Imagine Star Trek: Strange New Worlds completely reimagined as a classic cartoon – a vibrant throwback to the '70s animated series! Sounds amazing, right? But here's the kicker: it's an idea that, according to those in the know, may never actually see the light of day.
Paramount+'s "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" has quickly become a fan favorite, largely because it dares to be different. Unlike many modern streaming shows that unfold like long movies, "Strange New Worlds" embraces the classic episodic format. Each week brings a self-contained adventure, allowing the showrunners to playfully experiment with a dazzling array of genres. One week, you might be gripped by a deeply moving drama exploring the psychological scars of war, the next, you're chuckling along with a lighthearted, Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery. Seriously, "Strange New Worlds" packs in more comedy and sheer novelty than any other Star Trek series in recent memory, and this includes a musical episode and that brilliant half-animated crossover with "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
And the experimentation doesn't stop there! We already know that season four promises a Muppet-filled episode, featuring the crew of the Enterprise as adorable, felt-covered versions of themselves. It’s clear this show isn't afraid to embrace the whimsical. But here's where it gets controversial... some fans believe that Season 3 might have pushed the comedy a little too far. What do you think?
Despite all this genre-bending boldness, one particularly zany idea seems destined to remain just that: an idea. In a recent interview with SFX Magazine, co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman hinted that almost anything is possible within the experimental framework of "Strange New Worlds." He even revealed that, following the success of the "Lower Decks" crossover with its animated sequences, he pitched a fully animated episode. Not just any animation, mind you, but an episode crafted in the distinctive style of "Star Trek: The Animated Series" from the 1970s. While Goldsman didn't elaborate on the specifics, the concept is undeniably fun and incredibly ambitious.
For those who might not be familiar, "Star Trek: The Animated Series" (TAS) originally aired for two seasons in 1973 and 1974. It reunited most of the original "Star Trek" cast to continue the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise. (Walter Koenig, sadly, was missing as Chekov due to budget constraints – a common issue in the '70s!). The animated format allowed for more imaginative aliens and stories than the live-action show could realistically portray. Produced by Filmation (the studio that later brought us "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe"), "The Animated Series" faded into relative obscurity for many years, but is now readily available on Paramount+.
The creative minds behind the newer "Star Trek" shows are clearly fans of "The Animated Series," as evidenced by the "Very Short Treks" shorts, which are animated in that classic style. But Goldsman envisioned something far grander: a full-length, one-hour episode of "Strange New Worlds" rendered in the same retro animation style. He spoke about this when SFX Magazine inquired about the show's experimentation with different genres. And this is the part most people miss... he also mentioned the genres they haven't yet cracked.
According to Goldsman:
"There have been some [genres] we haven't been able to figure out. Every year we've said 'Let's do a Western!' I don't think it would break the show at all, I just don't think we know how to do it. We really wanted to do a 'TAS' episode, and for a bunch of reasons we couldn't quite get there. We haven't done a straight animated episode, and I don't think we will. Whether it would break the show or not, I don't know. Probably not. It's hard to know what would break it."
It's worth noting that the Star Trek universe has dabbled in the Western genre before. Think back to "Spectre of the Gun" from "Star Trek: The Original Series" or "A Fistful of Datas" from "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Based on Goldsman's comments, however, it seems a full-blown animated episode of "Strange New Worlds" is currently off the table, perhaps deemed too technically challenging or time-intensive. But with more seasons on the horizon, who knows what the future holds? Never say never!
"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is currently streaming on Paramount+. So, what do you think? Would a fully animated episode be a brilliant tribute to the past, or a step too far into novelty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
