Why the hell don't they make a new cartoon?

[punkydrewster]

Seriously. Making a star trek cartoon is so logical for so many reasons. First you don't need to worry about cost when you're making sets/aliens/ships/ect nearly as much as a live action series. Secondly you could feature characters we've seen before without having to worry about the actors getting old.
It doesn't have to be the lame choppy hanna barbara TAS animation either. Marvel is making awesome direct to dvd cartoons right now largely based on the ultimate universe. Using high quality animatin opens up the door to so many possibilities that were limited by cost in the past.
I know they were considering this a couple years ago. A couple sketches from a pitch were released and nothing happened after that. It was a real shame. I think paramount should seriously consider this. They could make a profit off of just the fan base with direct to dvd.

 

[startrekkin58]

I agree. A high quality cartoon would be so cool right now. Or even a full CGI movie. It opens up the door to allow so many more possibilities. I would really like to see Trek come back as a miniseries or made-for-tv-movie on cable, like HBO. Show us some stuff that we can't see on tv or haven't seen in the movies. I think it would do pretty good in the ratings. But seriously, a Trek cartoon would be so cool in this day and age.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I want a Shrek CGI style series.

 

[Venardhi]

If the movie does well, I expect to see a cartoon based around the movie-verse within a year.

 

[Falcor5]

Seriously. Making a star trek cartoon is so logical for so many reasons. First you don't need to worry about cost when you're making sets/aliens/ships/ect nearly as much as a live action series. Secondly you could feature characters we've seen before without having to worry about the actors getting old.
It doesn't have to be the lame choppy hanna barbara TAS animation either. Marvel is making awesome direct to dvd cartoons right now largely based on the ultimate universe. Using high quality animatin opens up the door to so many possibilities that were limited by cost in the past.
I know they were considering this a couple years ago. A couple sketches from a pitch were released and nothing happened after that. It was a real shame. I think paramount should seriously consider this. They could make a profit off of just the fan base with direct to dvd.

Yea it really is strange they have not made a cartoon in so long. Heck one of the reasons Brent Spiner wanted to kill off Data was because he thought he could no longer play an ageless Data but if they made a cartoon Data could have still be in an episode and looked the same as season 3 of TNG.

 

[punkydrewster]

I don't think I'd like CGI or contemporary anime or American animation. I'd like to see something more akin to the animation style of Max Fleicher's Superman or Marvel's recent dvd releases. This could be done so many different ways. Its really bizarre to me that that haven't even considered this.

 

[HRHTheKING]

Animation has been staring Trek in the face for years.


For reasons unknown Paramount have refused to go there, instead deciding to produce crap like INS, NEM, ENT and VOY.

 

[ancient]

Agreed, animation makes a lot of sense. It's relatively cheap, can be just as entertaining as live-action, and would help make the kids more into trek again.

 

[mirandafave]

Agreed, animation makes a lot of sense. It's relatively cheap, can be just as entertaining as live-action, and would help make the kids more into trek again.

Agree and as stated by others after the movie comes out it would be a great way to cash in on any success.

The other advantage animation has over live action for relaunching the brand is that you are not limited by what creatures can appear in particular your regular cast can be aliens that are not so humanoid.

Plus the settings and story limits are less limited. Whether the series would be TOS or post Nemesis doesn't really matter as it could explore any aspect of canon trek - whether concurrently or prequel or after. It could even occassionally guest star canon character with the actors voices.

The animation could even be anthology-like different crews and ships from different eras because you can switch easily with animation if so liked.

 

[blockaderunner]

Animation? Yes. Anthology style? No. You are opening up a whole new set of problems. Making it an anthology only satisfies that vocal Trekkie minority. I sure as hell don't want some fanwank smorgasborg. The thing that I like about the Clone Wars cartoon is that it's set in that era. Would I have liked to have seen a post-Jedi cartoon? Sure. But it ain't my call. I figure that once Star Trek (no bloody XI, dagnabit!) is a success, there will be an animated series in that era using that production design (and possibly some of that cast) and any hope of a Shatner or Nimoy or Stewart or Brooks or Mulgrew or Bakula doing any voicework will be dashed on the rocks of reality. Beacuse Star Trek's success will send a clear message: Trek 2.0 is here to stay and Trek 1.0 has gone the way of the dodo bird.

 

[mirandafave]

No real need to do it anthology style i merely meant that animation is able to so much in any circumstance or timeframe. Like the Clone Wars animation was able to do the clone wars a whole lot cheaper than a film.

As for trek 2.O maybe though nothing to say Picard and co are not rebranded too for that universe.

 

[DarKush]

I love the idea of an animated show, perhaps one based on the new film. Its really something Paramount/CBS should've done a long time ago to bring a new, younger fan base in.

I'm not too keen on an anthology series. I think it should be focused primarily on one ship and crew and follow their myriad adventures.

I'm partial to a 23rd century, TOS show because that brand of Trek seems to have left the most indeliable impact on the public.

However, I would personally love to see Starfleet Academy or a late 24th century series.

 

[Lashmore]

I can;t find the link, but on startrek.com I remember reading an article sometime last year of paramount and another company discussing an animated trek series.

The discussion had gotten far enough that concept art had been drawn up and that it was to be based in the mid 25th century. Beyond that I've heard nothing, so liek so mnay ideas that get to the concept art stage it probably has fallen through...but who knows?

 

[Aquehonga]

I'm with you on this one punkydrewster.

Great idea.

Plus you can do things in cartoons you could never do live-action. You'd bankrupt Paramount doing certain things live-action.

When should a new ST cartoon take place? During Archer's or Picard/Sisko/Janeway's time? Revisit TOS? Some other ship &/or space station &/or era?

The voices? Some suggestions, regardless of cartoon's setting> Frank Welker, Gates McFadden, Lance Hendriksen, Claudia Christian, Leonard Nimoy, Susie Blu, Avery Brooks,Rene Auberjonois, Nichelle Nichols, Marc Alaimo et al etc

The ST actors/actresses suggested above can talk for their Trek characters for sure {if they're in said cartoon} but just as easily talk for no shortage of characters.

Great idea here

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yep...I've been a big fan for a new animated series. As one of the above posters pointed out there was a series proposal that took place in the 25 century or thereabouts and some really cool looking artwork was produced. Nothing really has come out of that though since.

 

[SeerSGB]

I can;t find the link, but on startrek.com I remember reading an article sometime last year of paramount and another company discussing an animated trek series.

The discussion had gotten far enough that concept art had been drawn up and that it was to be based in the mid 25th century. Beyond that I've heard nothing, so liek so mnay ideas that get to the concept art stage it probably has fallen through...but who knows?

The very last thing I heard on that animated series (I think TrekMovie might have the articles archived, st.com is a bloody mess this days, near worthless) is that they had requested 2 test/pilot episodes. Constradictory info on whether it was online or regular broadcast.

 

[hellsgate]

Agreed. I think a post-Nem era "The Animated Series" would be really cool. I'd be more than happy to buy it on DVD / VHS or whatever through The I-Tunes Store, as I plan to get myself one of the newer I-Pod's with video with my $733.00 I'm getting back from income taxes this year.

 

[Captain X]

If they do one, they should have Production IG do it.

 

[hellsgate]

And bring in Kelsey Grammar to voice "Captain Morgan Bateson".

 

[BillJ]

And bring in Kelsey Grammar to voice "Captain Morgan Bateson".