The Animated Series as Canon?

[CorporalCaptain]

Granted, we're hardly authoritative sources ourselves here on the BBS, but in various threads we've tried to agree on definitions that define "canon" as what's appeared on-screen, and then distinguish canon from "continuity," which constitutes the events that exist in-universe in history. Under those definitions, ideally, everything in canon would be in continuity, but it's not always reasonable (or desirable) to make that possible.

If those are your definitions, then TAS is canon, but not everything that happens needs to exist in continuity.

"Spock's Brain" is sometimes cited as an example. It's clearly canon, but did events happen just as they were depicted in that episode? Goodness, I hope not. I could imagine something similar, and what we saw on TV was just an over-the-top interpretation of those events, so to speak.

 

[seigezunt]

It is.

 

[Griffeytrek]

Okay so a couple of preemptive apologies:

1. If this has been discussed ad nauseam, sorry.
2. It's a piece of the franchise I'm unfamiliar with and, in fact, I've only seen one episode ("Yesteryear")...but it was quite good.
3. I've always heard TAS wasn't canon so I sort of never really bothered....treating it more like the literature or comics.

But...

Reviewing the production history, TAS was created by Gene himself and some of the same writing talent that created TOS, including Fontana.

And the acting/voicing was all the same as TOS: Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, Takei, Nichols, Doohan, - all "played" the animated versions of their iconic characters.


I haven't formed a conclusion and I'm trying to decide what to think about whether (or if...) TAS could someday be canonized.

Should TAS be canonized? Or could it? Why or why not?

TIA.

Cannon is a funny thing. It really only matters to we fans out on the internet. It really isn't much of a question that the writers and producers worry about beyond some degree of consistency in their efforts. I don't think they would ever even ask "Is the animated series cannon?" The question is utterly meaningless to them. They will pick and choose which elements of it to use in the future and which to ignore going forward. They care nothing for rabid fan rules lawyering debates about cannon. They try not to contradict themselves and to keep the characters they are writing true and believable.

 

[VulcanMindBlown]

Haven't we had this conversation before that there is non official "canon?"

 

[Greg Cox]

Unless you're working for CBS/Paramount, Pocket Books, or IDW, don't worry about whether or not TAS is canon. Just watch the show and enjoy it.

A very sensible attitude.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

A very sensible attitude.

I'm a remarkably sensible guy, Greg.

 

[One Lucky Red Shirt]

Since its being included in the new 50th anniversary box set im sure cbs/paramount do consider it canon. I know i do. TAS was the last adventures of the tos crew that i warched. Enjoyed every second of it. Even the covering my mouth while i speak routine and the im running but all u see is my black shadow times was fun. At least they tried. The show has hits n missed just like the 60s show did.