The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are coming out of their shells with major support from a variety of partners for the March 23 theatrical release of TMNT. 4Kids Entertainment Inc. and Warner Bros. Pictures are teaming with McDonald’s, Airheads, Hot Topic, and other retailers, including Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Toys “R” Us, on promotions that run through March. Other initiatives: Time Warner Cable will air TV spots promoting a TMNT sweepstakes; Cool Cuts 4 Kids will offer coloring books and card games to customers, who also will have a chance to win a sweepstakes for a private screening of TMNT; and starting March 3, 4Kids TV and Fox will host weekly promotions including the First Annual NinjAcademy Awards. The awards allow kids to vote for the Best Turtle, Best Villain, Best Invention, Best Monster, and more online. As voting results come in, episodes that feature each winner will air. In addition, a special “lost episode” will air on March 24, as well as new episodes of Fast Forward throughout the month. 4Kids also signed on 35 licensees with products ranging from action playsets and vehicles (Playmates) and video games (Ubisoft) to an exclusive line of retro and movie apparel at Hot Topic.