View source for Star Trek: The Animated Series

{{Short description|American animated science fiction television series (1973–1974)}}
{{about|the 1970s animated cartoon TV show|other animated Star Trek series|List of Star Trek television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = Star Trek - The Animated Series logo.svg
| caption            =
| genre              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Adventure fiction|Adventure]]
* [[Science fiction]]
}}
| director           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Hal Sutherland]] (season 1)
* Bill Reed (season 2)
}}
| creator            = [[Gene Roddenberry]]
| showrunner         = {{Plainlist|
* Gene Roddenberry
* [[D. C. Fontana]]
}}
| voices             = {{Plainlist|
* [[William Shatner]]
* [[Leonard Nimoy]]
* [[DeForest Kelley]]
* [[James Doohan]]
* [[Nichelle Nichols]]
* [[George Takei]]
* [[Majel Barrett]]
}}
| composer           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ray Ellis|Yvette Blais]]
* [[Norm Prescott|Jeff Michael]]
}}
| country            = United States
| language           = English
| num_seasons        = 2
| num_episodes       = 22
| list_episodes      = 
| executive_producer        = {{Plainlist|
* Gene Roddenberry
* D. C. Fontana
}}
| producer           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Norm Prescott]]
* [[Lou Scheimer]]
}}
| runtime            = 23–24 minutes
| company            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Filmation]]
* [[Norway Corporation|Norway Productions]]
* [[Paramount Television]]
}}
| network            = [[NBC]]<ref>[http://www.danhausertrek.com/AnimatedSeries/Bgd.html "Animated Star Trek: Series Background"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529184013/http://www.danhausertrek.com/AnimatedSeries/Bgd.html |date=May 29, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Idiotbox Watcher|title='Star Trek'...True Space Oddity|website=Movie Pilot|date=September 7, 2016|url=https://moviepilot.com/p/why-star-trek-animate-series-matters/4077280 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129002043/http://moviepilot.com/p/why-star-trek-animate-series-matters/4077280 |archive-date=November 29, 2016  }}</ref>
| first_aired        = {{Start date|1973|9|8}}
| last_aired         = {{End date|1974|10|12}}
| related            = {{Plainlist|
*  ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''
*  ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
* [[Star Trek#Television series|''Star Trek'' TV series]] 
}} 
}}

'''''Star Trek: The Animated Series''''' ('''''TAS''''') is an American animated [[science fiction television series]] created by [[Gene Roddenberry]]. It originally aired simply under the title ''Star Trek'', subtitled ''Created by Gene Roddenberry'', on Saturday mornings from September 8, 1973, to October 12, 1974, on [[NBC]], spanning 22 episodes over two seasons. The second series in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise, it features mostly the same characters as ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''.<ref name=Woolery>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series |date=1983 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1557-5  |url=https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool/page/270/mode/2up |access-date=22 March 2020 |pages=271–273}}</ref> Set in the 23rd century, the series follows the further adventures of the Starship [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] as it explores the galaxy.

After the cancellation of ''The Original Series'' (''TOS'') in 1969, the [[live action|live-action]] show proved popular in syndication and generated significant fan enthusiasm. This resulted in Roddenberry's decision to continue the series in animated form, with the medium allowing for spectacular imagery and non-humanoid aliens the original series could not practically depict. Much of the original cast returned to provide voices for their characters. Series writers [[David Gerrold]] and [[D. C. Fontana]] characterized ''The Animated Series'' as effectively a fourth season of ''The Original Series''. After the conclusion of ''The Animated Series'', the adventures of the characters continued in live-action theatrical films, beginning with the 1979 film ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]''.

''The Animated Series'' was critically acclaimed and was the first ''Star Trek'' series to win an [[Emmy Award]] when its second season received the 1975 Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment – Children's Series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069637/awards |title=Star Trek |website=imdb.com |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818035751/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069637/awards |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Premise ==
''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' is set in the 23rd century in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' universe, in which Earth is part of the multi-species [[United Federation of Planets]]. The Federation's military and exploration division, [[Starfleet]], operates a fleet of [[starship]]s that travel the galaxy establishing contact with alien races. It follows the adventures of the [[Starfleet]] vessel [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] under the command of Captain [[James T. Kirk]] as it explores the [[Milky Way]] galaxy.

==Voice cast and characters==
* [[William Shatner]] as [[James T. Kirk]], [[captain]] and [[commanding officer]] of the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']].
* [[Leonard Nimoy]] as [[Spock]], [[Starfleet ranks and insignia|first officer]] and science officer.
* [[DeForest Kelley]] as Doctor [[Leonard McCoy]], chief medical officer. 
* [[James Doohan]] as [[Scotty (Star Trek)|Montgomery "Scotty" Scott]], chief engineer.
** Doohan also voiced [[Arex (Star Trek)|Arex]], a [[navigator]].
* [[Nichelle Nichols]] as [[Nyota Uhura]], communications officer.
* [[George Takei]] as [[Hikaru Sulu]], [[helmsman]].
* [[Majel Barrett]] as [[Christine Chapel]], medical officer.
** Barrett also voiced [[M'Ress]], a communications officer, as well as the ship's computer.

== Episodes == 
=== Series overview ===
{{Series overview
| color1       = #F17D0E
| link1        = #Season 1 (1973–74)
| episodes1    = 16
| start1       = {{Start date|1973|9|8}}
| end1         = {{End date|1974|1|12}}

| color2       = #F3CB00
| link2        = #Season 2 (1974)
| episodes2    = 6
| start2       = {{Start date|1974|9|7}}
| end2         = {{End date|1974|10|12}}
}}

=== Season 1 (1973–74) ===
{{Episode table |background=#F17D0E |overall=5 |season=5 |title=24 |director=11 |writer=28 |airdate=19 |episodes=
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=1
 |EpisodeNumber2=1
 |Title=[[Beyond the Farthest Star (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Beyond the Farthest Star]]
 |DirectedBy=[[Hal Sutherland]]
 |WrittenBy=[[Samuel A. Peeples]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|9|8}}
 |ShortSummary=While exploring on the outermost rim of the galaxy, the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|USS ''Enterprise'']] is pulled into the orbit of a dead star. Trapped there, the crew discovers that there is an ancient derelict pod ship trapped with them as well.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=2
 |EpisodeNumber2=2
 |Title=[[Yesteryear (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Yesteryear]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[D. C. Fontana]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|9|15}}
 |ShortSummary=[[Spock]] must travel to the past to rescue his younger self from danger.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=3
 |EpisodeNumber2=3
 |Title=[[One of Our Planets Is Missing]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Marc Daniels]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|9|22}}
 |ShortSummary=The ''Enterprise'' encounters a giant cloud creature that feeds on the energy of the planets that lie in its path. They determine that it is heading for Mantilles, home to a [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] colony governed by former Starfleet officer Bob Wesley (featured in the ''TOS'' episode "[[The Ultimate Computer]])".
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=4
 |EpisodeNumber2=4
 |Title=[[The Lorelei Signal]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Margaret Armen]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|9|29}}
 |ShortSummary=Investigating a sector of space where starships have disappeared every 27 years, the ''Enterprise'' finds a race of beautiful women living on the planet Taurus II.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=5
 |EpisodeNumber2=5
 |Title=[[More Tribbles, More Troubles]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[David Gerrold]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|10|6}}
 |ShortSummary=While the USS ''Enterprise'' escorts two robot cargo ships carrying quintotriticale, a new seed grain, to famine-stricken Sherman's Planet, it encounters a [[Klingon]] battlecruiser pursuing a Federation scout ship. When the Enterprise rescues the pilot, the Klingons attack with a new energy weapon and demand that the pilot be handed over to them.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=6
 |EpisodeNumber2=6
 |Title=[[The Survivor (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|The Survivor]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[James Schmerer]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|10|13}}
 |ShortSummary=Patrolling near the [[List of Star Trek regions of space#Neutral Zone|Romulan Neutral Zone]], the USS ''Enterprise'' finds a ship carrying Carter Winston, a Federation citizen and philanthropist who has been missing for five years.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=7
 |EpisodeNumber2=7
 |Title=[[The Infinite Vulcan]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Walter Koenig]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|10|20}}
 |ShortSummary=While visiting the newly discovered planet Phylos, [[Hikaru Sulu|Lieutenant Sulu]] picks up a walking plant, called a Retlaw, and is poisoned. The alien species that inhabit the planet, who are plantlike beings, approach and save Sulu's life, but kidnap Mr. Spock.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=8
 |EpisodeNumber2=8
 |Title=[[The Magicks of Megas-tu]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Larry Brody]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|10|27}}
 |ShortSummary=While exploring near the center of the galaxy, the USS ''Enterprise'' is caught inside an energy/matter vortex and all her computer systems fail. A being named Lucien appears on the bridge, repairs the ship's systems and takes the crew to explore his planet, Megas-Tu.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=9
 |EpisodeNumber2=9
 |Title=[[Once Upon a Planet]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Chuck Menville]] and [[Len Janson]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|11|3}}
 |ShortSummary=The ''Enterprise'' crew revisits the "amusement park" planet first seen in the Classic ''Trek'' episode "[[Shore Leave (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Shore Leave]]" hoping for some rest and relaxation.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=10
 |EpisodeNumber2=10
 |Title=[[Mudd's Passion]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Stephen Kandel]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|11|10}}
 |ShortSummary=The USS ''Enterprise'' receives orders to arrest Federation outlaw [[Harry Mudd]], who is accused of selling fake love crystals. Intercepting Harry on the mining colony of Motherlode, they bring him aboard the ''Enterprise''.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=11
 |EpisodeNumber2=11
 |Title=[[The Terratin Incident]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Paul Schneider (writer)|Paul Schneider]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|11|17}}
 |ShortSummary=While observing a burnt-out supernova, the USS ''Enterprise'' picks up a strange message transmitted in a two-hundred-year-old code.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=12
 |EpisodeNumber2=12
 |Title=[[The Time Trap]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[Joyce Perry]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|11|24}}
 |ShortSummary=While exploring the Delta Triangle, where many starships have disappeared, the USS ''Enterprise'' is attacked by several Klingon vessels. During the battle, they are caught in an ion storm. The ''Enterprise'' and one Klingon battlecruiser are drawn into a spacetime vortex and end up in a timeless dimension.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=13
 |EpisodeNumber2=13
 |Title=[[The Ambergris Element]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=Margaret Armen
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|12|1}}
 |ShortSummary=While exploring the [[Ocean planet|water planet]] Argo, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are transformed into water breathers by the planet's undersea inhabitants, the Aquans. In order to return to their normal selves, they must enlist the help of the Aquans to capture a giant sur-snake, whose venom holds the antidote.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=14
 |EpisodeNumber2=14
 |Title=[[The Slaver Weapon]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy={{StoryTeleplay|slabel=Adapted from the short story "The Soft Weapon" by|s=[[Larry Niven]]|tlabel=Written by|t=Larry Niven}}
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1973|12|8}}
 |ShortSummary=In the shuttlecraft ''Copernicus'', Mr. Spock, Uhura and Sulu are en route to [[Space stations and habitats in fiction|Starbase]] 25 to deliver a stasis box—a rare artifact of the [[Thrint|Slaver]] culture when the Kzinti intervene.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=15
 |EpisodeNumber2=15
 |Title=[[The Eye of the Beholder (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|The Eye of the Beholder]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=[[David P. Harmon]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|01|05}}
 |ShortSummary=The disappearance of a scientific team lures the USS ''Enterprise'' to investigate near Lactra VII. The starship ''Ariel'' is located there, abandoned, with its captain having transported to the planet's surface.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=16
 |EpisodeNumber2=16
 |Title=[[The Jihad]]
 |DirectedBy=Hal Sutherland
 |WrittenBy=Stephen Kandel
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|1|12}}
 |ShortSummary=The USS ''Enterprise'' arrives at the Vedala asteroid, where Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock have been summoned to learn about a stolen religious artifact, the "Soul of the Skorr", whose theft could ignite a galactic holy war.
 |LineColor=f17d0e
}}
}}

=== Season 2 (1974) ===
{{Episode table |background=#F3CB00 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=24 |director=11 |writer=28 |airdate=19 |episodes=
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=17
 |EpisodeNumber2=1
 |Title=[[The Pirates of Orion]]
 |DirectedBy=Bill Reed
 |WrittenBy=[[Howard Weinstein]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|9|7}}
 |ShortSummary=Spock contracts a fatal illness, and the cure can only be found with dangerous [[Orion (Star Trek)|Orion pirates]].
 |LineColor=f3cb00
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=18
 |EpisodeNumber2=2
 |Title=[[Bem (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Bem]]
 |DirectedBy=Bill Reed
 |WrittenBy=[[David Gerrold]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|9|14}}
 |ShortSummary=The ''Enterprise'' crew is taken captive by a race of primitives on a newly discovered planet.
 |LineColor=f3cb00
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=19
 |EpisodeNumber2=3
 |Title=[[The Practical Joker]]
 |DirectedBy=Bill Reed
 |WrittenBy=[[Chuck Menville]] and [[Len Janson]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|9|21}}
 |ShortSummary=A strange energy field causes the ''Enterprise'' computer to play [[practical joke]]s on the crew, but the humor soon turns to danger.
 |LineColor=f3cb00
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=20
 |EpisodeNumber2=4
 |Title=[[Albatross (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Albatross]]
 |DirectedBy=Bill Reed
 |WrittenBy=[[Dario Finelli]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|9|28}}
 |ShortSummary=Doctor McCoy is arrested for allegedly causing a deadly [[pandemic|plague]] which once ravaged the planet Dramia.
 |LineColor=f3cb00
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=21
 |EpisodeNumber2=5
 |Title=[[How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth]]
 |DirectedBy=Bill Reed
 |WrittenBy=[[Russell Bates]] and [[David Wise (writer)|David Wise]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|10|5}}
 |ShortSummary=A mysterious being threatens to destroy the ''Enterprise'' if the crew is unable to solve an ancient puzzle.
 |LineColor=f3cb00
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=22
 |EpisodeNumber2=6
 |Title=[[The Counter-Clock Incident]]
 |DirectedBy=Bill Reed
 |WrittenBy=[[Fred Bronson|John Culver]]
 |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1974|10|12}}
 |ShortSummary=An unusual spaceship pulls the ''Enterprise'' into a "negative [[universe]]" where time seems to flow backwards.
 |LineColor=f3cb00
}}
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
[[Lou Scheimer]] of [[Filmation]] was in talks with ''Star Trek'' producer [[Paramount Television]], TV network [[NBC]], and creator Gene Roddenberry to create an animated spin-off series while ''The Original Series'' was still on the air, during its third season (1968–69).<ref name=RetFan1>{{cite journal |last=Mangels |first=Andy |date=Summer 2018 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IeNgDwAAQBAJ&q=Mangels%2C+Andy+%28Summer+2018%29.+%22Star+Trek%3A+The+Animated+Series%22.+RetroFan&pg=PA25 |title=Star Trek: The Animated Series |journal=RetroFan |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |location=United States |issue=1 |pages=25–37 |access-date=2020-10-28 |archive-date=2020-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117212623/https://books.google.com/books?id=IeNgDwAAQBAJ&q=Mangels%2C+Andy+%28Summer+2018%29.+%22Star+Trek%3A+The+Animated+Series%22.+RetroFan&pg=PA25 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Paramount's director of special programming Philip Mayer and Filmation writer/animator Don Christensen worked together to create a proposal for a series that would target a young audience and have an educational spin. The main cast of ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' would train the teenage crew of a ship called ''Excalibur'' about space exploration; the new teenage crew included a Vulcan named Steve, an African-American boy named Bob, and a Chinese boy named Stick.<ref name=RetFan1/> Due to the bitter relationship between Roddenberry and Paramount at the time, however, Scheimer was not able to get the two parties talking to each other in order to agree on a deal for several years. During this time, the project in its original form was phased out.<ref name=RetFan1/>

A deal was finally reached in early 1973, and publicly announced in early March 1973. Because of NBC's strong interest in the series, Roddenberry and Filmation were allotted very generous terms: a guaranteed minimum of two seasons with a combined 22 episodes; a budget of US$75,000 ({{Inflation|US|75000|1973|fmt=eq}}) per episode; and full creative control in Gene Roddenberry's hands.<ref name=RetFan1/>

Roddenberry and Filmation agreed that the series should be for all ages, rather than the children-oriented approach of the original proposal, and at Roddenberry's suggestion ''The Original Series'' script editor [[D. C. Fontana]] was hired as the series' story editor and associate producer.<ref name=RetFan1/> Despite the meager payment for writers—$1,300 per script ({{Inflation|US|1300|1973|fmt=eq}}), with no residuals—the opportunity to write a ''Star Trek'' episode without the special effects limitations of live action proved appealing, and many of ''The Original Series'' writers joined the staff.<ref name=RetFan1/> Fontana steered the series away from the romantic and sexual elements of ''The Original Series'', as she felt children would not be interested in them, and she wanted ''The Animated Series'' to appeal to children as well as adults.<ref name=RetFan1/>

=== Writing ===
The series' writing benefited from a [[Writers Guild of America, East]] strike in 1973, which did not apply to animation.<ref>{{cite book|title=Introduction to Star Trek: The Classic Episodes, Volume 1|year=1991|author=D. C. Fontana}}</ref>  A few episodes were written by well-known science fiction authors:

* "[[More Tribbles, More Troubles]]" was written by [[David Gerrold]] as a sequel to his episode "[[The Trouble with Tribbles]]" from the original series. Here Cyrano Jones is rescued from the [[Klingon]]s, bringing with him a genetically altered breed of [[tribble]]s which do not reproduce but do grow extremely large. (It is later discovered that these are really [[Colony (biology)|clusters of tribbles who function as a single tribble]], and it is decided that the large numbers of smaller tribbles are preferable to the larger ones.) The Klingons, because of their hatred of tribbles, are eager to get Jones back because he stole a creature they created: a predator called a "glommer" that feeds on tribbles.
* "[[Yesteryear (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Yesteryear]]" is a time-travel episode in which [[Mr. Spock]] uses "The Guardian of Forever", a time gateway from the original series episode "[[The City on the Edge of Forever]]", to travel back to his own childhood. This is the only animated ''Trek'' episode written by original series and later ''Next Generation'' writer [[D. C. Fontana]]. This was the first actual appearance of Spock's pet sehlat, first mentioned in "[[Journey to Babel]]" and finally named I-Chaya in this episode. One element from "Yesteryear" that has become canonical by depiction within ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' is the Vulcan city of ShiKahr, depicted in a background scene wherein Kirk, Spock and McCoy walk across a natural stone bridge (first depicted in ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]'') in the [[Star Trek: The Original Series#Remastered edition|remastered]] "[[Amok Time]]". Elements of Spock's childhood from "Yesteryear" are also referenced in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[Unification (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Unification]]" as well as the 2009 ''Star Trek'' feature film.
* [[Larry Niven]]'s "[[The Slaver Weapon]]", adapted from his own short story "The Soft Weapon". It includes some elements from his ''[[Known Space]]'' mythos such as the [[Kzin]]ti and the [[Thrint|Slavers]]. This is the only Kirk-era television or movie story in which Kirk did not appear. This episode is also the only animated one in which characters are shown dying or being killed.

=== Casting and voice recording ===
''The Animated Series'' featured most of the original cast voicing their characters. The major exception was the character of [[Pavel Chekov]] ([[Walter Koenig]]), who did not appear in the series because the series' budget could not afford the complete cast.<ref name=RetFan1/> He was replaced by Lieutenant [[Arex (Star Trek)|Arex]], whose Edosian species had three arms and three legs; Lieutenant M'Ress, a female Caitian, sometimes stood in for Uhura as communications officer. Besides performing their characters [[Montgomery Scott]] and [[Christine Chapel]], [[James Doohan]] and [[Majel Barrett]] also performed the voices of Arex and M'Ress, respectively. Barrett also voiced various other characters and the main computer.<ref name="Burton"/>

Initially, Filmation was only going to use the voices of [[William Shatner]], [[Leonard Nimoy]], [[DeForest Kelley]], Doohan and Barrett. Doohan and Barrett would also perform the voices of [[Hikaru Sulu|Sulu]] and [[Uhura]]. Reportedly, when Nimoy arrived at the initial recording session for the first few episodes, he immediately noticed the absence of [[George Takei]] and [[Nichelle Nichols]]; when informed they had not been hired for the series due to budgetary reasons, Nimoy refused to voice Spock unless Takei and Nichols were added to the cast, stating that Sulu and Uhura were proof of the ethnic diversity of the 23rd century and should not be recast. Nimoy also took this stand as a matter of principle, as he knew of the financial troubles many of his ''Star Trek'' co-stars had experienced after cancellation of the series.<ref>{{cite book|title=To the Stars: The Autobiography of George Takei|url=https://archive.org/details/tostarsautobiogr00take_0|url-access=registration|first=George |last=Takei|year=1994 |publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=9780671890087 }}</ref> According to Scheimer, when Nimoy pointed out that the casting would cut the only two minority actors from the series, "We were horrified at our unintended slight, made all the worse because we were the one studio who had been championing diversity in its output." Takei and Nichols were quickly hired and the recording session was rescheduled.<ref name=RetFan1/> Koenig was not forgotten, as Filmation were able to assuage Nimoy's complaints on his account by buying a script from Koenig for one episode ("[[The Infinite Vulcan]]").<ref name=RetFan1/>

Voice recording began in June 1973, with the first three episodes recorded as an ensemble, i.e. all the [[voice actors]] for the episode in the room at the same time.<ref name=RetFan1/> Later episodes used the now more typical model of recording the voice actors separately to work around their other commitments. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, who were both touring in plays at the time, recorded their lines in whatever city they happened to be performing in and had the tapes shipped to the studio.<ref name=RetFan1/> Doohan and Barrett, besides providing the voices of their ''Original Series'' characters and newcomers Arex and M'Ress, performed virtually all of the "guest star" characters in the series, with exceptions such as [[Sarek]], [[Cyrano Jones]] and [[Harry Mudd]], who were performed by [[Mark Lenard]], [[Stanley Adams (actor)|Stanley Adams]] and [[Roger C. Carmel]] respectively, the original actors from ''The Original Series''. Other guest voice actors included [[Ed Bishop]], who voiced the Megan Prosecutor in "[[The Magicks of Megas-tu]]", and [[Ted Knight]], who voiced Carter Winston in "[[The Survivor (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|The Survivor]]". Nichelle Nichols performed character voices in addition to Uhura in several episodes, including "[[The Time Trap]]" and "[[The Lorelei Signal]]".

Because of the [[FCC]] [[equal-time rule]], the premiere episode was not aired in the Los Angeles market. Takei was a political candidate for a seat on the city council, and [[KNBC]] feared that allowing his voiceover work to be heard would force the station to provide equal time for Takei's opponents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Cecil |date=1973-09-10 |title=Star Trek Bows in Animated Version |pages=18, Part IV |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

=== Animation and design ===
[[File:ST-The AS.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The characters of ''TAS'']]
Similar to most animated series of the era, the 22 episodes of ''TAS'' were spread out over two brief seasons, with copious reruns of each episode. The director of the first season (16 episodes) was [[Hal Sutherland]] and Bill Reed directed the six episodes of season two, though the first four episodes of season two erroneously credit Sutherland.<ref name=RetFan1/>

Don Christensen, creator of the original proposal, remained involved as art director. Other animation staff included Reuben Timmins (who oversaw all shots involving the ''Enterprise'') and Bob Kline. The animators [[rotoscoped]] the animations for the ''Enterprise'' and the original cast from [[35 mm movie film|35 mm film]] footage of ''The Original Series''.<ref name=RetFan1/> The chevrons were enlarged to make them easier to animate, but otherwise the crew's uniforms were unaltered from ''The Original Series''.<ref name=RetFan1/> Due to the hiring of nearly the entire regular cast of the original show, little money was left in the budget for the animation, so Filmation cut costs by using stock footage and shortcuts such as having a character put a hand to their mouth while speaking (thus eliminating the need to animate the lips) and silhouetting characters in action.<ref name=RetFan1/>

''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' was the only ''Star Trek'' series not to be produced with a [[cold open]] ("teaser"), instead starting directly with the title credits sequence. However, some overseas versions of the original live action series, such as those aired by the [[BBC]] in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s, were edited to run the teaser after the credits.

=== Music ===
The animated series dispensed with the original series' theme music, composed by [[Alexander Courage]], in favor of a new theme credited to Yvette Blais and Jeff Michael, but actually written by Filmation composer [[Ray Ellis]]. Ellis used the pseudonym Yvette Blais (the [[maiden name]] of his wife) due to complications with royalties and publishing companies, while Jeff Michael is a pseudonym for producer [[Norm Prescott]], who received a pseudonymous credit and a cut of the royalties on all of Filmation's music as part of a standard deal for the time.<ref name=RetFan1/> Writing on [[Facebook]]'s ''[[Starlog]]'' Magazine official page in March 2021, David Gerrold revealed that the reason for this was a longstanding feud between Courage and Roddenberry over [[Residual (entertainment industry)|residual payments]] for airings of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek: TOS]]'' episodes using the original theme: "When Courage turned in the original music, Roddenberry added his own lyrics to it, thereby depriving Courage of half his residuals. Courage never forgave Roddenberry and refused to give permission for the reuse of the theme. That's why new music was written for the animated series and again for the movies."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gerrold|first=David|date=March 3, 2021|title="12 Fascinating Facts About 'Star Trek: The Animated Series," comments section|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/StarlogMagazine|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=Facebook}}</ref>

== Release ==
; Home media
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2017}}
* The complete series was first released in the United States on eleven volumes of [[VHS]] tapes in 1989. In the United Kingdom, [[CIC Video]] released the complete series on seven volumes (1x4 episodes and 6x3 episodes) on PAL [[VHS]] in 1992. Although CIC-Taft Australia negotiated an Australasian release, they did not proceed with their plans.
* A boxed set of the complete series on [[LaserDisc]] was released for the US market in 1990, then re-released in 1997.
* A [[DVD region code|Region 1]] [[Box set|DVD box set]] of the series was released on November 21, 2006, and has since been released internationally for other Regions. Each episode on CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment's Complete Series DVD release of ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' (aka ''The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek'') was presented in its original network television format and original airdate order - uncut and unedited - and also remastered and restored in 1080p HD and full-color with remastered and remixed 5.1 surround sound and restored original mono audio. It was also the last series of Paramount's ''Star Trek'' television franchise to be released to DVD.
* A Blu-ray release in HD was released as part of the ''STAR TREK 50th Anniversary TV and Movie Collection'' in the United States on September 6, 2016. 
* A stand-alone Blu-ray release was released on November 15, 2016.

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
Through both seasons, ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' faced the reverse situation of ''The Original Series'' with regard to its popularity: ratings were high, but skewed away from the young children which Saturday morning advertisers were trying to reach, being more popular with adults and older children.<ref name="RetFan1" />

''[[IGN]]'' named ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' the 96th best animated series. They declared that although the series suffered from technical limitations, its format allowed the writers far greater freedom and creativity than was possible in the original live-action series.<ref name="ign100">{{cite web |title=96, Star Trek: The Animated Series |url=http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/96.html |website=IGN |access-date=January 23, 2009 |date=January 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119005234/http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/96.html |archive-date=January 19, 2009  }}</ref> In an [[Los Angeles Times|''L.A. Times'']] listing that included each ''Star Trek'' film and TV series separately, ''The Animated Series'' was ranked 11th.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernardin |first=Marc |date=September 8, 2016 |title=Ranking every 'Star Trek' movie and TV series from first to worst |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-hc-star-trek-movie-and-show-ranking-20160830-snap-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712164534/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-hc-star-trek-movie-and-show-ranking-20160830-snap-story.html |archive-date=July 12, 2019 |access-date=July 12, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The comic ''[[Star Trek vs Transformers]]'' was inspired by ''The Animated Series'', and takes place in a similar universe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2018 |title=Exclusive IDW announces Star Trek vs. Transformers Comic Series |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/a-new-idw-comic-is-mashing-up-star-trek-and-transformer-1826960426 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190309/https://io9.gizmodo.com/a-new-idw-comic-is-mashing-up-star-trek-and-transformer-1826960426 |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |access-date=August 1, 2018}}</ref> [[Comic Book Resources|''CBR'']] ranked all 31 seasons of ''Star Trek'' television shows, placing season 1 of ''TAS'' at 23rd, and season 2 at 24th. Similarly to IGN, they commented that "The animation is definitely limited by today's standards, but the idea of an animated ''Star Trek'' makes perfect sense, since concerns over budget and scope would be very different. Although only two seasons long, we were given some memorable moments."<ref name="CBRank">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/every-star-trek-tv-season-ranked/|title=Every Star Trek Season of TV Ever, Ranked from Worst to Best|date=January 4, 2019|website=CBR|language=en-US|access-date=March 26, 2019|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203024856/https://www.cbr.com/every-star-trek-tv-season-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Moviefone]]'' ranked ''The Animated Series'' the seventh best out of seven ''Star Trek'' TV series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moviefone.com/photos/every-star-trek-series-ranked/|title=Every Star Trek Series, Ranked From Kirk to Picard|last=Pirrello|first=Phil|website=moviefone.com|language=en|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712143304/https://www.moviefone.com/photos/every-star-trek-series-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:99%"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Nominee(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
| 1974
| [[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series|Outstanding Children's Series]]
| [[Lou Scheimer]], [[Norm Prescott]]
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 1975
| [[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series|Outstanding Entertainment - Children's Series]]
| [[Lou Scheimer]], [[Norm Prescott]]
| {{won}}
| <ref name="Burton">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/star-trek-lower-decks-have-you-excited-give-the-70s-cartoon-a-try/|title=Star Trek: Lower Decks have you excited? Give the '70s cartoon a try|last=Burton|first=Bonnie|website=CNET|language=en|access-date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626171104/https://www.cnet.com/news/star-trek-lower-decks-have-you-excited-give-the-70s-cartoon-a-try/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2007
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Retro Television Series on DVD|Best Retro Television Release on DVD]]
| ''Star Trek: The Animated Series''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| 2017
| [[Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Television DVD Release|Best Television DVD Release]]
| ''Star Trek: The Animated Series''
| {{nom}}
|
|-
|}

== Legacy ==
All of this series' episodes were novelized by [[Alan Dean Foster]] and released in ten volumes under the ''Star Trek Logs'' banner. Initially, Foster adapted three episodes per book, but later editions saw the half-hour scripts expanded into full, novel-length stories.

=== Novelties in the series ===
In the original ''Star Trek'' series, the main character was given the name [[James T. Kirk]]. It was not until the animated series that writer [[David Gerrold]] expanded on the "T", establishing Kirk's middle name as Tiberius. By coincidence, on Gene Roddenberry's first series ''[[The Lieutenant]]'', the principal character was William Tiberius Rice. According to Gerrold, he had been influenced by ''[[I, Claudius]]'', and had approached Roddenberry with his choice of middle name, who agreed; Gerrold did not learn about the earlier use of the name until 2014.<ref>Silverman, D. S. (2015). Always bring phasers to an “animated” canon fight: Star Trek’s animated adventures on Saturday mornings. In D. Brode & S. Brode (Eds.) Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The original cast adventures. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow. {{ISBN|978-1-4422-4987-5}}</ref>

The animated series introduced a three-armed, three-legged alien member of the bridge crew with a long neck named Arex and a cat-like alien crew member named M'Ress. According to Roddenberry, budget limitations would have made it impossible for either alien species to appear in a live action series of the time.<ref name=RetFan1/>

The USS ''Enterprise'' in this series, while supposedly the same ship as from the original series, had a [[holodeck]] similar to the one later seen in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', which was set about eighty years later. It only appeared once, in Chuck Menville's "The Practical Joker", and was known as the "Rec Room". This feature was originally proposed for the original series<ref>see, e.g., Gerrold, ''The World of Star Trek''</ref> but was never used.

A personal force field technology known as the life support belt was seen only in ''Star Trek: The Animated Series''. In addition to supplying the wearer with the appropriate atmosphere and environmental protection, it permitted the animators to simply draw the belt and yellow glow around the existing characters, instead of having to redraw them with an environmental suit. A version of the life support belt later appeared in an early ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' novel, ''[[The Peacekeepers]]'', where they were referred to as "field-effect suits".

The episode "[[The Lorelei Signal]]" provides a rare instance in early ''[[Star Trek]]'' in which a woman took temporary command of a starship. Due to the male crew members being incapacitated, [[Uhura]] assumes command of the ''Enterprise'' from Scotty. Other instances occurred on the first and last adventures filmed in the original series: 
* "[[The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Cage]]", in which [[Number One (Star Trek)|Number One]] took command after the abduction of [[Captain Christopher Pike]], and
* "[[Turnabout Intruder]]", in which Dr. Janice Lester took over the body of Captain Kirk and assumed command.

"The Lorelei Signal" and "[[The Infinite Vulcan]]", the latter written by Walter Koenig, are rare occurrences where Captain Kirk comes close to actually saying, "[[Beam me up, Scotty]]" (long erroneously believed to be a ''Star Trek'' [[catchphrase]]), when he commands "Beam us up, Scotty". ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'' arguably comes closer to it by having Kirk say "Scotty, beam me up".

An anti-pollution public service announcement was created for non-profit [[Keep America Beautiful]] featuring the ''ST: TAS'' characters and original cast voices. In the ad, the ''Enterprise'' encounters the "Rhombian Pollution Belt".<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy5M5Xo4wcQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211111/Vy5M5Xo4wcQ| archive-date=2021-11-11 | url-status=live|title=Lost PSA: Star Trek TAS for Keep America Beautiful!|date=June 14, 2010|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The ad ran during Saturday morning network programming during the series' run.

=== Canon issues ===
{{main|Star Trek canon}}
At the end of the first season of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', all licenses for [[Star Trek spin-off fiction|''Star Trek'' spin-off fiction]] were renegotiated, and the animated series was essentially "decanonized" by [[Gene Roddenberry]]'s office. Writers of the novels, comics and role-playing games were prohibited from using concepts from the animated series in their works.{{sfn|Ayers|2006|p=232}} Among the facts established within the animated series that were called into question by the "official canon" issue was its identification of [[Robert April]] as the first captain of the USS ''Enterprise'' in the episode "The Counter-Clock Incident".

The ''[[Timeline of Star Trek|Star Trek Chronology]]'' by production staffers [[Michael Okuda]] and [[Denise Okuda]] does not include the animated series, but does include certain events from "Yesteryear" and acknowledges Robert April as first captain of the ''Enterprise''.{{sfn|Okuda|Okuda|1996|pp=41–42}} The timeline in ''Voyages of the Imagination'' dates the events of the series to 2269–2270, assuming the events of the show represented the final part of Kirk's five-year mission, and using revised [[Alan Dean Foster]] stardates. In the updated October 1999 edition of their book: ''The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future'', Michael and Denise Okuda state that:
{{blockquote|In a related vein, this work (i.e. book) adheres to Paramount studio policy that regards the animated ''Star Trek'' series as not being part of the "official" ''Star Trek'' universe, even though we count ourselves among that series' fans. Of course, the final decision as to the "authenticity" of the animated episodes, as with all elements of the show, must clearly be the choice of each individual reader.'<ref>Michael & Denise Okuda, ''The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future'', Updated and expanded edition, October 1999, Pocket Book (a division of Simon and Schuster), p. iii</ref>}}

[[David Gerrold]], who contributed two stories to ''TAS'', stated in an interview his views on the canon issue:

{{blockquote|Arguments about "canon" are silly. I always felt that ''Star Trek Animated'' was part of ''Star Trek'' because Gene Roddenberry accepted the paycheck for it and put his name on the credits. And D. C. Fontana—and all the other writers involved—busted their butts to make it the best ''Star Trek'' they could. But this whole business of "canon" really originated with Gene's errand boy. Gene liked giving people titles instead of raises, so the errand boy got named "archivist" and apparently it went to his head. Gene handed him the responsibility of answering all fan questions, silly or otherwise, and he apparently let that go to his head.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_david_gerrold.html|title=Star Trek: The Animated Series|work=startrekanimated.com|access-date=December 5, 2007|archive-date=November 3, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103180622/http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_david_gerrold.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Writer-producer [[D. C. Fontana]] discussed the ''TAS'' Canon issue in 2007:

{{blockquote|I suppose "canon" means what Gene Roddenberry decided it was. Remember, we were making it up as we went along on the original series (and on the animated one, too). We had a research company to keep us on the straight and narrow as to science, projected science based on known science, science fiction references (we didn't want to step on anyone's exclusive ideas in movies, other TV shows, or printed work). They also helped prevent contradictions and common reference errors. So the so-called canon evolved in its own way and its own time. For whatever reason, Gene Roddenberry apparently didn't take the animated series seriously (no pun intended), although we worked very hard to do original ''STAR TREK'' stories and concepts at all times in the animated series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trekmovie.com/2007/07/22/dc-fontana-on-tas-canon-and-sybok/|title=D.C. Fontana On TAS Canon (and Sybok)|work=TrekMovie.com|access-date=June 28, 2008|archive-date=July 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720144014/http://trekmovie.com/2007/07/22/dc-fontana-on-tas-canon-and-sybok/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

=== References in other ''Star Trek'' series ===
Since Roddenberry's death in 1991, and the subsequent exit of Richard H. Arnold (who vetted the licensed tie-ins for Roddenberry's ''Star Trek'' office at Paramount during its later years), there have been several references to the animated series in the various other Trek series. In the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Once More Unto the Breach (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Once More Unto the Breach]]", Kor referred to his ship, the ''Klothos'', which was first named in the ''TAS'' episode "[[The Time Trap (ST:TAS)|The Time Trap]]". Other ''DS9'' episodes to make reference to the animated series include "[[Broken Link (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Broken Link]]", where [[Elim Garak]] mentions Edosian orchids (Arex is an Edosian) and "[[Tears of the Prophets]]" where a ''Miranda''-class starship is called the USS ''ShirKahr'' (sic) after ShiKahr, the city from "Yesteryear". In the episode "[[Prophet Motive]]" the title of healer is resurrected from "Yesteryear" as well. Vulcan's Forge is also mentioned in "[[Change of Heart (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Change of Heart]]", in which [[Worf]] wants to honeymoon there with [[Jadzia Dax]], as well as in episodes "[[The Forge (Star Trek: Enterprise)|The Forge]]", "[[Awakening (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Awakening]]" and "[[Kir'Shara]]" from ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''.

The ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' episodes "[[The Catwalk]]" and "[[The Forge (Star Trek: Enterprise)|The Forge]]" included references to "[[Yesteryear (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|Yesteryear]]", the latter featuring a [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] rendition of a wild sehlat. The remastered Original Series episode "[[Amok Time]]" featured ShiKahr in the background as Spock beams up at the episode's ending,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/amoktime/new_spock_beamout.jpg|title=ShiKahr (background image)|work=TrekMovie.com|access-date=May 5, 2013|archive-date=April 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415203245/http://trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/amoktime/new_spock_beamout.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> and the remastered version of "[[The Ultimate Computer]]" replaced the ''Botany Bay''-style ''Woden'' with an automated grain carrier from "[[More Tribbles, More Troubles]]".

The 2009 film ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' also references "Yesteryear", featuring a nearly identical scene in which a young Spock is confronted by several other Vulcan children, who bully and provoke him for being part human.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Britt |first=Ryan |date=2019-03-08 |title=How Star Trek: The Animated Series Influences Discovery |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/how-star-trek-the-animated-series-influences-discovery/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US}}</ref>

The 2017 series ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]'' episode "[[Context Is for Kings]]" has Spock's foster sister Michael Burnham state that their mother Amanda read ''Alice in Wonderland'' to them as children, as in the episode "[[Once Upon a Planet]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/startrek/2017/10/03/star-trek-discovery-spock-animated-series-easter-egg/|title='Star Trek: Discovery' References Spock And 'The Animated Series'|work=comicbook.com|access-date=March 8, 2019|archive-date=October 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004040118/http://comicbook.com/startrek/2017/10/03/star-trek-discovery-spock-animated-series-easter-egg/|url-status=live}}</ref> The second season episode "Light and Shadows" expands on Amanda's reasons for doing so.

The 2021 series Season 2 of ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'' episode 2 ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2#Episodes|Kayshon, His Eyes Open]]'' features the skeleton of Giant Spock from TAS season 1 episode 7 "[[The Infinite Vulcan]]". Also in Season 2 of ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'' episode 8 "[[Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2#Episodes|I, Excretus]]" features a Pandronian drill administrator named Shari yn Yem, the first Pandronian in the history of Trek to appear outside of TAS.  The race was introduced in TAS episode [[Bem (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|"Bem"]].

Carter Winston, from "[[The Survivor (Star Trek: The Animated Series)|The Survivor]]", has a small but important role late in the 1984 tie-in novel ''[[The Final Reflection]]'' by [[John M. Ford]]. In recent years, references to ''The Animated Series'' have also cropped up again in the licensed books and comics. 

[[M'Ress]] and [[Arex (Star Trek)|Arex]], characters from the animated series, appear in the ''[[Star Trek: New Frontier]]'' novels by [[Peter David]], in which M'Ress and Arex are transported through time to the 24th Century, and are made officers on board the USS ''Trident''. (David's previous use of these characters, in TOS movie-era comics published by [[DC Comics]], had been ended by Gene Roddenberry's office.)<ref>''Star Trek'', Series II issue #1 lettercol, DC Comics, September 1989</ref>

A race introduced in the episode "[[The Jihad]]", represented by a character named EM/3/GREEN, is named the Nasat in the [[Starfleet Corps of Engineers]] [[e-book]] novellas. These stories feature a regular Nasat character, [[Starfleet Corps of Engineers|P8 Blue]]. The Vulcan city of ShiKahr also appears in many books. Paula Block, then of [[CBS Consumer Products]], was responsible for approving proposals and all completed manuscripts for the licensed media tie-ins and granted many such uses of ''TAS'' material since Roddenberry's death.

[[Amarillo Design Bureau]] has—as part of its license for the [[Star Fleet Universe]] series of games—incorporated many aspects of ''The Animated Series'' into its works, not least being the inclusion of the [[Kzin]]ti, although in a modified form. In addition [[FASA]] used elements from ''The Animated Series'' in its sourcebooks and modules for its [[Star Trek: The Role Playing Game|''Star Trek'' role-playing game]].

''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' producer [[Manny Coto]] has commented that had the show been renewed for a fifth season, the [[Kzin]]ti would have been introduced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek:_Enterprise#The_Would-Be_Season_5|title=Star Trek: Enterprise|work=Memory Alpha|access-date=December 29, 2007|archive-date=January 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101082432/http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek:_Enterprise#The_Would-Be_Season_5|url-status=live}}</ref> Starship designs were produced which closely resemble the Kzinti/[[Kzin|Mirak]] ships from the ''[[Star Fleet Universe]]'', a gaming universe that includes the boardgame ''[[Star Fleet Battles]]'' and its [[Personal computer|PC]] analogue ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Command|Star Fleet Command]]''. The Kzinti were referenced in dialog in the ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'' episode "Nepenthe", which marked their first canonical on-screen mention since ''The Animated Series''.

On June 27, 2007, ''Star Trek''{{'}}s official site incorporated information from ''The Animated Series'' into its library section,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://intl.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/66895.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703224730/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/66895.html|archive-date=July 3, 2010|access-date=May 16, 2020|title=''The Animated Series'' Gets Real|work=StarTrek.com|url-status=live}}</ref> with many pointing to this as evidence that the animated series is canonical, though this has not been officially confirmed. Both David Gerrold and D. C. Fontana have stated that the animated series is essentially the fourth season that fans wanted originally.<ref>Silverman, D. S. (2015). "Always Bring Phasers to an 'Animated' Canon Fight: ''Star Trek''{{'}}s Animated Adventures on Saturday Mornings". In D. Brode & S. Brode (Eds.) ''Gene Roddenberry's ''Star Trek'': The Original Cast Adventures''. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow. {{ISBN|978-1-4422-4987-5}}</ref>

=== ''Very Short Treks'' ===
{{main|Star Trek: Very Short Treks}}
In July 2023, a series of five animated short films in the style of ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' were announced. Made for the 50th anniversary of that series, they are expected to represent most of the previous ''Star Trek'' series, and featuring members of their cast and characters.<ref name="AnimatedCelebration">{{cite web|url=https://trekmovie.com/2023/07/21/jonathan-frakes-doug-jones-and-armin-shimerman-voicing-new-star-trek-the-animated-celebration-spots/|title='Jonathan Frakes, Doug Jones, And Armin Shimerman Voicing New 'Star Trek: The Animated Celebration' Shorts |last=Pascale|first=Anthony|work=TrekMovie|date=July 21, 2023|access-date=July 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722165217/https://trekmovie.com/2023/07/21/jonathan-frakes-doug-jones-and-armin-shimerman-voicing-new-star-trek-the-animated-celebration-spots/|archive-date=July 22, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> Titled ''[[Star Trek: Very Short Treks]]'', the series premiered on September 8, 2023.<ref name="VeryShortTreks">{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2023-09-05 |title=''Star Trek: Very Short Treks'' To Be Unveiled By CBS Studios On Star Trek Day |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/star-trek-very-short-treks-promotional-star-trek-day-1235536170/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book| last = Alexander| first = David| title = Star Trek Creator: The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry| url = https://archive.org/details/startrekcreator00davi| date = February 16, 1995| publisher = Roc| isbn = 0-451-45440-5| url-access = registration}}
* {{cite book|last=Ayers|first=Jeff|title=Voyages of the Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion|publisher=Pocket Books|year=2006|isbn=1-4165-0349-8}}
* {{cite book|last1=Okuda|first1=Mike|author-link=Mike Okuda|last2=Okuda|first2=Denise |title=Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future|isbn=0-671-53610-9|publisher=Pocket Books|year=1996}}
{{Refend}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title}}
{{Memory Alpha|Star Trek: The Animated Series|''Star Trek: The Animated Series''}}
* [http://www.startrekanimated.com/tas_main.html ''StarTrekAnimated.com'']
* [http://tas.trekcore.com ''Star Trek: The Animated Series''] at TrekCore.com

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{{Star Trek: The Animated Series}}
{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series}}
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{{Children's programming on NBC in the 1970s}}
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[[Category:Star Trek: The Animated Series| ]]
[[Category:1970s American animated television series]]
[[Category:1970s American children's television series]]
[[Category:1970s American science fiction television series]]
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[[Category:1974 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American children's animated action television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated space adventure television series]]
[[Category:American children's animated science fantasy television series]]
[[Category:American sequel television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Star Trek animated series|Animated]]
[[Category:Television series by Filmation]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television series set in the 23rd century]]
[[Category:Television series created by Gene Roddenberry]]
[[Category:NBC television dramas]]
[[Category:Animated television series about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Television shows based on works by Gene Roddenberry]]
[[Category:NBC animated television series]]