McDonald’s, Airheads Backs Warner Bros.’ Turtles Movie
McDonald’s is putting its marketing muscle behind the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures and 4Kids Entertainment’s flick TMNT.
The company is gearing up for a Happy Meal promotion tied to the movie. Consumers will receive one of eight premiums with the purchase of the kids’ meal. TV and radio spots will support the initiative.
McDonald’s is one of several promotional partners backing the film, due out March 23. Other brands include Airheads, Toys R Us, Kmart, Hot Topic, Wal-Mart and Cool Cuts for Kids.
For its part, Airheads will roll out a lime green flavor in 12 million packs of candy. Each package will contain a “tongue-tickling” tattoo. TV spots will support the promotion.
“The impressive lineup of promotional partners supporting TMNT reflects the quality of the movie,” said Alfred R. Kahn, chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment, in a statement. “This is a movie for everybody—from today’s kids to adults who were fans of the original television series almost 20 years ago.”
4Kids Entertainment is the licensing agent for the Turtles franchise.
At retail, Kmart is handing out collectible movie trading cards to customers who spend at least $10 on TMNT movie toys from Playmates. Meanwhile, the top 1,000 Wal-Mart stores will give away posters with movie toy purchases starting March 1.
At Toys R Us, customers will receive a $5 movie-branded gift card with every $20 or more purchase of Playmates TMNT toys. The Times Square store in New York will erect a special TMNT movie feature shop.
Partner Hot Topics will launch a national sweepstakes at HotTopic.com offering a VIP for two to Hollywood. The grand-prize winner gets a Warner Bros. Studios and passes to the TMNT movie screening. The sweepsta runs March 1-31.
Likewise, Cool Cuts 4 Kids supports the movie with free TMNT coloring books, card games and other items. In addition, customers can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to see a private screening of TMNT. The company will also hand out movie passes to customers in the Dallas market.
Time Warner Cable will back the film with TV spots and a TMNT sweepstakes offering a trip to Warner Bros. Studios. Beyond that, the company will offer advanced movie screenings in three markets, as well as mall events in Dallas and Los Angeles.
4Kids Entertainment has signed 35 licensees to support TMNT from toys and play sets to video games and apparel. And starting March 3, 4Kids TV on FOX will host weekly promotions, including the First Annual NinjAcademy Awards where kids can vote for the Best Turtle, Best Villain, Best Invention, Best Monster online. A special lost Turtles episode will air on March 24, as well as new episodes of the TV series Fast Forward throughout the month.
