raph leads to very limited storytelling, admitedly. It's been done before and its been done A LOT; I can see why most people are getting a little sick of it.
So, again, a fusion of both personalities would be ideal, at least to me.
His sarcastic remarks were more mean-spirited and he still retained his short temper, yelling things like "Eat hot lead, turkeys!" while manning a laser machinegun, or "Get out of my face!" while fighting Foot Soldiers. Like most things from season 1, though, Raph's personality got neutered and he just became a superfluous wise-cracker.
Angsty rage-filled Raph leads to very limited storytelling, admitedly. It's been done before and its been done A LOT; I can see why most people are getting a little sick of it.
So, again, a fusion of both personalities would be ideal, at least to me.
I could go with that. But I'd want something closer to his modern voice.
--LBD "Nytetrayn"
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