Kids
Nickelodon laps up Ninja Turtles franchise
MUMBAI: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has been sold to Nickelodeon for $60 million by Mirage Group, ending its long-running licensing and production partnership with 4Kids Entertainment that received $9.75 million for the early termination of its contract.
The contract with Mirage Group was to expire in 2012.
In exchange for its decision to terminate the deal, 4Kids Entertainment received $9.75 million with a possibility of getting an additional $1 million upon expiration of the current transaction.
Said 4Kids Entertainment chairman and CEO Alfred R. Kahn, “This is a great deal for both of us. We congratulate Mirage on the sale of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Nickelodeon and on their gracious recognition of the contribution made by 4Kids to re-launch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise in 2002 for a new generation of kids around the world.” 4Kids will also continue to air the television episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that it co-produced with Mirage in TheCW4Kids block till the end of the 2009-2010 broadcast season.
Nickelodeon that acquired the global rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for about $60 million plans to develop a new CG-animated series for a 2012 premiere.
It is also working with Paramount Pictures on a feature film planned for a 2012 release. Nickelodeon has acquired all merchandising rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and will continue to work with Playmates Toys on the toy rollout.
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
