Animated Series
- Thread starter moonman
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Wrong area of the forum, grasshopper.
^ What they said. I'll ship it over to General Trek for you moonman.
Welcome to Trek BBS... this topic belongs in General Trek, or possibly TOS. Once a moderator notices, this thread will very likely be relocated. Don't take it personally... we talk about everything Trek around here, but everything has its appropriate place.
To address your topic directly, a lot of people consider it canon, that is part of the official Trek timeline and history, but most don't. I myself don't have a problem with it... I've always been good at plugging the various incarnations of Trek into the overall canon without worrying about troubling conundrums. I'm really good at justifying and retconning various things mentally, quickly and without freaking out about it.
To address your topic directly, a lot of people consider it canon, that is part of the official Trek timeline and history, but most don't. I myself don't have a problem with it... I've always been good at plugging the various incarnations of Trek into the overall canon without worrying about troubling conundrums. I'm really good at justifying and retconning various things mentally, quickly and without freaking out about it.
TAS was part of canon until 1989, when Filmation was being wound down. Suddenly, ownership rights to all Filmation series were in flux, David Gerrold and DC Fontana were contesting their credits in TNG, and the ST Office at Paramount (ie. Gene Roddenberry) decided to tighten up on what could and could not be referenced by the licensed tie-ins. TAS was sidelined.
When the "ST Encyclopedia and "Chronology" were being compiled, the authors asked GR to be permitted to add details of Spock's childhood and facts about ShiKahr and Vulcan ("Yesteryear"), and the existence of first captain, Robert April, to be included and he agreed.
After GR's death, his memo of 1989 ceased to be enforced, and TAS can again be mined by the licensed tie-ins. Larry Niven prefers that his kzinti ("The Slaver Weapon") not pass out of his control. Some episodes seem at odds with TOS canon, eg. "The Magicks of Megas-Tu" and ST V both concern a first journey for the Enterprise to the centre of the galaxy.
Spock's KAHS-WAN RITUAL experience (of "Yesteryear") as a seven year old was recapped in "Lt. Commdr. Spock: Psycho-file" in the comic omnibus, "The Enterprise Logs, Volume 3", "USS Enterprise Officer's Manual", the comic annual "The Final Voyage", and novels "Vulcan's Glory", "The Brave and the Bold: The Fourth Artifact" and "Crucible: Spock: The Fire and the Rose".
"Shi-Kar Desert Survival, Vulcan" was listed on a panel in "The Emissary" (TNG). The ritual was also mentioned in the novels, "The Prometheus Design", "Vulcan's Forge", "Vulcan's Soul: Exodus", "Vulcan's Soul: Exiles" and "Vulcan's Soul: Epiphany".
T'Pol's kahs-wan experience was mentioned in "Enterprise: The Catwalk". Tuvok mentioned a similar ritual, the Tal'oth in "Displaced" (VOY) and the novel, "Titan: The Red King".
Spock's difficult childhood was referenced in "TNG: Unification"and the novels "Ex Machina" and "Crucible: McCoy: Provenance of Shadows". Additionally, the time travel incident involving Spock was mentioned in "Crucible: Kirk: The Star to Every Wandering".
The ShiKahr city shown in TAS was replicated in CG! for the recent "remastered" TOS episode, "Amok Time". "Yesteryear"'s orbital Vulcan planetoid was featured in the theatrical and VHS versions of ST: TMP.
Good episode. Probably one of the best, if not the best TAS episode
TAS episodes go in TOS forum, though, so I'll move it now.
TAS episodes go in TOS forum, though, so I'll move it now.
The wide variety of aliens in TAS make it seem like a different universe. There are some really cool aliens in TAS like the Skorr, the Lactrans, The Dramians and the Catians to name a few. I did think Arex was ridiculous though. The rest of the series are dominated by humanoids for obvious practical reasons. The humanoid dominance is even addressed in-universe in TOS The Paradise Syndrome and TNG The Chase.
You can always say that the other races are still there in the other series but we just don't see them. That doesn't fly with me. Really strange aliens were everywhere in TAS; you couldn't avoid bumping into them if you tried. Different universe.
You can always say that the other races are still there in the other series but we just don't see them. That doesn't fly with me. Really strange aliens were everywhere in TAS; you couldn't avoid bumping into them if you tried. Different universe.
It was an officially produced Star Trek TV series, so its canon. Offering up instances of contradiction between TAS and other Trek shows is pretty meaningless since all of the shows contradict one another in a variety of ways. Some more than others, of course...
It's not canon so long as the title holders to Star Trek say it isn't. As far as I know, Gene's striking of TAS from canon has not been rescinded. I recall him making an exception for Yesteryear though but I don't remember where I heard that.
Incidentally, Roddenberry also said that Star Trek V should be considered apocryphal and I believe the writers were instructed to treat it as such.
Incidentally, Roddenberry also said that Star Trek V should be considered apocryphal and I believe the writers were instructed to treat it as such.
I own the DVD release of this series. Favorite episodes include Yesteryear and Time Trap. Personally, I've always considered TAS as part of canon. For episodes that happen to contradict canon, (Magicks of Megas-Two), I consider them either a dream of one of the crewmembers or the writers of said episode didn't know the facts until they're revealed in a future series or movie.
I think the Animated Series is more or less canon, but, ultimately, I don't care. It was fun to watch, and that's all that matters. I didn't really think any of the episodes were bad, which was new to me and Star Trek...
My favorite was either Yesteryear or The Slaver Weapon.
My favorite was either Yesteryear or The Slaver Weapon.
Which is the perfect attitude to have, if you ask me. Too many Trek fans spend too much time worrying about what is and isn't "canon" and seem to forget to enjoy the shows for what they are.
Truth be told, I havent seen TAS in over 20 years, and have little memory of it. I've got to check them out. How do they compare with TOS?
I'd never seen them before buying them after getting the TOS boxsets, but I quite liked them. It took a few episodes for me to get used to the different pace of the show, since it's a little less than half the length of a normal TOS episode. After I got used to the pace, though, I'd say it's roughly on par with Season Two. Not as good as Season One, but better than Season Three.
Also, the Animation wasn't exactly the best, so don't expect to be wow-ed very often by it. Though the Enterprise looks Gorgeous animated.
Any more unusual than Species 8472?
Paula Block, of CBS Consumer Products, checks all tie-in proposals and final manuscripts. She abided by the Star Trek Office memo - re canonicity - from early 1989 (when Richard Arnold prepared it on Gene Roddenberry's behalf), until GR's death in late 1991. Since then she's been allowing through references to TAS in the ST tie-ins.
The canonical writers have always been free to reference TAS (although Larry Niven owned the kzinti). The memo mentioned above was addressed to licensees.
The Okudas mention in the "ST Encyclopedia" and "ST Chronology" that they wanted to acknowledge Spock's kahs-wan and early life, some facts about Vulcan (ie. ShiKhar) from "Yesteryear", plus the existence of Captain Robert April ("The Counter-clock Incident"). So they sought, and received GR's okay.
Parts of it. Specifically, it's assumed he was referring to Sybok being Spock's half-brother. And McCoy mercy-killing his own father.
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