In this year of celebration for the <em>Star Trek</em> franchise, marking its 60th anniversary, the series continues to thrive on Paramount+ with a variety of offerings. From the nostalgic charm of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, to the fresh narratives of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, there are numerous tales from the final frontier captivating fans. Interestingly, a lesser-known Star Trek show is currently experiencing a remarkable surge in popularity, as Star Trek: The Animated Series gains traction across social media and streaming platforms.
According to FlixPatrol, Star Trek: The Animated Series is leading in downloads on Apple TV and trending on Instagram. This resurgence is not merely due to novelty; rather, both fans and creators now acknowledge its significance within the franchise. Many overlook that Star Trek: The Original Series was canceled after three seasons, with syndication playing a crucial role in its transformation into a cultural phenomenon. Furthermore, Star Trek: The Animated Series was pivotal in sustaining the franchise’s legacy, being the first series to fully explore its potential.
‘Star Trek: The Animated Series’ Boldly Went Where ‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ Couldn’t
Star Trek: The Animated Series began development during the final season of Star Trek: The Original Series, although initial concepts differed significantly. Instead of following Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the original idea involved a completely new group of teenagers at Starfleet. Gene Roddenberry’s relationship with Paramount was strained at that time, complicating matters. Ultimately, Filmation and Roddenberry reached an agreement in 1973, resulting in the creation of Star Trek: The Animated Series.
The major appeal of Star Trek: The Animated Series lies in its ability to feature almost the entire cast of Star Trek: The Original Series, including Leonard Nimoy as Spock and Nichelle Nichols as Uhura. The only cast member unable to return was Walter Koenig, who portrayed Chekov due to budget constraints. His character was replaced by Arex, a three-armed navigator voiced by James Doohan, who also voiced Scotty. Additionally, M’ress, a feline communications officer voiced by Majel Barrett, contributed to creating alien characters that felt genuinely alien while overcoming the original series’ financial limitations.
The return of Gene Roddenberry and script editor for Star Trek: TOS, D.C. Fontana, as showrunners established a strong connection between Star Trek: The Animated Series and its predecessor. They even recruited writers from the original series to create sequels to classic episodes, such as “More Tribbles, More Trouble,” which reintroduced the endlessly multiplying Tribbles, and “Yesteryear,” where Spock encounters his younger self, building on the classic episode “The City on the Edge of Forever.” These episodes firmly integrated Star Trek: The Animated Series into the broader Trek canon, and it was officially recognized as part of that canon in 2010.
Star Trek Unveils Its Massive 60th Anniversary Plans
Next year is the diamond anniversary of the long-running science fiction franchise.
‘Star Trek: The Animated Series’ Paved the Way for Other Star Trek Animated Series
The significance of Star Trek: The Animated Series, often overlooked until 2010, is that it laid groundwork for subsequent animated series within the franchise. Notably, it inspired shows like Star Trek: Lower Decks, which adopts a humorous perspective on the universe, and Star Trek: Prodigy, which explored core values through a new lens but deserved better recognition than it received. Recently introduced is Star Trek: Scouts, aimed at engaging younger audiences and demonstrating animation’s potential to revitalize established intellectual properties. Fans of Star Trek should definitely explore Star Trek: The Animated Series, as it solidified its place in pop culture and showcased what could be achieved through different formats.
Star Trek: The Animated Series is available to stream on Paramount+.
