DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 24, 2012
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings [Abstract]
Number of domestic Subsidiaries	2		2
Amount of consideration under settlement agreement	$ 8,000		$ 8,000
Gain on litigation settlement	0	0	8,000	0
Proceeds from settlements			8,000
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement					15,000
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Obligations towards cure costs	21		21
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement					15,000
Advertising Media and Broadcast [Abstract]
Period of broadcast	5 years		5 years
Duration of advertisement for which revenue would be retained by 4Kids Ad Sales			5 hours
TC Digital Games LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership in subsidiaries (in hundredths)	55.00%		55.00%
TC Websites LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership in subsidiaries (in hundredths)	55.00%		55.00%
Toei Animation [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Obligations towards cure costs	429		429
R. P. Animation [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Obligations towards cure costs	28		28
Asset Purchase Agreement [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount to be deposited in escrow account			1,000
Amount paid to escrow agent as the Seller's portion	3		3
Asset purchase agreement	476		476
Percentage of entity revenue by major customer (in hundredths)			83.00%
CW Agreement [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Obligations towards cure costs	3,051		3,051
Saban Purchaser [Member]
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings [Abstract]
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement	504		504
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement	504		504
Proceeds from adjustment to purchase price	28		28
Saban Bidder [Member]
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings [Abstract]
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement	10,000		10,000
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement	10,000		10,000
Konami Bidder [Member]
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings [Abstract]
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement					13,997
Downward adjustment contemplated					3
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Purchase price under asset purchase agreement					$ 13,997