Paramount Skydance is going all-in on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, investing in a new animated series, books, and themed restaurants. Variety reports that Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles, a 30-episode animated short series, will debut on YouTube later in 2026. The episodes will be four minutes long and focus on the childhoods of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, and are aimed at a preschool audience. This is part of a larger brand expansion for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Variety also reports that TMNT-themed pizzerias will open in Santa Monica, Monterrey, Mexico, and Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2026. Starting in 2027, Mattel will become the new toy producer for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, ending Playmates Toys’ deal with the brand since 1988. Mattel will make toys for 2027’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and the upcoming 2028 live-action film. Josh Silverman, Paramount’s president of global products and experiences, said in a press statement:
“‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ is full of action, humor and heart, and showcases relationships that have resonated with generations of fans worldwide. Continuing the Turtles’ adventures through products and experiences enables consumers to embark on their own journey. Whether it’s watching a movie, wearing a costume, playing with action figures or reading a book, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ has made an impact not only on people’s lives but on pop culture in ways that few franchises can claim. Our new offerings continue the growth of this incredible property and demonstrate new ways for global audiences of all ages to relate to these stories and characters.”

A New Era for the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Begins

Leonardo in TMNTWarner Bros.

In addition to the new series, toys, and restaurants, two new TMNT-related books will be released. In June, a full novelization of the bestselling adult-oriented graphic novel The Last Ronin will be released by publisher Abrams and writer Erik Burnham. Plans for a live-action The Last Ronin were in development at Paramount Pictures, but were put on hold in favor of an all-ages, family-friendly live-action film. In September 2026, Scholastic Publishing will release a middle-grade illustrated novel titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splinter’s Dojo. One of the most popular intellectual properties in the world, Viacom (now Paramount Skydance) purchased the rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2009 from TMNT co-creator Peter Laird (co-creator Kevin Eastman sold his share of the rights to Laird in the early 2000s). Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles will be the fourth animated Ninja Turtles cartoon since the sale, following 2012’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and 2018’s Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Nickelodeon. The most recent TMNT series, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, concluded its two-season run in December 2025. The animated series was a spin-off of the 2023 feature film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

These new plans are part of Paramount Skydance’s larger plans for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The sequel to Mutant Mayhem is scheduled to open in theaters on Sept. 17, 2027. Meanwhile, a new live-action film from Sonic the Hedgehog producer Neil H. Mortiz is set for release on Nov. 17, 2028. 2026 could be the beginning of a new era for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, with Paramount Skydance giving the property its biggest push since the characters’ peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s when Turtle Mania swept the world.