Well, if we go by the strict definition of canon, no. It has to be shown or spoken on screen that there was a second five-year mission. It's a fan assumption that once Kirk was left in command of Enterprise again at the end of TMP, there was yet another mission. But no spoken dialogue or even an Okudagram to indicate that it definitely happened. We do know years passed between TMP and TWOK where at some point, Kirk was once again promoted to admiral, and he, Spock, and most of the original crew went on to be posted at Starfleet Academy, and that at some point Chekov joined the crew of Reliant and became first officer. Red Ranger
A compromise might be to create a series that utilizes both new stories and adaptations of stories from the original animated series (TOAS? ). The vocals, sound effects and music would be all-new.
Frankly, the best approach for an animated ST is all-new stories. What's the point of a remake? So many other stories to tell! It's a big galaxy out there! -- RR
It's a big galaxy, with infinite possabilities, but I think the writers are running out of ideas. Now they are seeing it as Explore, fight, explore, find peacefull race, explore, fight, ad infinitum.
Well, an animated format, much like writing a book, means writers' imaginations can accomplish more than in a live-action format. For one thing, you wouldn't be limited to the bumpy forehead alien of the week. Winged creatures and other non-humanoid races, like those that aren't bipedal, could be depicted. Even in the first TAS, they explored that with Arex and M'Ress as regulars. Imagine a Horta crewmember, for example, like the one Diane Duane postulated in some of her ST novels. Without budget and live-action restraints, you could have life forms of many shapes and size, including those that are squid-like, insectile, as was the original idea before settling on the Borg, made of energy, or even intelligent quadrupeds. So I disagree that the writers would run out of ideas. An animated format could free them. Red Ranger
When this topic comes up, I always think of successful animated series such as Batman and Gargoyles. These were well-wriiten shows that appealled to males of all ages. The marketing of B:TAS was excellent. There's no reason why a new ST:TAS couldn't be as successful. I would set it 15 years after NEM and include characters from all three 24th century shows. I would probably like 2D rather than CGI but I'm openminded on this. Strange aliens that are non-humanoid and flashbacks would be easily accomplished.
A New Animated Series- CGI Star Trek Animated CGI TV Series [cancelled] Kirk Animation Test Star Trek Animated CGI TV Series [cancelled] Spock Animation Test * Warning Explicit Language * this CGI animation uses motion capture: Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan Fury cancelled 1999 videogame (unreleased from developer Interplay). see the video at 1:25. Either the above 2 animation tests for CGI or else the Interplay CGI models could be licensed for the Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley characters Kirk, Spock, McCoy. see my idea for a new CGI animated series here: While Fan-made this cartoon is not CGI but at least made a full episode. Star Track: The Animated Adventures Episode 1 (Star Trek fan-made Cartoon)
Non-bumpy headed aliens could have been featured in the three most reecent Trek shows, just like there were on Farscape; all it took was a little judicious use of financial resourses to make it happen. But some people on the production end were quite lazy.
Animated Series idea How about using a videogame-engine for the rendering of 3-D CGI environments? Why? Once you build the various ships interiors and exteriors CGI models the actual animation would be done by motion capture data and rendered by a game console. As a plus alien characters such as The Borg would be easily duplicated as the humanoids all mostly look alike. Lots of 'extras' in the background for production value... What about the idea of selling a Trek videogame for PS3 and XBOX360 for $20. and then instead of game expansion packs you have 'scripted episodes' that are sold afterward for $5. as downloads and the in-game engine renders these WATCH-ONLY episodes? If a Trek animated series could look like this: http://pc.gamespy.com/dor/objects/743607/alan-wake/images/alan-wake-20081021105017521.html 43 screenshots that show off what level we are at of actual gameplay in 2009. or this video of it: 'graphic and physics demo' of the environments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV2AYoKc1u8&feature=related It is not just a 3D CGI environment but now it is lighting effects and atmospheric effects (smoke, fog, haze, mist) that adds a lot of realism. this video shows off the animation of characters in closeups at 36 seconds as well as slow motion action shots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSZ2xN7qZz0&feature=related A whole series could be created in a much cheaper way. The PS3 and XBOX360 doing the playback. At the end of the 'season' of episodes a Blu-ray/DVD disc is sold with all of them. I'm not talking about the upcoming 'Star Trek Online' videogame but a dedicated download scripted episode to playback. The general model for 'Star Trek Online' videogame would be $30. for initial purchase and then a monthly subscription fee of around $15. I'm proposing something much less costly for consumers. As a plus you would be able to explore the environments in great detail created by pausing the game and flying around like the above video 'graphic and physics demo' of the environments shows of the Alan Wake game. Think about that. Being able to fly around the 'set' of a scripted episode for every scene and explore it. that has NEVER been available before for a scripted series. The only close to it was a videogame sold where you could explore the Enterprise-D. "TNG Interactive Technical Manual" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XESSd28orc but those were only photographs turning left and right. I'm talking about being able to explore the virtual sets used for these locations and scenes in 3D CGI in detail from any angle or height on those sets. reuse the music from TNG, Voyager, and Enterprise episodes. It's good enough... The other thing is if downloadable episodes were done they wouldn't have to adhere to a time constricted TV schedule for 13 or 22 episodes. Each 30-60 minute episode would be available say every 2 or 3 months. So in 1 years time you would have a 4 hour miniseries total that would be 'available on BluRay'/iTunes to watch all together. Maybe customers who purchased the episodes as a download would get 50% off the Blu-Ray or iTunes download later?
CGI Animated Series idea Why stop with just the environments. The physical modeling engines have gotten so good (Havok) that you can do various "takes" of CGI characters and the action will be different each time. That is actually how FX houses are doing CGI stunts. The pick the take they like the best for the CGI model's performance and then render it out. and this video (length 6:31) show the behind-the-scenes of positioning the camera and locations along with the new technologies for action. this video (length 4:47) shows a behind the scenes interview and gameplay with the project lead Haden Blackman on SW: The Force Unleashed (2008 game). this video shows and discusses the Havok physics, Pixelux's Digital Molecular Matter (substance simulation for breaking objects), and NaturalMotion's Euphoria (behavorial A.I.) with a few examples and how much it does that an animator would have to do frame by frame. Imagine if a Trek TV series could do action "takes" and then replay those takes but while moving the 3rd-person camera and having different lens focal lengths and depth of field and then edit them together just like an action scene shot with multiple cameras? Once characters and locations are built this model CAN be used to create a scripted series. A series based on a ship like The Enterprise reuses many of the same locations over and over. The animation is done IN REAL TIME using a Playstation 3 not over months by animators in a foreign country. Not a little wireframe or shaded but no texture CGI animation, but complete HD-quality animation of action scenes. Imagine physics modeling from simulation-based on a starship in which artificial gravity is lost (ala STVI:TUC)... Or some planets that have lighter than earth gravity similar to the moon so the characters have a bounce to their step.
CGI series based on Peter David's 1984/1989 comic book series What about a CGI animated series based on Peter David's comics series circa 1984/1989? Star Trek (1984) #48-55, Annual #3 IMAGE IMAGE LINK to all the others from that year's series. some of the uniforms are circa StarTrek II feature film also related: Star Trek Web Comics on iPhone IMAGE Star Trek Archives #1 is available now in the iTunes App Store for 99 cents.
CGI Animated Series - visual style If videogames game-engine-rendering and medium-grade CGI cutscenes bother picture quality bothers you as a motion picture storytelling medium Pixar's budgets are not possible with Trek. Stories are possible with great science fiction visuals (not just space battles) check out the production values at 1:59 of the plane crash. Resident Evil: Degeneration Red Band (Movie Trailer) You just can't do that with live-action on a weekly basis budget. The pilot for "Lost" did but that was a pilot and outdoors not using a whole airport wing. The weekly episodes for Knight Rider has 200-300 visual effects shots. A Trek series would need more regardless of the actual content & timeline. Going all CGI would allow for this without any live-action shooting except motion capture. A miniseries budget would not allow this either really. Resident Evil: Degeneration MoCap 2 min. video Actually these sets are kind of funny. I wonder if this type of idea would work for a TV series like Trek? No time spent for lighting, makeup, camera repositioning, camera moves, wardrobe. It is all about rehearsal and performance motion capture. No hours in a makeup chair for Klingon, Talaxia, etc. characters. If not Trek I wonder if someone like George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, or James Cameron would use this? (I know about the motion capture used in 'The Polar Express'...) The other nice thing is a future episode in a series could use flashbacks but when the flashbacks are rendered they could be from totally different angles (as someone else's POV). It would still be the original motion capture performances, but possibly in slow motion or something. That is not possible with live action filmmaking to go back and really slow down footage to more than 50% as it looks too stuttery. mentioned here first: http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=2822687&postcount=10
How about 2D characters in 3D environtments? Like the two seasons of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series. That'd be pretty cool.
Appleseed Ex Machina-style would be cool, too... and anime treatments, in general, worked for The Matrix or The Chronicles of Riddick (well, at least among fans).
One idea I had was "Star Trek: Generations" a animated series covering ALL the Trel eras. Original Series, Lost Era, Next Gen, DS9, Voyager, and maybe even the literary series.
Animated Series idea spanning 300 years timeline Shanejayell how would a series work with that idea content-wise? Would each week be a different group of characters or would some characters living in the same time period interact with each other? Since Trek's timeline spans about 300 years (including Zefram Cochrane inventing the warp drive, in 2063 to the 24th century - Voyager & Deep Space Nine) how would your idea work without the audience being confused with so many characters? Please explain in depth your idea or a few ways this would work.