Boldly Go Beyond Limits: Find Out Why Star Trek Animated Shows Are Taking the Universe by Storm!
Discover the captivating world of Star Trek's animated series! Lower Decks pays tribute to beloved TNG & TOS with its humor and heart, while Prodigy embodies everything fans adore about the Trek franchise Don't miss these fantastic shows!
Summary
Star Trek's animated series are now officially considered part of the canon, as confirmed by the crossover episode in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Animation enables Star Trek to break barriers in terms of what can be accomplished in live-action, as it allows for the continuation of stories and exploration of different time periods without being constrained by the aging of actors.
Star Trek: Lower Decks serves as a comedic tribute to The Next Generation and The Original Series, providing a new vantage point by highlighting the adventures of Starfleet officers who are not typically in the spotlight.
With the resolution to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 2 cliffhanger still far off, now is the ideal time to indulge in Star Trek's animated shows. While we await the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 in the coming months, and possibly wait a year or more for Strange New Worlds season 3, taking the opportunity to catch up on animated Trek is a fitting choice. Historically, animated Star Trek shows have been deemed secondary to their live-action counterparts, primarily due to the unfavorable reputation of Star Trek: The Animated Series, which even Gene Roddenberry attempted to have removed from the official Trek canon.
Despite animation currently being a significant part of the modern Star Trek franchise, it hasn't been able to fully shake off its perceived lower status. Hypothetically, if Star Trek: Prodigy were a live-action sequel to Star Trek: Voyager, it is difficult to imagine Paramount+ removing it from their service. The enthusiastic outpouring of affection for Prodigy has provided a glimmer of hope, signifying that Star Trek fans view the animated series as a legitimate part of the official Trek canon, regardless of Roddenberry's previous reservations. Nevertheless, the low viewership figures were sufficient for Paramount+ to cancel Prodigy, indicating that a comprehensive reevaluation of animated Star Trek is long overdue.
Star Trek’s Animated Series Are Canon
The crossover episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has definitively confirmed that the animated series are indeed canon. By featuring Ensigns Brad Boimler and Beckett Mariner alongside the live-action cast, Star Trek has solidified the idea that animation is simply a different medium for telling Star Trek stories. Both live-action and animation exist within the same universe; they just have different visual styles. The cinematic look of Strange New Worlds is a deliberate choice by the creators, just as the use of animation in Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy serves a purpose. Animation has long been used in Star Trek to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in live-action. For instance, the use of animation in Prodigy allows the continuation of the Voyager crew's story in a canonized manner, without the constraints of the aging process affecting the actors. Similarly, Lower Decks effectively bridges the gap between different eras of Star Trek by utilizing the unique qualities of animation.
Star Trek: Lower Decks Is A Funny & Loving Homage To TNG & TOS
Star Trek: Lower Decks is a loving and often irreverent tribute to all periods of the franchise, taking place aboard a starship that is not as prestigious as the usual Starfleet hero ships. The USS Cerritos, a California-class ship, is responsible for Second Contact missions, which involve maintaining diplomatic relations established by iconic Starfleet figures such as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. This unique perspective of the Star Trek universe allows Lower Decks to humorously portray the experiences of Starfleet's less renowned officers and the impossibly high standards they must meet.
Similar to Star Trek: Prodigy, the animation style of Star Trek: Lower Decks allows it to continue where the TNG era left off. Various characters from previous Star Trek installments make guest appearances in Lower Decks, allowing viewers to catch a glimpse of Captain William T. Riker commanding the USS Titan. In comparison to Star Trek: Picard's use of de-aging technology to revisit this era, Lower Decks demonstrates that it can be more effective and nostalgic to depict these characters in animated form with care and emotion.
Star Trek: Prodigy Has Everything Great About The Trek Franchise
Star Trek: Prodigy is a true celebration of the franchise, as it follows a diverse group of aliens who are eager to learn about Starfleet and become a part of it. While the show may initially seem like an introduction to Star Trek for younger audiences, it actually combines the classic elements of episodic exploration with the more arc-driven storytelling of modern Trek. The end result is an exceptional Star Trek series that will appeal to longtime fans as well as the next generation. Although Star Trek: Prodigy is no longer available on Paramount+, you can purchase season 1 on Blu-ray or stream it on Prime Video.
Throughout the 20 episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy season 1, Dal R'El and the crew of the USS Protostar have encountered new and strange worlds, and have successfully confronted their formidable adversary, the Vau N'Akat. Season 1 of Prodigy skillfully puts a fresh spin on familiar Star Trek setups, including time travel, body swapping, and holodeck mishaps. While staying true to the essence of what makes Star Trek great, Prodigy also reimagines the franchise for a whole new audience. Even skeptical fans should not dismiss the animated styles of Prodigy and Star Trek: Lower Decks, as they offer treasure troves of exciting and new Starfleet stories, perfect for filling the void left by the cliffhanger ending of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2.
