Gaelstone Media Group, the studio known for the upcoming Amazon Prime series Action Mice, announced its full acquisition of the classic ‘80s character Panda Khan. The iconic panda is well-known to nostalgia lovers who remember him as a regularly featured character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book crossovers.
Toy collectors will recall that Panda Khan also made an appearance as an action figure in Playmates original TMNT toy line back in 1990. While the Panda Khan character is completely recognizable to Turtles fans and toy collectors of the 90s, he was never featured in the highly popular Ninja Turtles cartoon show.
Now in Gaelstone’s hands, the beloved character will experience a pop culture resurgence, with the company planning to place the panda in newly developed comic books and animated adventures.
Jessie Hobson: Hello Jon Bryans and Gaelstone Media! Would you please give our readers a brief history of Gaelstone Media?
Jon Robert Bryans: Gaelstone Media is a multi-faceted development company that focuses mainly in the animation, toy, comic marketplace. I started working freelance in 1989 in the toy industry and by the mid-90s, I branched into developing properties of my own and company, Gaelstone Media at this time (though I continued to freelance too). We have worked on major brands and minor brands, etching a place for ourselves in the industry. We have built a client list that is quite lucrative and we continue to expand today. Currently, we have a number of shows optioned and in development, and our flagship series, Action Mice, is well on its way to it's air-date.
JH: How hands-on are you with all of these various projects?
JB: I am extremely hands-on, I have always been that driving force behind the company, and I want that to continue. I work on every project from creation to production, but I don't want it thought that I do this all alone, not at all, I also have an amazing team that works closely with me to bring all our projects to reality, and we have a fantastic working relationship with our clients and partners.
JH: How many people are behind the curtain at Gaelstone Media and where did you recruit your talent from?
JB: We currently have nine people, ten if you include me, working behind the curtain, but like all good wizards, Oz cannot run without that team. I have the greatest partners and crew one could ever hope to assemble, they are my Avengers, and together, we are poised and focused to change the world.
This isn't even including the amazing crew at Global Genesis Group, our production partners on quite a few of our projects. They are an amazing company that truly believes in fostering the creative growth of a property while working closely with the creators. It is a true partnership in all ways.
We also have a very special member of the Gaelstone Media family, out lovable mascot, Tale, the Gaelstone Storytelling Wizard. Keep an eye out for this little Gael, we are looking at options for plus, coloring pages, stickers, magnets, t-shirts and so much more.
JH: You have a few projects in development. Can you talk a bit about where those projects are assigned to go once they’re complete?
JB: We do have a number of projects in development, our main properties exist within the Anthroverse... The Anthroverse is the universe in which Gaelstone Media's flagship titles all exist within.
Staged like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), each title will be a stand-alone property, however, they will all link with and crossover with the lynchpin property, Action Mice.
Building the story, Action Mice will set the tone and pace for the other properties in The Anthroverse, such as;
Kennel 9
Panda Khan
FireFROGS
Agents of F.E.L.I.N.E
(FEdwral Law and INtelligence Enforcement)
Dire Wolves
BattleFlies
StarC.L.A.W.S
(Combat Lethal Air-Wing Squad)
Ninjasaurs
We also have our first property ever created, nGuard (formally Nature's Guard) in active development and we are prepping it for the next step.
We have a few other properties at different stages of development such as;
Santa's Spies
Ricky Rocket and the Rocket Rangers
ResQG.I.R.L.S.
(Global Intervention and Retrieval LeagueS)
FairyGlow Kingdom
BEARRIORS: Guardians of the NightLight
And some more coming soon. As you can clearly see, we like to keep busy.
JH: Action Mice definitely caught my eye! We typically review film and television at CineDump, so when an episode or two are ready, we'd love to give it a go!
JB: We, Gaelstone Media and our partners, Global Genesis Group, are working diligently to bring this property to small screens and toy and comicbooks store the world over, as soon as possible. When episodes are ready, the amazing people at Global Genesis Group will be reaching out with episodes for reviews, I am sure something can be arranged.
JH: What is the general story behind Action Mice and what story does it tell?
JB: Action Mice is an elite team of specialists brought together from the best of the best of ACTION COMMAND's military forces. Alone they are weapons, together they are unstoppable. Their mission; bring an end to the threat of BARON IRONWEASEL and his IRON ARMIES.
JH: Kevin Monroe and Steve Lumley, both TMNT alum, produced the project, how important was it to have them involved?
Well, I am a fan of the 2007 TMNT Animated Movie, which Kevin Monroe directed, and also a fan of Iron Giant, which Steve Lumley designed, so when it was first brought to my attention that they would be coming on board I was very happy. I have had the thrill of working very closely with Kevin on the series, and I look forward to continuing on. Both are extremely talented, so I count us as very lucky to have them.
JH: What was it about Gaelstone Media that made Dave Garcie and Monica Sharp comfortable enough to pass over the reigns?
JB: I would love to say my awesome charm, but I know it wasn't that, it was how inviting the Anthroverse was to their character, and how it made perfect sense. Outside of that simple answer from me, I believe you would have to ask them... maybe it was my charm, maybe they saw I had a vision and the Drive to bring that grand vision the life... or maybe, just maybe, it was a bit of both.
JH: What is it about Panda Khan that is so attractive to a company like Gaelstone Media?
JB: Panda Khan and the universe it exists within was a perfect fit for our animated universe, the Anthroverse. The characters fit well and could function with ease with our other properties and characters, and truthfully, the history and pedigree Panda Khan brought with it was a no-brainer for us. We worked hard to show how Panda Khan could fit, and not only did Dave and Monica see that, so did Global Genesis Group.
JH: Panda Khan comes with his own lore and backstory. What are Gaelstone Media’s plans for Panda Khan currently?
JB: We cannot speak much about our specific plans, as we are currently in story and character development at the moment. Yes, there is a lot of lore, but what has come before will continue to exist in the self-published comics released by Dave, Monica and Mickey Clausen, we at Gaelstone Media are taking the characters in a slightly different direction for the show. It will still be Panda Khan at heart, and I believe the direction we are going in is right for the character and gives for a larger world that will drive the story narrative forward and allow for it to fit seamlessly within the Anthroverse.
JH: Do you plan on keeping any of this original backstory or will he have a whole new origin tale?
JB: We plan on grasping the roots of those stories and characters and building on them to bring them onto small screens and toy shelves the world over.
JH: You also have a graphic novel on its way. When can we expect that to release?
JB: I am currently writing the Sectaurs Revival in comic form, working closely with the two co-creators, Maureen Trotto and Timothy Clarke (they are a delight to work with by the way). We are continuing the story seven years after the original Marvel Comics run and will tie that story up and from there, we have plans, but those will remain secret for now. As for when it is coming out, more news coming on that, and I will share when I can.
JH: Any plans to snag the rights to other old TMMT friends and/or foes?
JB: I would love to work with any of the characters, heroes, villains, but I don't see that happening, but hey, one can always dream, right?
Who would think it would be cool to see Panda Khan or Action Mice teaming up with the Ninja Turtles for a story arch... I know I think that would be "Radical".
We here at Gaelstone Media would like to thank you for your time and interest in our company and projects. Keep watching us, we are growing, and we have plans... always remember our mission statement: Imagination Brought To Life.
From our discussion, it seems like Panda Khan is in good hands. The figure was always one of my favorites, and I can vividly remember seeing him in a few of my turtle books back in the day. While I’m not completely sold on the weird world Gaelstone Media is producing, I’d rather someone give the character a chance instead of him dying in the dollar bin. Fingers crossed.