Could a "Pixar-style" Trek movie work?

[eschaton]

Since the TNG movie period, Trek movies have had an issue - that they all have become pigeonholed into a rather narrow format of action-adventure - particularly high-stakes (and arguably sometimes low-brain) action adventure. This stands in contrast to the TOS movies, which were much more diverse in terms of structure, including big, relatively low-action TMP, smaller, more personally-driven TWOK, or lighthearted comedy TVH.

While there would arguably be a market for say another Trek comedy, I have a hard time seeing how you would be able to make it with (as an example) the Kelvinverse cast, as it includes A-list celebrities who will demand compensation which makes anything other than a blockbuster not really cost-competitive.

But there is another tried and true format for blockbusters other than the action-adventure movie with lots of explosions - the family friendly GCI comedy. Even movies with meh reputations like The Croods, Boss Baby, and Big Hero 6 had higher box-office hauls than any Trek movie. That isn't to say that these movies have to be strictly "kid's stuff" - Pixar is noted for having well-written characters and often adult pathos mixed into a family-friendly (and joke-filled) format. But it's clearly another way to make a blockbuster film - and it seems like another slot that Trek could fall into quite easily. Voice acting having lower rates than live acting also means even if they decided to reuse the Kelvinverse cast salary costs could be kept down as well.

Anyway, what say you all? Would a "Star Trek Pixar-style movie" work?

 

[fireproof78]

No.

 

[WarpFactorZ]

No more cartoons. Doesn't work for Trek.

 

[FederationHistorian]

Technically yes. I’m not sure how many would watch though. Sound like you want Prodigy meets Lower Decks.

 

[dupersuper]

Sure it could.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Star Trek is a tabula rasa. Any and every style of storytelling works.

 

[lightspeedbear]

Of course it could work.

No more cartoons. Doesn't work for Trek.

I wish Trek had something as well-crafted as The Bad Batch, with similarly top notch production quality and good writing. Lower Decks is pretty shameful in comparison, regardless of whether it's going for a different style.

 

[The Wormhole]

I wish Trek had something as well-crafted as The Bad Batch, with similarly top notch production quality and good writing. Lower Decks is pretty shameful in comparison, regardless of whether it's going for a different style.

That's not just apples and oranges, that's apples and sofas. Those shows are two completely different shows that are made for different audiences and different intents. It makes literally no sense to compare The Bad Batch and Lower Decks at all. You might as well say something completely off the wall and nonsensical as wishing submarines could fly as well as airplanes.

 

[fireproof78]

as wishing submarines could fly as well as airplanes.

I mean I do.

That's also the title of my James Bond fan fiction: If Submarines Could Fly.

However, I agree about the comparison. Bad Batch is something completely different than Lower Decks and comparing the two is a disservice to both, while failing to grasp the intent of both shows. That's like getting mad that Citizen Kane doesn't have enough jokes because it's a film like Airplane!

 

[Cyfa]

Would a "Star Trek Pixar-style movie" work?

- Absolutely, yes! (in my opinion, of course). The Incredibles is one of my favourite films even though it is ostensibly for children, so to have an animated Star Trek movie akin to it is a no-brainer for me. A story that kids would understand but with adult undertones, and bright, immersive animation (those recently released Prodigy background scenes are wondrous!) - I'd mask-up and venture into a cinema for such a movie.

 

[Relayer1]

Anyway, what say you all? Would a "Star Trek Pixar-style movie" work?

No.

I'm not a big fan of animation generally, the only stuff I've ever really enjoyed is some of the the big budget cinema stuff - I liked the Spiderman movie, quite a few of the early Pixars (they've gone off somewhat), some Disneys, the How To Train Your Dragons and the like.

I know I'm only basing it on made for TV and streaming stuff, but all the Trek animations from TAS to Short Treks and Lower Decks have been absolutely awful, I've disliked them all deeply. And no, I don't like Clone Wars and the other Star Wars shows either.

I don't see Trek as suited to animation, and it's had enough chances. More than enough with another animated show coming.

No. Just no.

 

[Isaac Lawrence]

Since the TNG movie period, Trek movies have had an issue - that they all have become pigeonholed into a rather narrow format of action-adventure - particularly high-stakes (and arguably sometimes low-brain) action adventure. This stands in contrast to the TOS movies, which were much more diverse in terms of structure, including big, relatively low-action TMP, smaller, more personally-driven TWOK, or lighthearted comedy TVH.

While there would arguably be a market for say another Trek comedy, I have a hard time seeing how you would be able to make it with (as an example) the Kelvinverse cast, as it includes A-list celebrities who will demand compensation which makes anything other than a blockbuster not really cost-competitive.

But there is another tried and true format for blockbusters other than the action-adventure movie with lots of explosions - the family friendly GCI comedy. Even movies with meh reputations like The Croods, Boss Baby, and Big Hero 6 had higher box-office hauls than any Trek movie. That isn't to say that these movies have to be strictly "kid's stuff" - Pixar is noted for having well-written characters and often adult pathos mixed into a family-friendly (and joke-filled) format. But it's clearly another way to make a blockbuster film - and it seems like another slot that Trek could fall into quite easily. Voice acting having lower rates than live acting also means even if they decided to reuse the Kelvinverse cast salary costs could be kept down as well.

Anyway, what say you all? Would a "Star Trek Pixar-style movie" work?

Yeah, sure. Absolutely.

Look at something like WALL•E...

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All aboard the Axiom! Experience space traveling in style with a virtual tour of the Axiom from WALL•E.

...and yeah, I can see Star Trek done in that vein. It would probably be great and really fun.

With Star Trek, "Short Treks: The Girl Who Made the Stars" was Pixar-like I thought, and I really enjoyed it. It's up there with "Calypso" as my favorite Short Treks.
(See also: Inside Short Treks: Creating The Girl Who Made the Stars)

It of course had fantasy elements because it was a fairy tale that Poppa Michael Burnham was telling to little Michael Burnham, but naturally you could just as well tell a straight ahead Star Trek story too.

I also think Star Trek as an anime would work well.

An upcoming anime that I'm looking forward to is ORBITAL ERA...

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When that'll ever see the light of day who knows, but just the same...

But doing Star Trek like that? Hell yeah.

Very soon (tomorrow as of this posting) we'll see what they're going to do with Star Trek: Prodigy. And I'm sure it should be fine and fun. It would be better if was set in the 32nd century instead of after Nemesis, in my opinion. But I can't have everything I want, I suppose.