Turtles

who owns teenage mutant ninja turtles


Who Owns the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) are a beloved and iconic group of four heroic turtles that became an instant success in the late 1980s. The TMNT have been the subject of feature films, animated series and of course the much loved comic books. But who exactly owns the rights to the characters?

The History of the Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984 as a parody of Daredevil, New Mutants, and Frank Miller’s Ronin. The characters were an overnight sensation, with the first issue of their comic book selling out within days. The Turtles were quickly adopted into the mainstream, becoming pop culture icons and inspiring four animated series, a live-action movie franchise, video games, and a wide variety of merchandise.

Who Owns the Turtles?

The rights to the TMNT characters have gone through many different owners over the years. After immense success, Eastman and Laird created their own comic book company, Mirage Studios, purchasing the rights to the characters from their previous publisher in 1986. They then sold the rights to Viacom in 2009 for $60 million.

Currently, the rights to the characters are owned by Nickelodeon, a subsidiary of Viacom. Nickelodeon has since acquired the rights to all the characters from the original comics, as well as the merchandise and film franchises.

Conclusion

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a household name. Their iconic status has made them an international phenomenon, inspiring an entire generation of fans. While the characters have gone through several different owners over the years, they currently reside with Nickelodeon, a subsidiary of Viacom.

The Turtles have been around for over 35 years and show no signs of slowing down any time soon. Here’s to many more years of Turtles action!

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