DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS [Abstract]
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS	1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS GeneralDevelopment and Narrative Description of Business - 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., together with the subsidiaries through which its businesses are conducted (the “Company” or “4Kids”), is a diversified entertainment and media company specializing in the youth oriented market with operations in the following business segments: (i) Licensing; (ii) Advertising Media and Broadcast; and (iii) Television and Film Production/Distribution. The Company was organized as a New York corporation in 1970. 4Kids' consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will be able to continue to operate as a going concern. 4Kids historical recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations together with its Bankruptcy filing has caused 4Kids' independent registered public accounting firm to include an explanatory paragraph in their report, expressing substantial doubt about 4Kids' ability to continue as a going concern. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings – On April 6, 2011 (the “Petition Date”), the Company and all of its domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief (the “Bankruptcy Cases”) under Title 11 of Chapter 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”), which Bankruptcy Cases are jointly administered under Case No. 11-11607. The Company will continue to operate itself and its subsidiaries as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. In general, as debtors-in-possession, we are authorized under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code to continue to operate as an ongoing business, but may not engage in transactions outside the ordinary course of business without the prior approval of the Bankruptcy Court. 4Kids Entertainment International, Ltd., the Company's subsidiary based in London, England, and TC Digital Games LLC and TC Websites LLC, two domestic subsidiaries in each of which the Company holds a majority ownership, were not included in the filing and will continue to operate outside the Bankruptcy Cases. Shortly after the Petition Date, the Debtors began notifying all known current or potential creditors of the Debtors regarding the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases. Subject to certain exceptions under the Bankruptcy Code, the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases automatically enjoined, or stayed, the continuation of any judicial or administrative proceedings or other actions against the Debtors or their property to recover on, collect or secure a claim arising prior to the Petition Date. Thus, for example, most creditor actions to obtain possession of property from the Debtors, or to create, perfect or enforce any lien against the property of the Debtors, or to collect on monies owed or otherwise exercise rights or remedies with respect to a pre-petition claim are enjoined unless and until the Bankruptcy Court lifts the automatic stay. After the filing of the Bankruptcy Cases, the United States Trustee for the Southern District of New York appointed an official committee of unsecured creditors (the “Creditors' Committee”). The Creditors' Committee and its legal representatives have a right to be heard on all matters that come before the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the Debtors. There can be no assurance that the Creditors' Committee will support the Debtors' positions on matters to be presented to the Bankruptcy Court in the future or on any bankruptcy plan, once proposed. Disagreements between the Debtors and the Creditors' Committee could protract the Bankruptcy Cases, negatively impact the Debtors' ability to operate and delay the Debtors' emergence from Chapter 11. Under Section 365 and other relevant sections of the Bankruptcy Code, we may assume, assume and assign, or reject certain executory contracts and unexpired leases, including, without limitation, leases of real property and equipment, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and certain other conditions. Any description of an executory contract or unexpired lease in this report, including, where applicable, our express termination rights or a quantification of our obligations, must be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by, any overriding rejection rights we have under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code. On February 29, 2012, 4Kids and the Licensors entered into a Settlement Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2012, settling all claims brought by Licensors against 4Kids and all counterclaims brought by 4Kids against the Licensors in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Litigation. The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, for the Licensors to make a payment to 4Kids in the amount of $8,000 upon the order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the Settlement Agreement becoming a final order. On March 9, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Licensors acknowledged that the Yu-Gi-Oh! Agreement remained valid, binding and legally enforceable with 4Kids continuing to serve as the exclusive licensing agent for the merchandise licensing, television broadcast and home video rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Property throughout the world outside of Asia. The Settlement Agreement further provided for each of 4Kids and the Licensors to release each other from all claims they may have against each other, other than certain indemnification claims and claims that may arise under the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement also provided that the agreement does not constitute an admission by any party of any violation of any agreement or law. While the consummation of the Settlement Agreement represents a significant step in the process of resolving the Bankruptcy Cases, the timing of any resolution of the Bankruptcy Cases will depend on the timing and outcome of numerous other ongoing matters therein, and it is not possible at this time to accurately predict when such other matters will be resolved. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs associated with the Bankruptcy Cases. The amount of these costs, which began in April 2011 and are being expensed as incurred, are expected to significantly affect our results of operations and financial position. The Bankruptcy Cases have also presented challenges to our ability to generate additional revenues in all of our business segments especially as it relates to the sales of commercial advertising. The Company will consider all alternatives available to generate additional cash to fund its operations, including, but not limited to sales of assets, issuance of equity or debt securities, and third party arrangements subject to any limitations and procedures arising from the Bankruptcy Cases. Liquidity - In recent years, the Company has incurred substantial net losses and has used substantial amounts of cash in its operating activities. Sales by the Company of certain securities held in its investment portfolio as well as certain other assets have significantly contributed to the funding of these operating losses. While the timing of these sales was not primarily motivated by then current cash needs, without these sales the Company would not have had sufficient cash to fund its operations. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company determined that it was necessary to generate additional cash to fund its operations and sold its remaining investment securities with a par value of $18,450 and an adjusted cost basis of $7,126 for $6,216. Accordingly, the Company recorded a loss on the sale of investment securities of $910 for the year ended December 31, 2011. On February 29, 2012, 4Kids and the Licensors entered into a Settlement Agreement, settling all claims brought by Licensors against 4Kids and all counterclaims brought by 4Kids against the Licensors in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Litigation. The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, for the Licensors to make a payment to 4Kids in the amount of $8,000 upon the order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the Settlement Agreement becoming a final order. On March 9, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Licensors acknowledged that the Yu-Gi-Oh! Agreement remained valid, binding and legally enforceable with 4Kids continuing to serve as the exclusive licensing agent for the merchandise licensing, television broadcast and home video rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Property throughout the world outside of Asia. The Settlement Agreement further provided for each of 4Kids and the Licensors to release each other from all claims they may have against each other, other than certain indemnification claims and claims that may arise under the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement also provided that the agreement does not constitute an admission by any party of any violation of any agreement or law. In 2011, the Company incurred significant costs in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases. The Company expects these costs to continue throughout the Bankruptcy proceedings. The Company's overall cash position as of December 31, 2011, together with the realized and anticipated effects of the significant cost cutting initiatives implemented by the Company during 2009, 2010 and throughout 2011 provides only limited liquidity to fund the Company's day-to-day operations. The financial challenges facing the Company as a result of its recent history of losses and the limited liquidity available to it to fund day-to-day operations raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon the success of our reorganizational efforts and a number of other factors, including our ability to generate additional revenues. The Company's financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not contain any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Licensing - The Licensing business segment consists of the results of operations of the following wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company: 4Kids Entertainment Licensing, Inc. (“4Kids Licensing”); 4Sight Licensing Solutions, Inc. (“4Sight Licensing”); 4Kids Entertainment International, Ltd. (“4Kids International”); and 4Kids Technology, Inc. (“4Kids Technology”). 4Kids Licensing is engaged in the business of licensing the merchandising rights to popular children's television series, properties and product concepts (individually, the “Property” or collectively the “Properties”). 4Kids Licensing typically acts as exclusive merchandising agent in connection with the grant to third parties of licenses to manufacture and sell all types of merchandise, including toys, videogames, trading cards, apparel, housewares, footwear, books and other published materials, based on such Properties. 4Sight Licensing is engaged in the business of licensing properties and product concepts to adults, teens and “tweens”. 4Sight Licensing focuses on brand building through licensing. 4Kids International, based in London, manages Properties represented by the Company in the United Kingdom and European marketplaces. 4Kids Technology develops ideas and concepts for licensing which integrate new and existing technologies with traditional game and toy play patterns. Advertising Media and Broadcast - The Company, through a multi-year agreement (the “CW Agreement”) with The CW Network, LLC (“The CW”), leases The CW's Saturday morning programming block (“The CW4Kids”) which broadcasts in most markets from 7am to 12pm for an initial term of five years beginning with The CW's 2008-2009 broadcast season. The Company provides substantially all programming content to be broadcast on The CW4Kids. 4Kids Ad Sales, Inc. (“4Kids Ad Sales”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, retains a portion of the revenue from its sale of network advertising time for the five-hour time period. The Advertising Media and Broadcast segment also generates revenues from the sale of advertising on the Company's multiple websites. These websites also showcase and promote The CW4Kids, as well as its many Properties. Television and Film Production/Distribution - The Television and Film Production/Distribution business segment consists of the results of operations of the following wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company: 4Kids Productions, Inc. (“4Kids Productions”); 4Kids Entertainment Music, Inc. (“4Kids Music”); and 4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc. (“4Kids Home Video”). 4Kids Productions produces and adapts animated and live-action television programs and theatrical motion pictures for distribution to the domestic and international television, home video and theatrical markets. 4Kids Music composes original music for incorporation into television programming produced by 4Kids Productions and markets and manages such music. 4Kids Home Video distributes home videos associated with television programming produced by 4Kids Productions. Discontinued Operation - Trading Card and Game Distribution - Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 4Kids Digital Games, Inc. (“4Kids Digital”), the Company owns 55% of TC Digital Games LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TC Digital”) which produced, marketed and distributed the “Chaotic” trading card game. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 4Kids Websites, Inc. (“4Kids Websites”), the Company owns 55% of TC Websites LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TC Websites”) which owns and operated www.chaoticgame.com, the companion website for the “Chaotic” trading card game. TC Digital and TC Websites are the exclusive licensees of certain patents covering the uploading of coded trading cards to a website where online game play and community activities occur. Effective September 30, 2010, the Company terminated the operations of TC Digital and TC Websites due to their continued lack of profitability. The termination of the business of TC Digital and TC Websites will enable the Company to further reduce costs and focus on its core businesses. As a consequence of the termination of their operations, TC Digital and TC Websites ceased supporting the Chaotic trading card game and website, effective October 1, 2010. The results of operations of TC Digital and TC Websites are reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations (see Note 13), subject to a noncontrolling interest. All prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of this discontinued operation. Certain of the Company's former executive officers have interests in Chaotic USA Digital Games LLC (“CUSA LLC”), Chaotic USA Entertainment Group, Inc. (“CUSA”) and certain other entities with which TC Digital and TC Websites have engaged in transactions since their formation. Information regarding these relationships can be found in Note 19.

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

GeneralDevelopment and Narrative Description of Business - 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., together with the subsidiaries through which its businesses are conducted (the “Company” or “4Kids”), is a diversified entertainment and media company specializing in the youth oriented market with operations in the following business segments: (i) Licensing; (ii) Advertising Media and Broadcast; and (iii) Television and Film Production/Distribution. The Company was organized as a New York corporation in 1970.

4Kids' consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will be able to continue to operate as a going concern. 4Kids historical recurring losses and negative cash flows from operations together with its Bankruptcy filing has caused 4Kids' independent registered public accounting firm to include an explanatory paragraph in their report, expressing substantial doubt about 4Kids' ability to continue as a going concern.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings – On April 6, 2011 (the “Petition Date”), the Company and all of its domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for relief (the “Bankruptcy Cases”) under Title 11 of Chapter 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”), which Bankruptcy Cases are jointly administered under Case No. 11-11607. The Company will continue to operate itself and its subsidiaries as “debtors-in-possession” under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. In general, as debtors-in-possession, we are authorized under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code to continue to operate as an ongoing business, but may not engage in transactions outside the ordinary course of business without the prior approval of the Bankruptcy Court. 4Kids Entertainment International, Ltd., the Company's subsidiary based in London, England, and TC Digital Games LLC and TC Websites LLC, two domestic subsidiaries in each of which the Company holds a majority ownership, were not included in the filing and will continue to operate outside the Bankruptcy Cases.

Shortly after the Petition Date, the Debtors began notifying all known current or potential creditors of the Debtors regarding the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases. Subject to certain exceptions under the Bankruptcy Code, the commencement of the Bankruptcy Cases automatically enjoined, or stayed, the continuation of any judicial or administrative proceedings or other actions against the Debtors or their property to recover on, collect or secure a claim arising prior to the Petition Date. Thus, for example, most creditor actions to obtain possession of property from the Debtors, or to create, perfect or enforce any lien against the property of the Debtors, or to collect on monies owed or otherwise exercise rights or remedies with respect to a pre-petition claim are enjoined unless and until the Bankruptcy Court lifts the automatic stay.

After the filing of the Bankruptcy Cases, the United States Trustee for the Southern District of New York appointed an official committee of unsecured creditors (the “Creditors' Committee”). The Creditors' Committee and its legal representatives have a right to be heard on all matters that come before the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the Debtors. There can be no assurance that the Creditors' Committee will support the Debtors' positions on matters to be presented to the Bankruptcy Court in the future or on any bankruptcy plan, once proposed. Disagreements between the Debtors and the Creditors' Committee could protract the Bankruptcy Cases, negatively impact the Debtors' ability to operate and delay the Debtors' emergence from Chapter 11. Under Section 365 and other relevant sections of the Bankruptcy Code, we may assume, assume and assign, or reject certain executory contracts and unexpired leases, including, without limitation, leases of real property and equipment, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and certain other conditions. Any description of an executory contract or unexpired lease in this report, including, where applicable, our express termination rights or a quantification of our obligations, must be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by, any overriding rejection rights we have under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.

On February 29, 2012, 4Kids and the Licensors entered into a Settlement Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2012, settling all claims brought by Licensors against 4Kids and all counterclaims brought by 4Kids against the Licensors in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Litigation. The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, for the Licensors to make a payment to 4Kids in the amount of $8,000 upon the order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the Settlement Agreement becoming a final order. On March 9, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Licensors acknowledged that the Yu-Gi-Oh! Agreement remained valid, binding and legally enforceable with 4Kids continuing to serve as the exclusive licensing agent for the merchandise licensing, television broadcast and home video rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Property throughout the world outside of Asia. The Settlement Agreement further provided for each of 4Kids and the Licensors to release each other from all claims they may have against each other, other than certain indemnification claims and claims that may arise under the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement also provided that the agreement does not constitute an admission by any party of any violation of any agreement or law.

While the consummation of the Settlement Agreement represents a significant step in the process of resolving the Bankruptcy Cases, the timing of any resolution of the Bankruptcy Cases will depend on the timing and outcome of numerous other ongoing matters therein, and it is not possible at this time to accurately predict when such other matters will be resolved. We have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs associated with the Bankruptcy Cases. The amount of these costs, which began in April 2011 and are being expensed as incurred, are expected to significantly affect our results of operations and financial position. The Bankruptcy Cases have also presented challenges to our ability to generate additional revenues in all of our business segments especially as it relates to the sales of commercial advertising.

The Company will consider all alternatives available to generate additional cash to fund its operations, including, but not limited to sales of assets, issuance of equity or debt securities, and third party arrangements subject to any limitations and procedures arising from the Bankruptcy Cases.

Liquidity - In recent years, the Company has incurred substantial net losses and has used substantial amounts of cash in its operating activities. Sales by the Company of certain securities held in its investment portfolio as well as certain other assets have significantly contributed to the funding of these operating losses. While the timing of these sales was not primarily motivated by then current cash needs, without these sales the Company would not have had sufficient cash to fund its operations. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company determined that it was necessary to generate additional cash to fund its operations and sold its remaining investment securities with a par value of $18,450 and an adjusted cost basis of $7,126 for $6,216. Accordingly, the Company recorded a loss on the sale of investment securities of $910 for the year ended December 31, 2011.

On February 29, 2012, 4Kids and the Licensors entered into a Settlement Agreement, settling all claims brought by Licensors against 4Kids and all counterclaims brought by 4Kids against the Licensors in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Litigation. The Settlement Agreement provides, among other things, for the Licensors to make a payment to 4Kids in the amount of $8,000 upon the order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the Settlement Agreement becoming a final order. On March 9, 2012, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order approving the Settlement Agreement. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Licensors acknowledged that the Yu-Gi-Oh! Agreement remained valid, binding and legally enforceable with 4Kids continuing to serve as the exclusive licensing agent for the merchandise licensing, television broadcast and home video rights to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Property throughout the world outside of Asia. The Settlement Agreement further provided for each of 4Kids and the Licensors to release each other from all claims they may have against each other, other than certain indemnification claims and claims that may arise under the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement also provided that the agreement does not constitute an admission by any party of any violation of any agreement or law.

In 2011, the Company incurred significant costs in connection with the Bankruptcy Cases. The Company expects these costs to continue throughout the Bankruptcy proceedings. The Company's overall cash position as of December 31, 2011, together with the realized and anticipated effects of the significant cost cutting initiatives implemented by the Company during 2009, 2010 and throughout 2011 provides only limited liquidity to fund the Company's day-to-day operations. The financial challenges facing the Company as a result of its recent history of losses and the limited liquidity available to it to fund day-to-day operations raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon the success of our reorganizational efforts and a number of other factors, including our ability to generate additional revenues. The Company's financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not contain any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Licensing - The Licensing business segment consists of the results of operations of the following wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company: 4Kids Entertainment Licensing, Inc. (“4Kids Licensing”); 4Sight Licensing Solutions, Inc. (“4Sight Licensing”); 4Kids Entertainment International, Ltd. (“4Kids International”); and 4Kids Technology, Inc. (“4Kids Technology”). 4Kids Licensing is engaged in the business of licensing the merchandising rights to popular children's television series, properties and product concepts (individually, the “Property” or collectively the “Properties”). 4Kids Licensing typically acts as exclusive merchandising agent in connection with the grant to third parties of licenses to manufacture and sell all types of merchandise, including toys, videogames, trading cards, apparel, housewares, footwear, books and other published materials, based on such Properties. 4Sight Licensing is engaged in the business of licensing properties and product concepts to adults, teens and “tweens”. 4Sight Licensing focuses on brand building through licensing. 4Kids International, based in London, manages Properties represented by the Company in the United Kingdom and European marketplaces. 4Kids Technology develops ideas and concepts for licensing which integrate new and existing technologies with traditional game and toy play patterns.

Advertising Media and Broadcast - The Company, through a multi-year agreement (the “CW Agreement”) with The CW Network, LLC (“The CW”), leases The CW's Saturday morning programming block (“The CW4Kids”) which broadcasts in most markets from 7am to 12pm for an initial term of five years beginning with The CW's 2008-2009 broadcast season. The Company provides substantially all programming content to be broadcast on The CW4Kids. 4Kids Ad Sales, Inc. (“4Kids Ad Sales”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, retains a portion of the revenue from its sale of network advertising time for the five-hour time period.

The Advertising Media and Broadcast segment also generates revenues from the sale of advertising on the Company's multiple websites. These websites also showcase and promote The CW4Kids, as well as its many Properties.

Television and Film Production/Distribution - The Television and Film Production/Distribution business segment consists of the results of operations of the following wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company: 4Kids Productions, Inc. (“4Kids Productions”); 4Kids Entertainment Music, Inc. (“4Kids Music”); and 4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc. (“4Kids Home Video”). 4Kids Productions produces and adapts animated and live-action television programs and theatrical motion pictures for distribution to the domestic and international television, home video and theatrical markets. 4Kids Music composes original music for incorporation into television programming produced by 4Kids Productions and markets and manages such music. 4Kids Home Video distributes home videos associated with television programming produced by 4Kids Productions.

Discontinued Operation - Trading Card and Game Distribution - Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 4Kids Digital Games, Inc. (“4Kids Digital”), the Company owns 55% of TC Digital Games LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TC Digital”) which produced, marketed and distributed the “Chaotic” trading card game. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 4Kids Websites, Inc. (“4Kids Websites”), the Company owns 55% of TC Websites LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TC Websites”) which owns and operated www.chaoticgame.com, the companion website for the “Chaotic” trading card game. TC Digital and TC Websites are the exclusive licensees of certain patents covering the uploading of coded trading cards to a website where online game play and community activities occur. Effective September 30, 2010, the Company terminated the operations of TC Digital and TC Websites due to their continued lack of profitability. The termination of the business of TC Digital and TC Websites will enable the Company to further reduce costs and focus on its core businesses. As a consequence of the termination of their operations, TC Digital and TC Websites ceased supporting the Chaotic trading card game and website, effective October 1, 2010. The results of operations of TC Digital and TC Websites are reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations (see Note 13), subject to a noncontrolling interest. All prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation of this discontinued operation.

Certain of the Company's former executive officers have interests in Chaotic USA Digital Games LLC (“CUSA LLC”), Chaotic USA Entertainment Group, Inc. (“CUSA”) and certain other entities with which TC Digital and TC Websites have engaged in transactions since their formation. Information regarding these relationships can be found in Note 19.