TMNT promo blitz coming

Warner Bros. pulling out all the stops to promote Ninja Turtles

Feb 21, 2007

Expect to see a lot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over the next little while. WB is hooking up with McDonalds, Hot Topic, Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us to promote movie

How much Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles do you think you can take? A lot? Well I hope so, because those heroes in a half shell are gonna be well-nigh inescapable over the next several months. The Warner/Weinstein flick, renamed in hip-hop-happening fashion as TMNT (wow, I feel so street just by saying it!) is getting in with everyone from Hot Topic to McDonald's to . . . just about everybody to ensure that everyone gets their daily dose of Ninja Turtle goodness.

Here's the official notice from PR Wire, detailing where and how you're gonna see the Turtles in your home town. Comments in brackets are just me being bitchy (heh-heh-heh).

"In anticipation of the March 23 release of the all-new CGI action adventure TMNT (yo), 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and Warner Bros. Pictures have announced promotional and merchandising partners for the movie, based on the world-renowned Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. McDonald's (why would ninjas go to McDonald's when they could eat a Ninja Burger!!), Airheads, Hot Topic and other retailers, including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Toys "R" Us will put promotional muscle behind the new movie starring the heroes in a half shell.

"The impressive lineup of promotional partners supporting TMNT reflects the quality of the movie (Translation: this flick may be crap but the licensing will make them richer than God)," said Alfred R. Kahn, chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment, the licensing agent for the Turtles franchise. "This is a movie for everybody -- from today's kids to adults who were fans of the original television series almost 20 years ago."

Support for the movie runs throughout March, including the following promotions:

-- McDonald's: Kids can collect one of eight TMNT premiums with the purchase of a Happy Meal (because nothing says "ninja" more than a 5,000 calorie Happy Meal). The promotion is supported by television, radio and digital advertising.

-- Airheads: For a limited time, a special lime green-flavored Airhead (notice they don't say "lime-flavoured"; it's "lime green-flavoured." Gee, I wonder why?) will be inserted into 12 million packs of the candy. Each package will also include a TMNT "tongue-tickling" tattoo (I'm not going anywhere near this one!). The promotion is supported by TV advertising.

-- Time Warner Cable (TWC) will air TV spots across TWC stations promoting a TMNT sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Warner Bros. Studios and secondary prizes (I'm sure Warner Bros. won't allow me anywhere near the lot after this article). TMNT clips and footage will also be available On Demand to TWC subscribers. Additionally, TWC will hold advanced screening programs in three markets, as well as mall events in Dallas and Los Angeles, all of which will include TMNT Ubisoft video games and Time Warner Cable prize giveaways.

-- Cool Cuts 4 Kids: The salon chain for kids will offer TMNT coloring books, card games and other fun items to customers, who will also have a chance to enter in a sweepstakes where the winning Cool Cuts family will be treated to a private screening of TMNT. They will also distribute advanced TMNT screening passes to customers in the Dallas market.

-- Kmart: Customers who make a $10 minimum purchase of TMNT movie toys from Playmates, including action figures and role play items, will receive an exclusive pack of four collectible TMNT Movie Trading Cards (hmm, four ninja turtles and four cards. Coincidence?) while supplies last.

-- Hot Topic: Home of a national TMNT sweepstakes where the Grand Prize is a VIP Fly-Away trip for two to Hollywood that includes a tour of Warner Bros. Studios and a TMNT movie screening.

-- Wal-Mart: 1,000 top Wal-Mart stores will give away movie posters while supplies last to every customer making a TMNT movie toy purchase.

-- Toys "R" Us: With a $20 minimum purchase of Playmates TMNT movie toys, including action figures and role play items, customers will receive a $5 TMNT movie-branded Toys "R" Us gift card (good for one lime-green flavoured official TMNT soggy cheese doodle) while supplies last. A special TMNT movie feature shop will be erected in the Times Square store in New York City (right over Naked Cowboy). 4Kids has also signed on 35 licensees to support TMNT, with products ranging from action playsets and vehicles (Playmates) to videogames (Ubisoft) to an exclusive line of retro and movie apparel at Hot Topic."

The copyright of the article TMNT promo blitz coming in Hollywood Animated Films is owned by Dominic von Riedemann. Permission to republish TMNT promo blitz coming in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.