Topic: Ubisoft Picks Up Ninja Turtles Movie License

[WindyMan]

A new game based on the upcoming CG movie based on the original comic book, coming soon to a console near you!

4Kids Entertainment And the Mirage Group Sign Worldwide Video Game Agreement with Ubisoft    

New Video Games Will Be Based on Upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesĀ® CG Movie    

NEW YORK--Jan. 11, 2006--4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and The Mirage Group announced today an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, to develop and publish Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesĀ® video games based on the new CG feature-length film being produced by Imagi Animation Studios and to be distributed domestically by Warner Bros. Pictures and internationally by The Weinstein Company.    

Under the Ubisoft agreement, it is expected that the video games will be available for gaming consoles in conjunction with the movie's planned release in early 2007. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie will be the first all CG animated movie in the history of the franchise. The PG-rated movie will derive its tone from the original comic-book series and will be grittier than the previous live action pictures.    

"We are excited that the Turtles are returning to the big screen in 2007 and pleased to partner with Ubisoft for the creation of a new movie-based Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game," said Alfred R. Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. "We are confident Ubisoft's commitment to quality, strong international distribution and presence in the worldwide video game market will complement the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie experience and help generate added excitement for the Turtles brand."    

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been an international phenomenon for more than twenty years. The property began as an underground comic book and is now one of the most popular licenses; the 4Kids TV show is broadcast in 90 territories; and the toys, movies and video games are popular throughout the world.    

"Ubisoft has demonstrated its strong commitment to making quality license-based games and truly understands the spirit of one of the world's most famous children's brands," said Christian Salomon, director of licensing at Ubisoft. "Ubisoft is thrilled to be bringing the Turtles back in an exciting new adventure that will attract both the first generation of enthusiasts all the way through to the current and future generations of fans."

[Bartman3010]

No comments? I guess since its just 'bad all around'

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Don't worry, Ubi Shanghai has our Nintendo ports covered.

[TMW]

A new TMNT movie? All CG?  Gritty and "mature"?  

I dunno...the first TMNT movie was pretty damned gritty. Like an antacid.  

[JonLeung]

I was aware there's supposedly such a film coming out, but after what seems like numerous starts and stops, I didn't think it was actually going to materialize.

I didn't think the franchise itself was really going anywhere.  Sure, they launched that new cartoon series in 2002 or 2003 or whatever but kids don't go around shouting COWABUNGA like when I was in elementary school.

[KDR_11k]

TMW: TMNT was always gritty and dark so I don't see a big problem. And CG will definitely be a step up on those stupid costumes from the movies.

[Requiem]

Hey! I take offense to that! I loved those stupid costumes.

I also loved the first two movies. I don't know which one it was, but the one where Rapheal goes out on his own, only to get jumped by a bunch of people was probably my favorite.

Hopefully the CG isn't crap....  

[joshnickerson]

Meh. Loved the Turtles back in the day, and the recent toon is decent enough (haven't watched it the past couple of years, cause my Fox affiliate dropped the Fox Box for, ugh, "educational" programming. Hippies.) but I really don't see this taking off any better than the current series.

As for the game itself... considering the piss poor job Konami did translating the legendary game series into 3-D, I can only see this change as a GOOD thing... of course, only time will tell.

Oh, and Requiem, if memory serves me correctly, Raph got jumped and got his shell kicked in BOTH movies.  

[MysticGohan24]

Indeed he did. I've seen both Turtle series, from the 80's-90's and the new one currently airing on Fox on saturdays, This new series takes it's source material more
closely to the old B & W comics. The old animated series did not. While both were good, the 80's ver. eventually slipped and went to hell in a hand basket once the 90's came,
as they would later butcher the series further by having shredder hiding from "another" Alien that looks like a roach/bug thingy. and The turtles having somekind of mutating disease, and it
goes on and on. It sucked something fiercely!

The new series is alot better, and keeps it's tone of "dark" while still manage to be funny and lighthearted. It first aired on fox in the fall of 2003. I hear it's had high ratings since.

[ShyGuy]

But we'll still get those lousy-as-dirt Konami TMNT games right?

[Requiem]

Really (regarding Rapheal getting his ass kicked in both)?

I liked the first because of the mood it brought into the film. I liked the underground society and ish like that.

I swear it was the second one though that Rapheal put on a trench coat and walked around town because he was pissed off or depressed, only to get his ass kick. Then Casey-Jones came in and he fought him....

My memory sucks....haha

[MysticGohan24]

lol, actually that was the 1st movie, as Casey Jones wasn't in the 2nd, but in the 3rd. Ralph wore the Trench coat in the first movie.

[joshnickerson]

In the second one, he and that kid infiltrated the Foot HQ in the junkyard, and Raph ended up getting his butt kicked again and captured and used for bait to lure the others.

Man, that Raphael was such a load! *L*

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Vanilla Ice was in the 2nd movie.

[ConfusedFX]

When I was growing up, I used to love watching the (original) TMNT 'toon -- and the movies, of course. I'm excited about the new movie and the PC game coming up

[Infernal Monkey]

The new TMNT cartoon makes me want to vomit urine out of my eyes everytime I try and watch it.

[MysticGohan24]

That's because you never seen the original comics before watching the 80's