Star Trek as a Animated Series - has its time come again?

[Tidus79001]

I think that the time has come for a new Star Trek animated series. I DO NOT mean taking the old Star Trek: The Animated Series stories/episodes, and re-doing the art. I mean a totally new Star Trek animated with original stories/episodes. I think it could be done the vein of Star Wars: The Clone War (look how awesome that series has been). It is possible to do an animated Star Trek television show correctly & do the name Star Trek just by it at the same time.

We are most likely not going to see another Star Trek series with live action anytime soon. For that reason I think that a new Star Trek animated series would be compelling for CBS to make since the production costs would be significantly lower than the cost of series with live actors/actresses, and real sets.

Please take the time to participate in this discussion & vote in poll that is included here on this thread.

 

[Killandra]

There's been some gossip since ST 2009 about a new animated series. I'd be game for it as long as it's done right- no crappy 3D animation or slap together 2D such as half the junk on Cartoon Network now- take your time and do it right or don't do it at all. Trek better not come out looking like Squidbillies!

I actually liked the original animated series, but perhaps it's out of nostalgia from watching the reruns of it as a kid, but considering the time it was released, I thought it was really well done.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I think there's a good chance we'll see one if the next movie's a success. But I think it'll be Saturday morning kids fluff, like Iron Man or Stargate Infinity, and not something respectable.

I'd like to be proven wrong.

 

[Captain Tracy]

Sadly, your prediction is the most likely outcome.

Which is doubly sad, as TREK stories told through animation - being produced with all seriousness due a multi-million dollar movie, and no 'cartoonish' presentations or elements - would likely be the best vehicle, all around the block, for removing the limitations brought on by the realities imposed by film or TV.

 

[Tidus79001]

There's been some gossip since ST 2009 about a new animated series. I'd be game for it as long as it's done right- no crappy 3D animation or slap together 2D such as half the junk on Cartoon Network now- take your time and do it right or don't do it at all. Trek better not come out looking like Squidbillies!

I actually liked the original animated series, but perhaps it's out of nostalgia from watching the reruns of it as a kid, but considering the time it was released, I thought it was really well done.

I found the animation on Star Wars: The Clone Wars to be really quite good (there was a rash of bad 3D in the later 90's - early/mid 2000's). I know what you mean by crappy 3D animation, or intentionally bad 2D. I am going for animated as opposed to drawn since a drawn animated Star Trek series has already been done. 3D lends you to being able to special effects that aren't possible with 2D drawn animation. 3D can really provide real compelling sci-fi special effects & depth that are essential to having a successful Star Trek animated series

 

[bbailey861]

I support this motion. I think now is an ideal time to launch an animated series. In fact, why not do a TNG or DS9 based series - let's get back the original voices. Of course, I have no idea what the cost to an established actor would be to come back and reprise their character on a voice basis only, but you would think that with enough scripts lined up that a season's worth of shows could be recorded in a few weeks.

 

[Bixby]

Not every live-action actor can transition into animated projects. If you watched Disney's Gargoyles television series from about 10 years ago, Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis did very well in their regular roles. Michael Dorn is the undisputed champ of them all as his very deep voice became high in demand for many, many high profile series (Superman TAS and I.M. Weasel to name just two).

Brent Spiner had a fine showing in his few appearances in Gargoyles. Patrick Stewart seems to have only played Picard on Family Guy, so it's hard to guess.
The TOS cast was almost hopelessly wooden in the 1970's show. Nimoy got a second chance in the animated TRANSFORMERS movie and didn't fare much better. However Takei was quite appealing in Disney's Mulan, so who knows?

 

[Bixby]

I found the animation on Star Wars: The Clone Wars to be really quite good (there was a rash of bad 3D in the later 90's - early/mid 2000's). I know what you mean by crappy 3D animation, or intentionally bad 2D. I am going for animated as opposed to drawn since a drawn animated Star Trek series has already been done. 3D lends you to being able to special effects that aren't possible with 2D drawn animation. 3D can really provide real compelling sci-fi special effects & depth that are essential to having a successful Star Trek animated series

Again it all comes down to money. I refuse to watch the Clone Wars on general principle, though I have a friend over in Asia supervising the animation for a bunch of episodes. Another example of high quality and excellently-animated CGI is GREEN LANTERN TAS, still viewable on Youtube I think.
Both these series are as well done as they are because Warners and Lucasfilm are putting up some serious bucks they expect will pay off handsomely for years thereafter in repeat viewings, DVD sales and toy sales...
If lesser CG or flash-animated shows look cheap, that's because they are! Most producers and independant studios that aren't multinational corporations try everything they can to cut corners and save money on their shows.
Still, one of these shows can run a budget of about 10 million dollars for 26 episodes, even without high-profile actors.
Personally, I don't think an animated Star Trek needs to go the CGI route, as its never been about flashy effects but more the characters. If you look at the amazing original Clone Wars hand-drawn series that was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, I think that kind of approach would fit well on a new Trek series...

 

[CaptainMatt]

Well I think it could work if done right. But the animation should be modern day with the great leaps in technology we have made. I just am unsure the recent Clone Wars should be mimicked as a guideline, as I can't stand that style of anime for some reason. But I have nothing against a new animated Trek series.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I think it could be done the vein of Star Wars: The Clone War (look how awesome that series has been).

I've been beating that particular drum for a while now, in FoT.

The advantage of aping TCW is that it's a proven approach. It gets ratings and makes money right now, in the real world.

There are other ways to get Star Trek back on TV (live action), in theory, but they've all got issues. CBS owns the rights, so it would most likely go on CBS, CW or Showtime. Of the three, CBS is incredibly unlikely, the CW is horrible to contemplate and Showtime might not want anything associated with free TV. Space opera probably won't work on broadcast at all any more. SyFy would screw it up. TNT, FX or AMC would be great, but would CBS go to all the trouble of making a risky series type (space opera is dead on TV) not even for its own channels? CBS is the most successful broadcast network, and they have far less of a motive to take a risk, than, say, NBC.

In fact, why not do a TNG or DS9 based series - let's get back the original voices. Of course, I have no idea what the cost to an established actor would be to come back and reprise their character on a voice basis only, but you would think that with enough scripts lined up that a season's worth of shows could be recorded in a few weeks.

Or just hire talented voice actors, who can deliver any voice you want. But I don't see TNG or DS9 being the obvious route for an animated series.

More likely, they would base it on Abrams' TOS characters, because they can get the advantage of the PR without needing to hire any of the actors who don't want to do the voices for those roles. Quinto might do it, Pine probably not, etc. Where they can't get the actor, they use a voice actor, just like with TCW.

Both these series are as well done as they are because Warners and Lucasfilm are putting up some serious bucks they expect will pay off handsomely for years thereafter in repeat viewings, DVD sales and toy sales...

Star Trek isn't the merchandising powerhouse that Star Wars has become, but they could also count on repeat viewings and DVD sales. And maybe CBS needs to start taking toy sales more seriously?

 

[CaptainMatt]

True, there are several toy-selling franchises that sell best at places like the mall near where I live. They got everything just about-Dr Who, Star Wars, horror and comedy icons.

 

[Keith1701]

Maybe

 

[Ssosmcin]

The TOS cast was almost hopelessly wooden in the 1970's show. Nimoy got a second chance in the animated TRANSFORMERS movie and didn't fare much better. However Takei was quite appealing in Disney's Mulan, so who knows?

Well, to be fair, the original cast wasn't sitting in the studio together and acting. The Filmation guys would catch Shatner and Nimoy wherever they happened to be, on whatever job, and got them to talk into tape recorders. Unless they totally fluffed lines, I'm sure they did one take and called it a day. There was no give and take and no rhythm for banter. SO at times, they came off stiff and wouldn't even pronounce the same words the same because they were nowhere near each other.

De Kelley was fine and so was Doohan (he was a master at voice work). The three real failures were Takei, Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett. Oh they were fine in their traditional roles, but because there was rarely money for additional actors, they were called upon to voice other characters and aliens. All three had distinctive voices and NO talent in disguising them. So it was always a botch. Doohan, again, did great in whatever role he did.

Thanks to the writing, and considering the circumstances and the limitations of the animation (standard for TV in those days), I think TAS turned out pretty damned well.

 

[Therin of Andor]

All three had distinctive voices and NO talent in disguising them. So it was always a botch.

Takei improved. You should listen to his "Strangers From the Sky" ST audio adaptation (the one for which he was nominated for an audio award, IIRC). His Southern-accented Melody Sawyer is amazing!

And I though Majel as M'Ress was pretty cool. M'Ress certainly has fans.

 

[The Overlord]

I think there's a good chance we'll see one if the next movie's a success. But I think it'll be Saturday morning kids fluff, like Iron Man or Stargate Infinity, and not something respectable.

I'd like to be proven wrong.

There some good cartoons that have released over the last couple of decades, Avatar, Batman the Animated series, Gargoyles, etc. If its written like those shows, for kids, but not treating them like idiots, it may very well work.

 

[CaptainMatt]

Yeh! Do a Star Trek anime in the style of Batman! Forget TVW I can't stand the look of the current run anyway.

 

[Maurice]

Voice acting is tricky, and it's easy for it to come out wrong, even for pros. In 2000 I had the fun job of directing a bunch of Hanna Barbera's voice actors (including Jim Cummings and Billy West!) in recording dialog for a videogame based on "The Wacky Races", and it was surprising how often the line reads would come out wrong until you give the actors something to work with other than the lines on the page. I remember most vividly Janet Waldo trying to recreate her famous Penelope Pitstop character and it just not working, even on a line as simple as "Bye, y'all!" But what changed was when I told her, "Janet, you're not saying 'bye', you're saying 'eat my dust, suckers!'" and the next time she did the line she waved her arm dismissively and BANG, there was the voice. I quickly realized it didn't work until you gave the actors something to actually act with, not just read lines, so I'd prompt them before many of the lines with some kind of context. Without good direction even the most talented voice actors are delivering into a vacuum and you can hear it.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I've worked for companies that use voice actors (computer games, audio tours) and sometimes gave employees in various other departments a chance to contribute voices for bit parts. That really woke me up to the fact that voice acting isn't just something you dabble in, it really does take professional skill to do properly. We all sounded so awful.

TCW's voice actors do a very nice job on that show. The one achilles heel is that in their zeal to incorporate a wide range of accents, they can end up sounding like a magically delicious leprechaun or Count Dracula. Makes me wonder whether it's possible for an actor to come up with an accent that simply isn't based on any real-world nation's accent. I don't think I've ever heard one that didn't remind me of a real accent.

 

[Anji]

I'd welcome a new animated series. Could we get the remaining TOS actors interested? Hmmmm???? It would make this girl really, REALLY happy!

 

[arch101]

For many years on this board I've posted about how a cheaper way to get classic Trek back on TV would be an animated series set post TMP (so it wouldn't look TOO dated). I always figured they could use the original actors to do voices but that's obviously asking a lot these days as those folks are getting elderly or departing. I thought the TMP era had lots of storytelling potential.