A TNG Animated Series?

[Orphalesion]

Unfortunately the skill to come up with good characters and good stories seems to be totally gone now. I remember that I was pleased when PIC showed up and what did we get................

PIC had...a lot of problems (in my opinion). I don't know who is to blame for them, but from some statements and "justifications" he made I have not a high opinion of Chabon.

But I disagree that there are no good new characters or stories, I definitely like most of the new characters better than, for example, the ENT characters or 80% of the VOY characters. Even DISC, in my opinion, had many interesting characters who were either wasted (the original Georgiou, I will forever curse them for cheating me of a series with her) or just placed in a trite "mystery box" storyline (pretty much everybody else) I think Burnham herself was probably the weakest character on the show, and I suspect that is because just like Janeway she was supposed to be a symbol first and a character second, and that hampered the creativity.

But I suspect we have very different ideas of what makes a "good character" and I know we have different ideas of what makes a "good story".

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Unfortunately the skill to come up with good characters and good stories seems to be totally gone now.

You do like to make silly blanket statements like this, before confessing that you don't actually watch any modern TV.

So how would you know?

There are plenty of good shows out there with good stories and good characters. I confess, Star Trek hasn't been as strong as it could be over the past few years, but TV doesn't stop with Star Trek.

The ability for human beings to write compelling drama is not 'totally gone'. I'm not sure how a person can even make a statement like that with a straight face.

 

[xenotaris]

anime has some good story telling in it

 

[Richard S. Ta]

A good story is a good story. The medium really doesn’t matter.

 

[Victoria]

I wanted a TNGAS when TNG ended. Now I think too much time has passed and it would be difficult to produce a series with the same actors on the Enterprise.

LDS is animated in the TNG era/universe so that kind of spot is taken. The films and Picard have dealt with the what-happened-after-the-series. There's nothing else that I'd want to see.

 

[Sim]

I don't think we need an animated TNG show. I'd rather see one or the other TNG guest appearance in one of the other shows ... or "Legacy", if this is an option.

But ... there is another idea I'd like: How about updating TAS? They have all the voice recordings, and the only reason why this show had aged badly, imo, is because the animation is hopelessly outdated, and because they play the very same music over and over again in every single episode.

So why not update TAS? Create a new animation, maybe along the lines of Prodigy, add more and better music, but reuse the old voice recordings?

Just an idea. I guess I'd love it. And maybe it would be much cheaper than an entirely new animated series. On the other side, I have no idea if something like that would remotely pay off for the studio.

 

[xenotaris]

or maybe a DS9 animated series?

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I don't think we need an animated TNG show. I'd rather see one or the other TNG guest appearance in one of the other shows ... or "Legacy", if this is an option.

But ... there is another idea I'd like: How about updating TAS? They have all the voice recordings, and the only reason why this show had aged badly, imo, is because the animation is hopelessly outdated, and because they play the very same music over and over again in every single episode.

So why not update TAS? Create a new animation, maybe along the lines of Prodigy, add more and better music, but reuse the old voice recordings?

Just an idea. I guess I'd love it. And maybe it would be much cheaper than an entirely new animated series. On the other side, I have no idea if something like that would remotely pay off for the studio.

A redo of TAS was on the cards at one point. About 25 years ago. What exists of it looked nasty.

I don’t see the point personally. It is a thing of its time and should be enjoyed as such.

 

[Orphalesion]

A good story is a good story. The medium really doesn’t matter.

I mean I personally wouldn't clamour for a Star Trek claymation, and I personally have never liked Star Trek in novel form, but other than that, agreed.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

A redo of TAS was on the cards at one point. About 25 years ago. What exists of it looked nasty.

This is the first time I've ever heard about this, but I looked it up and you're actually right. About everything. Remaking cheap 2D with early 3D wasn't a great idea. Not for a cartoon with humans in it anyway.

 

[Dukhat]

I just want my favorite series and favorite characters back. If animation can solve that in a most realistic way, then I'm all for it.

Well, if your favorite characters are the Voyager crew, then Prodigy at least gives Janeway, Chakotay and the Doctor some good follow-up. But that's about it. The DS9 follow-up in LDS and the TNG cast/7 of 9 follow-up in PIC were mediocre at best.

 

[Orphalesion]

This is the first time I've ever heard about this, but I looked it up and you're actually right. About everything. Remaking cheap 2D with early 3D wasn't a great idea. Not for a cartoon with humans in it anyway.

Hey they kept true to the spirit of the original by switching from terrible, barely-animated 2D to terrible, barely-animated 3D.

 

[xenotaris]

I feel like a broken record but I will say it anyways, there is always ANIME!

Anime can range from cutesy to serious art style. Preferably something that harkens back to the 80s-00s era. Blue Gender, Claymore, the various Mobile Suit Gundams, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Early Star Trek would actually gel with japanimation/anime since both have fanservice.
Anime has some of the most intriguing story telling I have ever seen in a long while.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

This is the first time I've ever heard about this, but I looked it up and you're actually right. About everything. Remaking cheap 2D with early 3D wasn't a great idea. Not for a cartoon with humans in it anyway.

Yeah, I think it was someone on this board who pointed me towards it a few years back.

There’s always something new to learn about this franchise!

It nearly happened, (Majel Barrett was supportive and Paramount were keen). Ultimately, rights issues with Filmation got in the way… the results would have been pure nightmare fuel though… all in the name of ‘greater realism’.

For those who are curious…

 

[xenotaris]

Yeah, I think it was someone on this board who pointed me towards it a few years back.

There’s always something new to learn about this franchise!

It nearly happened, (Majel Barrett was supportive and Paramount were keen). Ultimately, rights issues with Filmation got in the way… the results would have been pure nightmare fuel though… all in the name of ‘greater realism’.

For those who are curious…

Huh, looks like them old 90s video game cinematics. Would have been cool

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Huh, looks like them old 90s video game cinematics. Would have been cool

The animation style in things like Reboot or Beast Wars (which the company who wanted to do TAS pioneered) were technically impressive in their day, but from a 2024 perspective.

Reboot:

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I mean, for it’s time, not bad… but…

Well… garish colours, limited character movement and facial expressions…

I suppose @Orphalesion is right. It would have been a fitting update as TAS as it is suffers from the same.

I still think the TAS animation doesn’t date nearly as badly as what a 90’s update would have looked like.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I still think the TAS animation doesn’t date nearly as badly as what a 90’s update would have looked like.

I completely agree with this assessment.

Also, it's telling that there was no money available to secure the needed rights from Filmation. No one involved thought it was worth the investment.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

I completely agree with this assessment.

Also, it's telling that there was no money available to secure the needed rights from Filmation. No one involved thought it was worth the investment.

Or Filmation were asking too much?

According to the article, there was interest from Paramount, but of course without sources that’s to be taken with a pinch of salt.

It got as far as ‘afternoon tea’ at Majel Barrett’s place apparently. I guess if they received an invitation to talk to Madame Roddenberry about it, at Chateaux Roddenberry no less… there must have been at least some interest?

Who knows though? It’s just another one of those curious Star Trek ‘What If’s?’ I guess.

 

[Lynx]

Then what you want is not animation.

Or at least, if you’re making something with the intention of it looking exactly live action and you wanna go realer, realer, realer… Surely at some point it makes more sense to just do it for real?

But it's impossible to "do it for real" when some of the actors aren't available anymore.
Just having to watch some third-rate 2020's actor with artificial tyrelips portray Kes would make me stop watching after 5 minutes.

PIC had...a lot of problems (in my opinion). I don't know who is to blame for them, but from some statements and "justifications" he made I have not a high opinion of Chabon.

But I disagree that there are no good new characters or stories, I definitely like most of the new characters better than, for example, the ENT characters or 80% of the VOY characters. Even DISC, in my opinion, had many interesting characters who were either wasted (the original Georgiou, I will forever curse them for cheating me of a series with her) or just placed in a trite "mystery box" storyline (pretty much everybody else) I think Burnham herself was probably the weakest character on the show, and I suspect that is because just like Janeway she was supposed to be a symbol first and a character second, and that hampered the creativity.

But I suspect we have very different ideas of what makes a "good character" and I know we have different ideas of what makes a "good story".

"PIC had.......a lot of problems" is actually an understatement.
It was a huge disappointment.

You do like to make silly blanket statements like this, before confessing that you don't actually watch any modern TV.

So how would you know?

There are plenty of good shows out there with good stories and good characters. I confess, Star Trek hasn't been as strong as it could be over the past few years, but TV doesn't stop with Star Trek.

The ability for human beings to write compelling drama is not 'totally gone'. I'm not sure how a person can even make a statement like that with a straight face.

I do watch "modern TV". I'm always looking for new good series.
But I often quit watching after two or three episodes because they are so bad. NCIS Hawaii is a perfect example of that. Horrible series.

or maybe a DS9 animated series?

yes, if they could make it as realistic as possible. No cartoons please.

Well, if your favorite characters are the Voyager crew, then Prodigy at least gives Janeway, Chakotay and the Doctor some good follow-up. But that's about it. The DS9 follow-up in LDS and the TNG cast/7 of 9 follow-up in PIC were mediocre at best.

I do have a soft spot for the Voyager characters even if I consider DS9 as my favorite Star Trek series nowadays.

I haven't watched Prodigy yet but I get the impression that the Voyager characters are good treated in that one.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Or Filmation were asking too much?

According to the article, there was interest from Paramount, but of course without sources that’s to be taken with a pinch of salt.

It got as far as ‘afternoon tea’ at Majel Barrett’s place apparently. I guess if they received an invitation to talk to Madame Roddenberry about it, at Chateaux Roddenberry no less… there must have been at least some interest?

Who knows though? It’s just another one of those curious Star Trek ‘What If’s?’ I guess.

A pinch of salt, indeed.

For example, I said Filmation, because the article I was reading said Filmation (well, "Filmnation" [sic]). But actually, in 1998, Filmation had not existed for several years, and its IP rights were held by Hallmark [wiki]. I'm going to say more than a pinch of salt.