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

[Too Much Fun]

I think it's just not possible because the landscape in television has changed too much since the '70s. It seems the main motivation for the original animated series is that fans were hungry for new Star Trek in some form, and there wasn't a budget available for a new live action series, so the cartoon was made as a valentine to fans. It's quite the opposite of the situation now where after two bad movies and two series that weren't very successful overall, people are burned out on Star Trek.

If the last three shows had never happened and people were missing TNG so badly because there hadn't been any Star Trek on TV since 1994, things would be different, but the reality is this is probably the least promising time for Star Trek on TV in the whole history of the franchise. With that said, to just forget about the reality of the situation and talk hypothetically, I too would love a TNG-based animated series.

Patrick Stewart has already proven on "American Dad", "The Simpsons", and many other voiceover performances how beautifully his acting and awesome voice can translate into animation and has become quite adept at voice acting. I'm sure he'd be great as an animated Picard and would lead the other actors nicely. The animation would also probably be much slicker and smoother than the primitive filmation stuff, and just as it was with that show, it would be lovely to witness the adorable spectacle of those familar Star Trek voices coming out of drawings. I can especially imagine how enjoyable it would be to see a cartoon Data, resurrected and once again in season 1 shape, without Brent Spiner even having to go on a diet.

 

[Aquehonga]

If there is to be a new ST cartoon, make sure the folks who make Transformers:Animated are no where near the show & have nothing to do with any future ST cartoons whatsoever.

We don't need a STAR TREK: Animated on the Cartoon Network {or any channel} featuring Kirk, Sisko, Spock, Data, Picard, Janeway, Tuvok, Quark, Archer entc, entc, entc, ent al with chins huge enough to fill the Grand Canyon.

Ever seen Transformers:Animated?

TF:A should be called
“Attack of the Giant Robo-Jay Lenos from Outer Space”.

is up with those EFFING HUGE-ASS CHINS

 

[miraclefan]

Because it would not be considerd part of continuaty?

 

[Aquehonga]

Because it would not be considerd part of continuaty?

Don't you mean canonuity bub?

Most aficionados don't realize TAS isn't part of Trekverse canonuity, which is horse hockey if you ask me. & you haven't!

TAS should be part of ST canon/continuity {canonuity}. Be MADE part of canonuity.

Its boulderdash that its not

A new cartoon, made right, ought be canonuous with the rest of Trek.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Most aficionados don't realize TAS isn't part of Trekverse canonuity, which is horse hockey if you ask me. & you haven't!

It seems to vary...sometimes it is and sometime it isn't. For example, in DS9 they have referenced some aliens, ships, or events from the animated series, but they have also contradicted it with some statements. For example, Dax saying Koloth regretted never facing Kirk in battle, even though their ships exchanged fire in "More Tribbles, More Troubles". I don't know the exact status of it, but I think Gene Rodenberry originally said it officially isn't canon but that was later changed?

 

[Aquehonga]

Most aficionados don't realize TAS isn't part of Trekverse canonuity, which is horse hockey if you ask me. & you haven't!

It seems to vary...sometimes it is and sometime it isn't. For example, in DS9 they have referenced some aliens, ships, or events from the animated series, but they have also contradicted it with some statements. For example, Dax saying Koloth regretted never facing Kirk in battle, even though their ships exchanged fire in "More Tribbles, More Troubles". I don't know the exact status of it, but I think Gene Rodenberry originally said it officially isn't canon but that was later changed?

That figures.

Yet another example of ST's only consistency being inconsistency.

Seems STPTB pick & choose what is, & isn't, canonuity from TAS

 

[hellsgate]

No, not the canon characters, but maybe one of the Fan Productions should get lucky...or "Star Trek: New Frontiers" with Mackenzie Calhoun or Captain Morgan Bateson would be cool. New / old "Phase 2" designs being used. "Localized Fleets", etc.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

make a new cartoon?

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.

Yes Star Trek (2009 feature film) will be a commercial success and then what? no other Star Trek feature has been greenlit, written, or in production so that means nothing until at least 2011 other than Blu-Ray re-releases of past projects.

Too Much Fun wrote:

it's just not possible because the landscape in television has changed too much since the '70s.

Animated programs on the Cartoon Network are no longer aimed at kids under 15.
although ST has a limited older fanbase but like punkydrewster wrote:

They could make a profit off of just the fan base with direct to dvd.

Aquehonga wrote"

A new cartoon, made right, ought be canonuous with the rest of Trek.

I would like to see some designs used from either the TOS, TNG, Star Trek VI, or Enterprise. Actual blueprints for sets to create CGI sets. Actual blueprints used to create models of ships used that are recreated in CGI.
There is a fanbase willing to pay for more visual entertainment (other than books or videogames) be it live-action or animated series or movies.
So even if they use just voices from the actors who formerly acted their character in live-action it would be similar to TAS in 1973-1974. Get TAS DVDs and check out Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley along with most of the rest voicing their animated characters. If Paramount did it not on a tighter budget like TAS was but more like 'SW:The Clone Wars' movie or a CGI animated Trek miniseries.
I'd really like to see something like the 60 minutes of CGI animated cinematics in-game created for "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" that was released September 2008.
see:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36012.html
If Paramount was capable of creating gorgeous CGI like that trailer I'd buy a Blu-Ray of a 4 hour miniseries in HD 1080p.

For a CGI animated show we've been talking about any of the music from ST: TNG, Voyager, Enterprise could be re-used. Really. There are hundreds of hours to choose from.

It doesn't have to be a super-epic taking 18 mohths to create like a 6 month delay of ST (2009 feature film). Good script, great CGI, sound FX, and reused music. Keep it closer to the 'Battlestar Galacticas' miniseries in terms of budgets.
As far as using the original ST:TOS characters I'd also like to explore the time period from STII to STVI.
Hell I'd also like to see George Takei voicing Hikaru Sulu, captain of the USS Excelsior (just like he did in ST:VI) but all on a CGI Excelsior. And they could even make the CGI Takei look like he did in 1990 when they shot ST:VI.

Paramount would be taking risks of not confusing new fans from ST 2.0 but a miniseries on TV with older characters broadcast in February 2010 would be okay I think as they would get their Christmas sales in 2009 without confusion.

 

[Jbarney]

I think another cartoon would be good, if done right. I don't think it would prevent them from doing another series, either. The possibilities of doing a cartoon would be endless.

Would love to see one based during the Dominion War.

Jason

 

[Dukhat]

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 like so many 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. Contradictory info on whether it was online or regular broadcast.

The concept wasn't all that great, and the animation was pretty meh.

Don't get me wrong: I love cartoons. But I think that the majority of the viewing population just wouldn't take an animated ST series seriously, unless it was produced like the Clone Wars. And even then, I'm a die-hard SW fan, and even I don't watch CW.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

make a new cartoon

But I think that the majority of the viewing population just wouldn't take an animated ST series seriously, unless it was produced like the Clone Wars. And even then, I'm a die-hard SW fan, and even I don't watch CW.

This is my argument. CGI animation looks better. It has more depth.

CGI animated in-game cinematics created for "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" are really amazing quality. Sure the faces and jaws don't move 'enough', the hair doesn't flow enough or look like Shrek the Third (ShrekIII)'s tiny hairs but it looks damn good for telling stories that don't require building expensive Star Trek sets of ships and planets.
Also they can move the camera and really make it a cinematic 'film feel'.
They can now use the technology to give it much more of a feeling with steam, gas, smoke, snow, rain that looks very similar to the CGI work done on a feature film.
See the link (from previous post) from 1:25 to 1:35 of that trailer for the visuals that are just not possible with 2D animation.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36012.html

As ST fans we are used to seeing all of the space scenes since TNG as CGI anyway. Will we allow animated characters to tell the stories?
The beauty of using CGI for the space scenes is Paramount can use the models already created for all of the ships since ST:TNG.

LightWave was used to create special effects for the Babylon 5, Star Trek Voyager ...Star Trek VI - XI,...Star Trek: Enterprise ...Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightwave

see my post here for more details about the CGI models created of the Enterprise-D :
http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=2693205&postcount=21

Once the model is made it can be used for any CGI work.
I wonder if the models created for the movies and series were ported over to the new MMORPG videogame Star Trek Online (working title) for 2010?

Along similar lines that atmospheric effects and lighting is evident even in screenshots of another VG:
CGI in-game work that duplicates the visuals of the 1986 'Aliens' film lit and photographed by Director of Photography Adrian Biddle.
2010 videogame
Name: Aliens: Colonial Marines
http://www.avpgalaxy.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=176

actual gameplay engines have gotten so good and things like the Playstation3 are able to render these environments in realtime. Not just the 3D models of an environment but the lighting, shadows, and atmospheric effects (smoke, dust, snow, rain, mist, fog). In realtime!
Not a huge networked renderfarm at some visual effects company but a PS3 system you can buy for $399.99 .
If all the sets of a ship are created by a visual effects company and a 'in-house PS3 game' authored in-house for the sole reason of making camera movements and static backgrounds that separate CGI characters can be inserted into these.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

The beauty of it is once a model is built in a standard CGI software (Lightwave 3D) it can be used for a number of things: magazine cover renderings, feature films, TV series, poster renderings, graphic novel renderings. The question is whether the CGI model designer is willing to license the CGI model.


Lightwave 3D http://www.newtek.com
"$1000 to $2000, Windows, Mac, Linux

Professional broadcast-quality 3D modeling, animation and rendering tool. Extensively used for TV and movie VFX. Expensive but very powerful and reasonably easy to use. Fast renderering but with poor character animation support, although third-party plugins are curing this. Substantial student discounts available, and a free restricted-use 'learning edition' demo is available."

This 100% ‘fan made’ model of the Enterprise (2009 Trek 2.0) is based solely on reference material available (the official image release, the three trailers and even the toy images).
Star Trek Illustrations for the Official Star Trek Magazine by German CG Artist Tobias Richter a veteran CG artist and owner of The Light Works graphics studio in Cologne, Germany,
http://trekmovie.com/2009/02/23/first-look-at-tobias-richters-uss-enterprise-wallpapers/

So as of now you have 2 models of the new Enterprise. The official Paramount Pictures one from the movie and Tobias Richter's one. Both CGI models can be repurposed by licensing them for any of the needs to show the new ship. (i.e. a miniseries based on the movie).
Once a CGI model is licensed camera moves are added, moving starfield/planet backgrounds, and lighting before it is rendered for the resolution needed (250 dpi for a CMYK movie poster or magazine, 72dpi at 1920x1080 pixels for HD video @ 24fps)

 

[I am not Spock]

Because it would not be considerd part of continuaty?

We shouldn't give Roddenberry too much credit. He did create this whole sandbox that we all love, but, he didn't think TFF or TUC were canon, either. And clearly they are.

Paramount have released TAS on DVD, so their 'non-canon' stance might have been relaxed a bit.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

CGI models of NX01 interior

this is what I'm talking about:

the semi-finished NX Enterprise mod for Star Trek Voyager Elite Force videogame.

and these great other screenshots of the NX01:
http://screenshots.filesnetwork.com/4/files2/25351_4.jpg
http://screenshots.filesnetwork.com/4/files2/25351_1.jpg
http://screenshots.filesnetwork.com/4/files2/25351_8.jpg


source

Website: Enterprise NX-01 Mod:

originally from this post:
http://www.trekbbs.com/showpost.php?p=2734178&postcount=15

Wouldn't it be great if this game's models and game engine (Quake III) could output HD quality rendered backgrounds for a CGI animated cartoon series [with any scenes based on the NX-01]? The animators would then animate the characters and add them over these backgrounds.

 

[Jeyl]

A new animated series? Ok. If they want me a part of the show, I have two corresponding conditions.

- Female Captain.
or
- Crew should be equal in the male/female count.

I'll do the darn show for free if both ends are met!

And it's going to be 2D cell-type animation. I've seen what the new Star Wars: Clone Wars can do, but that's not what I think Star Trek needs.

 

[mosh]

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

I'd put money on a Star Trek animated series being made if the Star Trek film is successful.

It will likely be based in the movie-verse, and feature Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Animation will also allow them to use different actors than the films. This has precedents; from Toy Story to the current Clone Wars series.

Though expect the plots to be fairly juvenile though.(Don't expect Spock to go on the Pon Farr, or Kirk to luck out so overtly. But do expect those villainous Klingons to be terrorising a group of pacifistic, mining Tellarites. )

 

[jefferiestubes8]

a new cartoon?

I'd put money on a Star Trek animated series being made if the Star Trek film is successful.

This has precedents; from Toy Story to the current Clone Wars series.

Speaking of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' here is how much it cost for the 98 minute feature film and how it was done.

it's absolutely spectacular—for television animation. Sure, it looks cheap compared to a Pixar production, but that's because it is cheap compared to a Pixar production: Star Wars: The Clone Wars was made in Singapore for around $8 million. But compared to just about any other animated television series (2D or 3D), it looks incredible. Droids, clone troopers, starships, and alien worlds appear to be built on the same CGI models created for the prequel trilogy, only dumbed down to look less photorealistic and more animated.

review SOURCE

The budget for 'Star Wars - Clone Wars Animated Series' that looks very similar to the feature film.
StarWars Clone Wars Animated Series Sneak Peak trailer from 2008.

Lucas said ...he wanted a stylized look rather than a realistic one

Lucasfilm Animation used Autodesk software to animate both the film and the series, and the Maya 3D modeling program to create highly detailed worlds, characters and creatures. The film's animation style was designed to pay homage to the stylized looks of both Japanese anime and manga, and the supermarionation of the British 1960s series Thunderbirds.

SOURCE.

This series is a test run for the live action series I'm working on. I'm trying to take Star Wars, ...and do it for $2 million an hour.
Lucas Animation already has a 22-episode season complete, so Lucas has sunk $22 million into this series so far.

SOURCE

When you compare it with the low budget 1973-74 TAS it looks way better.
No 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' does not look like "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed" videogame (released Sept. 2008) AMAZING cinematics shown in this trailer but The Clone Wars TV series look good enough to be able to tell a story and would be good enough for a Trek animated series in 2010-2011.
And with this style the possibilities for time travel are endless (even though that is a bit of a hot button topic on the fan boards) and cameos from old crews would be much simpler as well as being able to show the various ships interiors without having to actually re-construct them to shoot live action scenes.
Of course a first-time consideration would be the ship computer Majel Barret voiceover narration .
Cameos simpler? The actors from the Trek series can be in any voiceover booth anywhere in the world to record their lines with the director on a in a different city directing them over a real-time voice hookup.

So if you had the option for a series that looked like 'StarWars Clone Wars Animated Series' or no Trek series at all would you welcome it?
Would it be geared towards under age 15 audience or over age 21 audience realistically for marketing?

 

[KirksFlyingFist]

I don't think many people would watch it aside from die hard fans and kids.

That's probably why.

 

[Anthony Sabre]

I don't know. For some reason I just don't take animated series as seriously. The exception being Batman, which had a sophisticated storyline and some nice arcs. I am somewhat of a Star Wars fan and the only time I watched Clone Wars was by accident. I was sitting at my desk and hadn't changed the channel after the show I was watching previously ended.

 

[Jeyl]

^ You should try Samurai Jack.