In an announcement really comes as no surprise, Playmates has been given the master toy license for the new Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle animated series. Here is the official announcement that was made by the folks at Nickelodeon today during the 2011 International Licensing Expo.

Sean Astin joins the cast of Nickelodeon's all-new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) as Raphael, one of four teenage brothers dedicated to a life battling the evil denizens of New York City. Rounding out the cast are Jason Biggs as Leonardo, Rob Paulsen as Donatello and Greg Cipes as Michelangelo. The series is currently in production at the Nick Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif., and set to premiere in 2012.

Nickelodeon will continue to work with its original and long-standing toy partner, Playmates Toys, which has been the creative force behind the successful TMNT master toy program over the last two decades. Playmates is developing a product line based on the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, which will cater to kids and consumers all around the world.