Creativity fueled by pizza and turtle power.
A Turtles-themed challenge? Cowabunga, dudes!
The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series from the late ’80s was a pop-culture phenomenon that spawned live-action movies, a wildly popular toyline, and several more cartoon iterations. Led by their rat sensei, Splinter, anthropomorphic turtles Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael taught us lessons about loyalty, friendship, and the true meaning of “turtle power.”
For our first officially-licensed challenge presented by BoxLunch, we want you bodacious artists to create a new design inspired by the classic version of the Turtles. So get ready to travel back in time to when the evil Shredder and his Foot Clan were the biggest threat to New York City. As you illustrate our heroes in a half shell, think pizza, sewers, and epic battles against the forces of darkness. And don't forget to incorporate some of your favorite characters from the classic cartoon, like April O'Neil, Casey Jones, Bebop, and Rocksteady.
Grab your nunchucks, put on your bandana, and start creating a design that's totally radical.
Guest Judges
- Kevin Eastman, TMNT co-creator
- David Chustz, Head of Creative for Paramount Global Consumer Products and Experiences
- Joey Ramirez, Senior Buyer of Men’s Apparel at BoxLunch
Guidelines to Follow
- Only use your original artwork.
- Must be 18 or older and a legal US resident to enter.
- No adult references are allowed. That includes sex, drugs, alcohol, excessive violence, profanity, gambling, etc.
- Focus on the classic version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Do not include or depict references to non-TMNT intellectual property.
- NOTE: These guidelines are not comprehensive and are subject to the terms and conditions of the official rules.
Things to Know Before You Enter
- All designs will be reviewed against Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand guidelines before being considered for this challenge.
- Selected design submissions may only be sold at BoxLunch online and retail locations.
- Artists will not be able to sell their submitted designs in their own Artist Shops.
- Additional licensing fees will be paid to artists for any design(s) selected for retail at BoxLunch or other retail partners.
- Submitted designs will not be available in the Threadless Marketplace.
- Submitted designs may also be selected for Hot Topic and Her Universe online catalogs, as well as Hot Topic retail stores.
Challenge Details
Grand Prize: $1000 Cash + TMNT Toy Collectible 4-Pack from Loyal Subjects + $250 Threadless Gift Certificate
2nd Place: $500 Cash + $150 Threadless Gift Card
3rd Place: $250 Cash + $100 Threadless Gift Card
Plus additional earnings will be paid to artists for any design(s) selected for retail at BoxLunch or other retail partners
This Design Challenge is presented by BoxLunch, powered by Threadless
Officially Licensed by Nickelodeon x BoxLunch
All approved designs from this challenge have been officially licensed
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Kevin Eastman
TMNT co-creator
Born in Portland, Maine in 1962 Kevin Eastman began drawing at a very young age, copying children’s books and reading comics. Inspired by master storyteller Jack Kirby, and later by self-publishing creators Richard Corben, Vaughn Bode, and Dave Sim, all his early work focused more on Science Fiction influences than traditional Superhero style comics.
In 1982, while trying to sell some of his illustrations to local fanzines, he met Peter Laird in Northampton, Massachusetts and the partnership studio, Mirage Studios was formed. Less than a year later in the middle of a late night drawing session, Eastman doodled a new character he dubbed a “Ninja Turtle” to make Laird laugh—several sillier sketches and a final drawing of four characters later “Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” had officially entered the universe!
Self published in May of 1984 the first issue sold out of its 3000 copies overnight and quickly became a fan favorite. Catching the eye of Merchandising Agents and Hollywood Producers, Eastman and Laird maintained full control of their creations while guiding them through Toy Licensing, TV Series adaptation, as well as Feature Films, and by 1989 the TMNT’s were number one in all three categories. In between TMNT projects, Eastman created an artist friendly publishing company, “Tundra Publishing” where projects like “The Crow” “From Hell” and “American Splendor” first flourished, as well as purchased and published the world renowned “Heavy Metal Magazine.”
Kevin Eastman lives in San Diego with his wife Courtney, son Shane, a few insane and thoroughly lovable Dachshunds, and two silly, bad kitties. In 2023 Kevin, Courtney and Team Eastman will be visiting several comic conventions and signings around the world, ensuring they are always accessible and reaching out to fans. -
David Chustz
Head of Creative for Paramount Global Consumer Products and Experiences
David is currently Head of Creative for Paramount Global Consumer Products and Experiences. In this role, he manages the creative strategy and translation of all Paramount IP into licensed consumer products and experiences across multiple categories including toys, apparel, accessories, publishing, digital media, consumer packaged goods and location-based experiences.
He began his career as a business analyst for global management consulting firm, McKinsey and Company. He left McKinsey to try his hand at acting in New York City but found he was spending more time waiting tables than anything, so moved to directing and producing marketing creative for Paramount’s VH1 network. From VH1 he became VP/Creative Director for the Lifetime network.
David began his Nickelodeon career as VP, Brand Creative and Marketing for Nickelodeon’s teen channel “The N” which he ultimately rebranded “TeenNick” as part of Nickelodeon’s alignment of all its platforms. From there, he shifted to the franchise and consumer products side of Nick’s business where he combined his love of branding and fan culture into extending Nick’s — eventually all Paramount Global’s — most loved franchises into consumer products and experiences.
David earned his BA in Economics from Rice University in Houston, TX. -
Joey Ramirez
Senior Buyer of Men’s Apparel at BoxLunch
Joey Ramirez is the Senior Buyer of Men’s Apparel at BoxLunch, but more important than that, he’s always aspired to be a “rude dude with attitude.” Whether it was dressing up as Leonardo for back-to-back Halloweens, dominating “Turtles in Time” at the local arcade with Michelangelo, or watching the Vanilla Ice Ninja Turtle Rap video single until he wore out the VHS cassette tape, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a source of inspiration to live life to its cowabung-iest.
Designs from this challenge
BoxLunch
BoxLunch is a civic-minded web + brick and mortar based specialty retailer offering a curated collection of licensed and non-licensed merchandise. With every $10 spent on our pop culture-themed product offering of apparel, accessories, home goods, gift and novelty, and collectibles, BoxLunch will help provide a meal secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks.
www.boxlunch.com