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Would you watch a Trek Cartoon?

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited May 2012 in Ten Forward
I've mentioned in other threads I think the idea of a new live action Trek series is a long shot because of the associated production costs.

I am curious though, there is a medium we could use for a new Trek series where imagination would not be hampered by production costs and that would be animation.

I know Trek has already tried this before, but that was in the 70's and it's target audience was children. I am talking about a target audience of adults.

I am in my early 30's and my generation grew up with animation. We accept cartoon comedy like South Park and Family Guy, why not drama? Anime already has a niche adult audience. There are already allot of mainstream cartoons out there with more adult themes. I am a big fan of Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. I try to get my peers to watch, but most can't get past the fact that it is a cartoon.

I ask, do you think this would be possible and would you watch?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    NO!!!, :mad:

    :D well, if it's that or no trek at all, I wou ld take it.

    But make it good.

    Maybe like the star wars clone wars series.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Meh I might check out its pilot and judge from there but...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Didn't we already have one?

    That aside, yes. There are certain things that are just too expensive to do in a live action setting, things that limit you. For instance, a new animated series could have many more alien species that aren't just people in gobs of makeup.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I would watch, definitely. I'm a fan of animation and loved TAS. With an animated series, either traditional 2D or CGI, writers have more flexibility about the kinds of stories they could tell. It would also be easier to include more alien characters and have better renditions of alien worlds and environments rather than lifeless re-used, but WELL drawn, matte paintings (although those got better later on). It would also make it possible to re-cast veteran Trek actors with minor or perhaps major appearances in a series.

    And for some reason, I hope Greg Weisman would be involved. He did create Gargoyles, which had a lot of actors from Trek voicing various characters, and produced Spectacular Spider-Man and currently Young Justice, which are both great series'.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I could see a Samurai Jack style cartoon. Hmmmm.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    ABSOLUTELY! It opens all manner of possibilities at a significantly reduced cost. I've always loved animation, most noteably with Don Bluth. There are so many fine examples of good animated drama and the TAS is no exception. I would even be open to an Anime style series. Such a style is well known for the extended continuity we had in DS9 and ENT.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Gingie wrote:
    ABSOLUTELY! It opens all manner of possibilities at a significantly reduced cost. I've always loved animation, most noteably with Don Bluth. There are so many fine examples of good animated drama and the TAS is no exception. I would even be open to an Anime style series. Such a style is well known for the extended continuity we had in DS9 and ENT.

    I totally agree. It opens up so many options.

    For one thing, we wouldn't have to suffer through the recycled battle footage like we did in DS9 :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I would enjoy a well done Star Trek animated or otherwise.

    Star Trek: Final Frontier had some real promise. I am disapoin6ted it never got made.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I remember reading something about Johnathan Frakes pitching an animated series after Nemesis but CBS said no because they were worried about "franchise" fatigue.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    walkincrow wrote:
    I totally agree. It opens up so many options.

    For one thing, we wouldn't have to suffer through the recycled battle footage like we did in DS9 :D

    Oh, I think cartoons are far more guilty of that.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Oh hell yeah I'd watch it. You can do some great things with cartoons.

    I imagine it would be something in the same style as Gerry Anderson's new Captain Scarlet series.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Sounds interesting, but TAS worries me.... That would make me nervous.. All the other shows, you could connect because it seemed REAL. Animated is harder to relate to...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    walkincrow wrote:
    I've mentioned in other threads I think the idea of a new live action Trek series is a long shot because of the associated production costs.

    I am curious though, there is a medium we could use for a new Trek series where imagination would not be hampered by production costs and that would be animation.

    I know Trek has already tried this before, but that was in the 70's and it's target audience was children. I am talking about a target audience of adults.

    I am in my early 30's and my generation grew up with animation. We accept cartoon comedy like South Park and Family Guy, why not drama? Anime already has a niche adult audience. There are already allot of mainstream cartoons out there with more adult themes. I am a big fan of Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. I try to get my peers to watch, but most can't get past the fact that it is a cartoon.

    I ask, do you think this would be possible and would you watch?
    some years ago now,i watched a startrek cartoon. 2 familiar voices in it were both bill shatner and leonard nimoy.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Star Trek TAS, was the first Star Trek series to win an Emmy.

    The animation looks a little rough by today's standards, and the stories were truncated, but the stories shortened as they were, were still good.

    The biggest irritation is the very limited Filmation sound catalogue. They used the same limited incedental music and sound effects for all their cartoons.

    As I said before I liked the direction Zero productions was headed, and it is a shame their project came to fruition.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Gingie wrote:
    I remember reading something about Johnathan Frakes pitching an animated series after Nemesis but CBS said no because they were worried about "franchise" fatigue.

    Hah, how amusing.

    But to answer the OP's question, yes, i would watch a star trek cartoon, in fact i would make one.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    cartoon NO anime maybe.

    im sure theres alot of good japanise anime compaines that could do it. if its western cartoons not a chance in hell would rather lick a dogs bum.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Gingie wrote:
    I remember reading something about Johnathan Frakes pitching an animated series after Nemesis but CBS said no because they were worried about "franchise" fatigue.

    Maybe the term "great minds think alike", also applies to people with beards? :p
    MadDog0000 wrote:
    cartoon NO anime maybe..

    Maybe I should of said, "Animated Series".
    MadDog0000 wrote:
    if its western cartoons not a chance in hell would rather lick a dogs bum.

    :rolleyes:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Depends on if it is kiddie or not.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Depends on if it is kiddie or not.

    If they ever ran with the animation idea and given the previous nature of the films and movies, the target audience would still be young adult at worse.

    In my "Perfect World", the series would be very adult orientated. I just see animation as another means to tell a story.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    walkincrow wrote:
    If they ever ran with the animation idea and given the previous nature of the films and movies, the target audience would still be young adult at worse.

    In my "Perfect World", the series would be very adult orientated. I just see animation as another means to tell a story.

    True at least
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I feel that animation -- and here I am thinking we're all talking cartoon or, perhaps, anime, not CG/purely digital -- would lack the oomph of a live action show, of seeing actors in excellent costumes and makeup. The story could indeed be compelling, whatever it would be, but I can't help but think I'd feel cheated if it was animated. This may just be bias from having most all Trek live action so far, but the animation certainly didn't do a whole lot -- in my opinion of course -- for Star Wars, another popular science fiction franchise. And I doubt LotR would have done as well animated (great CG, though).
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I'd be fine with it if the animation style was like Macross Plus, or a CGI show like Transformers Prime.

    :cool:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    walkincrow wrote:
    I've mentioned in other threads I think the idea of a new live action Trek series is a long shot because of the associated production costs.

    I am curious though, there is a medium we could use for a new Trek series where imagination would not be hampered by production costs and that would be animation.

    I know Trek has already tried this before, but that was in the 70's and it's target audience was children. I am talking about a target audience of adults.

    I am in my early 30's and my generation grew up with animation. We accept cartoon comedy like South Park and Family Guy, why not drama? Anime already has a niche adult audience. There are already allot of mainstream cartoons out there with more adult themes. I am a big fan of Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. I try to get my peers to watch, but most can't get past the fact that it is a cartoon.

    I ask, do you think this would be possible and would you watch?

    I loved TAS on Saturday mornings on NBC back in 1973 -- why not? ;):D:eek:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Armsman wrote: »
    I loved TAS on Saturday mornings on NBC back in 1973 -- why not? ;):D:eek:

    ^This.

    There are some things that animation can do and live action cannot.
    There are also some animated series that far outstrip their live action movie counterparts.

    Starship Troopers: Roughnecks for example, was surprisingly good because it showed one thing - Starship Troopers in a variety of challenging tactical scenarios. That's exactly what I wanted to see. Fast paced post modern infantry combat.

    Whereas the movie missed the mark completely. If anything, because so much CGI is needed for a postmodern fast paced combat scene, why not make it completely animated? Don't have to deal with actors, expensive uncomfortable suits (poor Borg Queen), etc.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I feel that animation -- and here I am thinking we're all talking cartoon or, perhaps, anime, not CG/purely digital -- would lack the oomph of a live action show, of seeing actors in excellent costumes and makeup. The story could indeed be compelling, whatever it would be, but I can't help but think I'd feel cheated if it was animated. This may just be bias from having most all Trek live action so far, but the animation certainly didn't do a whole lot -- in my opinion of course -- for Star Wars, another popular science fiction franchise. And I doubt LotR would have done as well animated (great CG, though).


    I was talking cgi, of this standard:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv9n3s5eARo


    You can get some exciting scenes done with that, and while the more traditional cartoon appearance can give you flashier effects, and prefer it for some things (like Thundercats), I think Star Trek would benefit more from being CGI.

    And why not? There have been some great cg shows. Starship Troopers. Transformers. Reboot.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Oh

    Well then I'd be more on-board with that.


    Again, it's likely just a bias that, in the end, wouldn't matter as much if the story and characters were done well, but CGI like that would easily be able to mimick/fit/extend the existing Trek style. Cool.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    grylak wrote:
    I was talking cgi, of this standard:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv9n3s5eARo


    You can get some exciting scenes done with that, and while the more traditional cartoon appearance can give you flashier effects, and prefer it for some things (like Thundercats), I think Star Trek would benefit more from being CGI.

    And why not? There have been some great cg shows. Starship Troopers. Transformers. Reboot.
    Wow, I really don't like that CGI style at all. Looks like late PS1/early PS2 level cutscenes, which were fine back in the the day, but now? I think TF Prime style animation (motion and color, as opposed to character design) is much more aesthetically easy on the eyes.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Armsman wrote: »
    I loved TAS on Saturday mornings on NBC back in 1973 -- why not? ;):D:eek:

    Only Voyager and Enterprise are as maligned as TAS, it would be terribly unfair to all three to not at least acknowledge each had their moments, and TAS took home an Emmy.

    As far as the styles, I think limited animation as often seen on TV can work. It does not have to be anime, which is a very limited style of animation, but it does have to have the same artistic integrity. If they used the same artistic approach found in the original Johnny Quest it would have some very strong potential. Johnny Quest and anime both have very limited movement, but great detail in the artwork. I prefer the more realistic look of Johnny Quest, than the somewhat stylized appearance of anime.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    Wow, I really don't like that CGI style at all. Looks like late PS1/early PS2 level cutscenes, which were fine back in the the day, but now? I think TF Prime style animation (motion and color, as opposed to character design) is much more aesthetically easy on the eyes.


    Honestly, I don't see a difference between that and Prime (maybe Prime would have been the better example, since that is a few years old now and Prime is brand spanking new). But either way, CGI better than traditional animation cartoon for Star Trek, I feel.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited May 2012
    I think it would matter less about the choice between traditional and CGI animation, than about the artistic style. It is more of a question about realistic versus stylized, and if stylized in what way.

    I mentioned the animation style in Johnny Quest earlier (the original series not the later TRIBBLE), which I believe would be a great style to go with.

    Stylizations may work, some have mentioned anime, and then there are various American/anime hybrids such as Batman the animated series, the early seasons. If not taken too far these may work. I would not want to see a Star Trek done in the same manner as Batman Brave and the Bold.

    This applies and holds true for both traditional animation and for CGI.

    Something to consider is that if you go realistic with the CGI, I think it may be better to use live actors and virtual sets rather than complete CGI.
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