Star Trek Unleashes Epic New Animated Series with Riker, Quark & Saru: Prepare to Be Astounded!

Summary

CBS Studios intends to produce five animated promotional spots resembling the original series, featuring the voices of their original actors for characters such as Will Riker, Quark, and Saru.

The Official 50th Star Trek Animated Celebration panel at San Diego Comic-Con showcased an exclusive tribute to commemorate the anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series. This special presentation included new animated segments featuring beloved characters from the show. Premiering in 1973, Star Trek: The Animated Series served as a continuation of the cherished Star Trek: The Original Series, which ended its run in 1969. Despite its brief two-season lifespan, The Animated Series received critical acclaim and marked the franchise's initial exploration into animation, a legacy that continues with current shows like Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy.

At the San Diego Comic-Con 2023 panel, it was announced that CBS Studios will be producing five animated promotional spots in the style of Star Trek: The Animated Series as a tribute to its 50th anniversary. These spots will feature popular Star Trek characters such as Will Riker, Quark, and Saru, with their respective actors providing their voices. CBS aims to showcase a diverse range of characters from the Star Trek universe in these shorts.

For this project, CBS is teaming up with Casper Kelly, who is already familiar with the Star Trek universe due to his work on Star Trek: Short Treks. Kelly is renowned for his contributions to Adult Swim, notably his viral short film, Too Many Cooks. In addition to his involvement in the Star Trek animated celebration, Kelly will also be working on Star Trek comic books with IDW Publishing in 2023.

Why Star Trek: The Animated Series Is Still Essential

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While the canon status of Star Trek: The Animated Series is questionable, its importance to the franchise cannot be underestimated. The series received critical acclaim, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment – Children's Series, and played a vital role in maintaining interest in Star Trek: TOS through syndication. Moreover, it paved the way for animated adaptations of the franchise and demonstrated the feasibility of targeting younger audiences, an aspect that has become crucial in contemporary Star Trek.

Although Star Trek: The Animated Series may not have been the most popular project at the time, its influence is still recognized today through its spiritual successors, notably Star Trek: Lower Decks. Lower Decks has gained significant popularity among viewers, and the marketing approach started by The Animated Series in catering to younger audiences has been further explored, as seen with Star Trek: Prodigy before its cancellation. It seems that, according to the news from San Diego Comic-Con 2023, the Star Trek franchise is finally giving The Animated Series the recognition it deserves.

Source: CBS, Twitter