Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Invade NYCC to Shell-ebrate 25th Anniversary

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TO BE "SHELL-EBRATED" AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

TMNT's 25 Years of Turtle Power Highlighted with Panels, Photo Opportunities and Prizes at East Coast's Largest Pop Culture Convention

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return to their New York City home to "Shell-ebrate" as Mirage Studios, owners of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand, Playmates Toys, the Turtles' longtime master toy licensee, andTMNT licensing agent 4Kids Entertainment, mark the 25th Anniversary of the lean, green, crime fighting machines with a major fan-based commemoration at the New York Comic Con show (booth # 1057) February 6 to February 8, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York.

The Turtles will rise from the sewers and hit the streets and major landmarks in Manhattan prior to New York Comic Con, on Thursday, February 5 (Noon - 5 p.m.) and Friday, February 6 (8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.), to engage with fans, locals and NYC visitors about their TMNT memories and enthusiasm for the brand. Footage of the brothers taking Manhattan will be available at www.TMNT25.com. From there, the Turtles will play a starring role at Comic Con with exciting activities planned for fans including a TMNT photo station, a Ubisoft retro TMNT video game challenge where attendees can win a Nintendo Wii, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time arcade game tournament to win the title in the Guinness Book of Video Games Record for highest score in one credit, and onsite raffles to win an iPod touch from UCLICK, the Turtles' mobile content licensee.In addition, there will be signings and booth appearances by TMNT artists and Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman, co-creators of the TMNT, over the course of the show.

Comic Con will be educational for TMNT fans, as well, with panels covering the artistic evolution of the TMNT over the past quarter century, led by Mirage artists on Friday February 6 (5:45 - 6:45 p.m.) in Panel Room 2 (1A07), and another focused on the animation of the TMNT hosted by the producers, directors, writers, and storyboard artists of the current 4Kids TMNT TV series, on Sunday, February 8 (12:15 -1:15 p.m.) in Panel Room 8 (1A23).

In addition, to bring their newer and younger fans some live TMNT magic, the Turtles will participate in New York Comic Con's Kids Day on Sunday, February 8. Activities will include martial arts demonstrations by the TMNT and the black belt instructors of Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts in the BattleZone located in the Galleria, a panel hosted by the Turtles' newscaster sidekick, April O'Neil, who'll host a tribute to the TMNT brand and pay tribute to the 25th Anniversary with an interactive skit. The panel will be from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., followed by the skit at 2:45 p.m. - both in the Galleria. Throughout the day, kids will have the chance to practice mixed martial arts moves, meet the TMNT, and win TMNT prizes from Playmates Toys, TMNT master toy licensee. A full schedule of TMNT events at the show can be found at TMNT25.com.

"New York is the home of the Turtles, and we are eager to get them back to their roots for our fans. A lot has changed since their debut in 1984, but the TMNT have never forgotten their comic origins or their fans, said Gary Richardson, CEO of Mirage Studios. "New York Comic Con is only the beginning of a very exciting year for the TMNT and we can't wait to leave our mark on NYC."

New York Comic Con is the first major event in the year-long Shell-ebration that began on January 1, when the TMNT launched a nostalgic, interactive Web site dedicated to their 25th Anniversary. The site includes an online sweepstakes, open until March 17, 2009, where one lucky prize winner will receive an original, limited edition TMNT bronze statue and a trip for two to New York City (including airfare, hotel and spending money).