The Turtles Are Back – BLE 2012 Keynote Announced
The Turtles are back – original co-creator and Nickelodeon’s head of current series animation to give BLE 2012 keynote address
Kevin Eastman, original co-creator of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rich Magallanes, SVP Animation, Current Series, Nickelodeon
London, 4 September 2012: Brand Licensing Europe 2012, the Advanstar organised licensing exhibition, has announced its first Licensing Academy keynote speakers: Kevin Eastman, original co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rich Magallanes, Senior Vice President, Animation, Current Series, Nickelodeon.
Icons of the 80s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started life as doodles by Eastman and Peter Laird, in 1984 and went on to become a sell-out self-published fanzine. The illustrations soon caught the eyes of merchandising agents and Hollywood producers and Eastman and his colleague maintained full control of their creations while guiding them through toy licensing, TV series adaptation, as well as feature film exploitation. By 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were number one in all three categories.
Now the Turtles are back, bigger and better than ever in an all new CG-animated series from Nickelodeon launching this autumn. The lively keynote will delve into how one of the most unlikely character concepts of all time has endured for three decades, generated billions of dollars of merchandise sales, and is being re-imagined for a new generation.
Jessica Blue, Brand Licensing Europe Show Director, said “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are unforgettable icons of the 1980s. They left an indelible mark on popular culture and defined the boys’ licensing market at that time. As the boys’ market hots up don’t miss this chance to hear two seasoned experts talk about what works and why.”
The session will take place on Tuesday 16th October in the Licensing Academy from 13.00 – 13.45 at Brand Licensing Europe 2012, Olympia, London. The Licensing Academy boasts an impressive speaker line up, last year delegates were addressed by Michael Acton Smith, Creator of Moshi Monsters and Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing.
