Why no animated Trek since TAS?

[Gotham Central]

Why hasn't Paramount tried to do an animated Trek series since the 70s. Animation has come a long way since the rather bland filmation days. More importantly, Star Wars has shown that it can be done successfully.

Imagine an animated series following the Titan crew or doing some of the over the top stories in New Frontier.

 

[T'Girl]

There are fan efforts.

 

[T'Girl]

double post





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[Galileo7]

Maybe Paramount thinks that an animated series like SW Clone Wars would not work because children are not fans of Star Trek as they are of Star Wars.

 

[heavylids]

If a Trek animated series was anything like the recent Star Wars animated shows, it would be really fucking awful.

 

[Subcommander R.]

Probably what Galileo7 said. Everyone seems to think animation is exclusively for kids.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Paramount was too busy making live action Trek shows and movies at the time.

Presently though? CBS seems content with the way things are. They don't feel the need currently to invest in a new Star Trek series period right now, IMO...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Paramount has the rights to the movies. CBS has the rights to TV shows based on Star Trek, which would include animated TV shows.

I think a Clone Wars style series would work great. Clone Wars isn't just aimed at kids. It's got enough complexity and depth to appeal to adults as well, and it's actually quite a bit better written than the prequel movies. It seems to be the story the prequels should have told, but for whatever reason, failed to.

But the problem is, where would an animated Star Trek series go? It would have to go on CBS, Showtime or CW (for business reasons). Somebody mentioned recently that CW has an animation block, so that might be a way to get it done.

 

[ToddKent]

Forget about a series. I think they should copy the model that Marvel & DC use for direct-to-DVD animated movies. I think Star Trek would be perfect for that.

They could utilize various cast members for voices and do different eras/ships/crews. They could do an Excelsior story with Sulu, a Titan story with Riker, Troi, etc. or just go back to basics and do a TNG movie with the original cast. As they say, the sky is the limit...

 

[Destructor]

I have to say, i think a Titan series would be totally boss. We've seen from Batman and Gargoyles that kids show can be weighty and intelligent- I see no reason Trek could not fit this format wonderfully.

 

[sonak]

Forget about a series. I think they should copy the model that Marvel & DC use for direct-to-DVD animated movies. I think Star Trek would be perfect for that.

They could utilize various cast members for voices and do different eras/ships/crews. They could do an Excelsior story with Sulu, a Titan story with Riker, Troi, etc. or just go back to basics and do a TNG movie with the original cast. As they say, the sky is the limit...

that's a really good idea.

 

[Trek Survivor]

I think now is a perfect time to launch a Trek animated series. Ever since "The Simpsons", and - in the genre - things like "Batman: The Animated Series" in the early 1990s - people are accepting that you can pitch a decent animated series at adults and kids. The recent "Star Wars" series is proof of that, as are movies like "Toy Story" etc.

Pitch it right, and you can have...ahem...the best of both worlds.

I'd love a 24th century animated Trek, but would settle for nuTrek era. A weekly series, with all the wonderful whoring and merchandise opportunities available, would really bring Trek back to prominence in a way a new live-action series wouldn't.

Seriously, think of Trek's most basic story - exploring space, having adventures, "boldly going etc". That most simple premise should appeal to kids! It's limitless! It's THAT kind of storytelling a good new Trek animated series should concentrate on, and the kids'll love it.

 

[F. King Daniel]

There was very nearly an official web series called Star Trek: Final Frontier. It was set in 2528, in a post-apocalyptic Federation after a devastating second Romulan war and starred Captain Alexander Chase of the ultra-fugly Hammerhead Enterprise.

Concept art, storyboards and the pilot script are available at zeroroom.squarespace.com.

The project was dropped in 2007, when JJ's reboot was announced.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ Yikes. The character designs are nice and I kind of like the uniforms. But the basic story concept and the ship designs just don't do it for me.

I would love to see a new animated series. But instead of something about the Titan or Sulu, I would love to see a show based around the Kelvin and Robau. It is a time period we have never really seen and you could do so much with the characters. I also think a CG show (like Clone Wars) would work really well for the concept. My only stipulation is that they move away from designing the show with the anime or marionette looks that is so popular in animation right now. A new series would need to have its own unique look and feel.

 

[Trek Survivor]

^ Yikes. The character designs are nice and I kind of like the uniforms. But the basic story concept and the ship designs just don't do it for me.

I would love to see a new animated series. But instead of something about the Titan or Sulu, I would love to see a show based around the Kelvin and Robau. It is a time period we have never really seen and you could do so much with the characters. I also think a CG show (like Clone Wars) would work really well for the concept. My only stipulation is that they move away from designing the show with the anime or marionette looks that is so popular in animation right now. A new series would need to have its own unique look and feel.

The problem is, we know Robau will die - and not only of natural causes, or presumed dead because of a lengthy time period... we know he gets stabbed by a punk with no heroic pay-off. I don't think it would work.

I think my vote would still go for Titan, as we all know Frakes & Sirtis will be chomping at the bit for any Trek pay cheque.

 

[AstroSmurf]

^ You could also say that about almost every Jedi we see in "Clone Wars".

 

[The Wormhole]

The problem is, we know Robau will die - and not only of natural causes, or presumed dead because of a lengthy time period... we know he gets stabbed by a punk with no heroic pay-off. I don't think it would work.

We don't know what happened to him in the Prime Universe.

 

[Rojixus]

There was very nearly an official web series called Star Trek: Final Frontier. It was set in 2528, in a post-apocalyptic Federation after a devastating second Romulan war and starred Captain Alexander Chase of the ultra-fugly Hammerhead Enterprise.

Concept art, storyboards and the pilot script are available at zeroroom.squarespace.com.

The project was dropped in 2007, when JJ's reboot was announced.

I believe we dodged a bullet with that one. Besides, that series sounds an awful lot like Andromeda, and we all know how well that turned out...

 

[Xerxes1979]

I believe we dodged a bullet with that one. Besides, that series sounds an awful lot like Andromeda, and we all know how well that turned out...

Andromeda was a great show in the beginning. It is a terrible shame that it was forced into utter crap.


/

 

[JRoss]

Imitate Clone Wars? Yikes. Have you seen the poor quality animation there?