Imagine a Star Trek episode where the crew of the USS Enterprise isn’t just boldly going where no one has gone before—they’re doing it in full animation, harking back to the whimsical style of the 1970s Star Trek: The Animated Series. Sounds like a dream, right? But here’s where it gets heartbreaking: this idea, once floated by Strange New Worlds co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman, might never see the light of day. And this is the part most people miss—it’s not just about nostalgia; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what Star Trek can be.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has always been a playground for genre experimentation. Unlike its streaming-era counterparts, the show embraces an episodic format, with each week delivering a self-contained story. The showrunners have gleefully bounced between genres, from gut-wrenching wartime PTSD dramas to lighthearted Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries. They’ve even dipped their toes into musical episodes and half-animated crossovers with Star Trek: Lower Decks. But here’s the kicker: Season 4 is set to feature an episode with muppet versions of the crew (yes, really), proving this show has no fear of embracing the absurd. Yet, the fully animated episode—a love letter to The Animated Series—remains a pipe dream.
In a conversation with SFX Magazine, Goldsman hinted that almost anything goes with Strange New Worlds—except, it seems, this. While the show has flirted with animation (like in the Lower Decks crossover), Goldsman’s vision was bolder: a full hour of Strange New Worlds animated in the retro style of the 1970s series. It’s a fun, ambitious idea, but one that’s likely too complex or time-consuming to execute. And this is where it gets controversial: Is the franchise playing it too safe by shelving this concept, or is it a wise move to avoid overstretching the show’s identity?
For context, Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974) was a groundbreaking show that brought back most of the original cast (sadly, minus Walter Koenig’s Chekov due to budget constraints). Produced by Filmation (later known for He-Man), it allowed for more outlandish aliens and stories, thanks to the freedom of animation. Though it faded into obscurity for years, it’s now streaming on Paramount+, ready for a new generation of Trekkies to rediscover. The franchise has nodded to its animated roots with Very Short Treks, but a full episode in this style? That’s uncharted territory.
Goldsman admitted to SFX Magazine that some genres remain elusive. ‘Every year we’ve said, “Let’s do a Western!”’ he noted, referencing episodes like The Original Series’ Spectre of the Gun or The Next Generation’s A Fistful of Datas. But the animated episode? ‘We really wanted to do a TAS episode, and for a bunch of reasons, we couldn’t quite get there,’ he said. Here’s the real question: Would a fully animated episode break the show, or would it be a bold evolution? Goldsman isn’t sure, but for now, it seems the idea is on ice.
Still, with more seasons of Strange New Worlds on the horizon, there’s always hope. After all, in the world of Star Trek, nothing is truly impossible—not even resurrecting a decades-old animation style. But what do you think? Would a fully animated episode be a risky misstep or a brilliant homage? Let’s debate in the comments—because in the words of Gene Roddenberry, the final frontier is as much about ideas as it is about stars.
