Press release

Imagi Services President and CEO Tom Gray announces the signing of Kevin Munroe to write and direct a new CGI-animated feature-length Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will ramp-up their booming revival with an animated film that will take advantage of new technology developed since the last Turtles film was released in 1993. Now in pre-production, the film is targeted for U.S. release in spring 2007.

Kevin Munroe has done extensive animation work during the last decade including video games, television series, and original comic books. He has worked in developing both the writing and design of animated projects for companies such as Disney, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, WWE, Fox Kids, The Henson Company, Kids WB, Dark Horse Entertainment, IDW Publishing and Nickelodeon. Besides working in all aspects of production design and storyboarding on shows such as Nickelodeon’s “Hey Arnold!,” Munroe also created, wrote, produced, designed, and directed the CGI Christmas special “Donner” for ABC. His projects have been optioned by Walt Disney Feature Animation, Stan Winston Studios, and Brett Ratner’s Rat Entertainment in addition to co-writing another Imagi feature, Cat Tale. Munroe’s writer/director deal was negotiated by Gray and Alan Grodin of Weissmann, Wolff, et al., and Brent Weinstein of UTA.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have enjoyed over 20 years of success in the U.S. and around the globe. Having shot to mainstream popularity with hit TV series, top grossing films, number one selling toys and enduring comic books, the property has generated over $6 billion in revenue. The first of the three live-action films grossed $135 million domestically, setting a seven-year box office record for independent releases. Today, the new hit TMNT TV series is in its third season with a fourth set to run through 2006 on 4Kids TV (formerly Fox Box) and the Cartoon Network in the U.S. In addition, the show is broadcast in major markets throughout Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia.

The new TMNT film will be produced by Tom Gray (who guided the first Turtles trilogy through production) and Galen Walker of Imagi. Executive Producers are Francis Kao, Gary Richardson, Frederick Fierst, and Peter Laird, who co-created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Kevin Eastman. The picture deal was conducted by Gray and Walker of Imagi, Grodin of Weissmann, Wolff, et al., Richardson of Mirage Licensing, and Fierst of Fierst, Pucci & Kinder.

Konami Digital Entertainment – America, a division of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced that TMNT: Mutant Melee for the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC have arrived at retail stores nationwide. As the ultimate party game experience, offering hours of bashing, crashing and trashing fun with more than 20 playable characters, a competitive Adventure mode, a ton of mini games and unlockable content. Gamers can play alone or with up to four friends and take on the role of their favorite Turtle, Casey Jones, April O’Neil, Master Splinter and even the villainous Shredder in one of two different modes – Adventure or Melee.

Turtle fans will also find a shell full of mini games and extra content. Gamers can team up with friends to play modes such as King of the Hill, where players defend a circle that appears randomly around a level; Knockout, where the object is to KO as many opponents as possible; and Last Man Standing, where gamers battle it out to see who is the toughest brawler of all. As gamers progress through the game, they’ll be able to unlock background information on the Turtles, character biographies, original comics, hilarious outtakes and enough artwork and video clips to satisfy even the most rabid Turtles enthusiasts.