Famed children’s entertainment empire Nickelodeon announced today that they have purchased the universal rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 4Kids Entertainment and the Mirage Group. The rights include any future video game, television, and film releases, and were bought for roughly $60 million. With the rights declared, Nickelodeon also announced a new CG-animated television series featuring the Turtles, with a rough premiere date of 2012. A possible film and/or video game could be in production to coincide with the television show, but nothing has been announced.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shares a comedic sensibility with the Nickelodeon DNA, with added layers of action and fantasy that have kept this property an evergreen favorite with multiple generations of audiences,” said Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon/MTV Kids and Family Group.  “We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to be able to focus on this property and creatively re-introduce it to a new generation of kids.”