STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES [1973 / 1974 / 2016] [50th Anniversary] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry’s STAR TREK TV Series!
SET PHASERS TO FUN . . . The five-year mission continues in STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES: The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry’s STAR TREK TV Series, now remastered on Blu-ray in High Definition.
Captain Kirk [William Shatner] and Mr. Spock [Leonard Nimoy] return, along with the faithful crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, to boldly go where no one has gone before. Get ready to bean aboard and explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy, discover new alien species, and of course, find a few tribbles along the way. Voiced by the original cast, this Emmy Award winning series is sure to capture the imagination of every generation.
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 2007 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Nominated: Best Retro Television Series Release on DVD. 1974 Daytime Emmy Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Entertainment Children's Series for Lou Scheimer (producer) and Norm Prescott (producer). 1975 Daytime Emmy Awards: Win: Outstanding Entertainment Children's Series for Lou Scheimer (Producer) and Norm Prescott (Producer).
Voice Cast: William Shatner (1973-1974), Leonard Nimoy (1973-1974), DeForest Kelley (1973-1974), George Takei (1973-1974), Nichelle Nichols (1973-1974), James Doohan (1973-1974), Majel Barrett (1973-1974), Lou Scheimer (1973-1974), David Gerrold (1973-1974), Stanley Adams (uncredited) (1973), Ed Bishop (uncredited) (1973), Roger C. Carmel (uncredited) (1973), Ted Knight (uncredited) (1973), Mark Lenard (uncredited) (1973), Billy Simpson (uncredited) (1973), Keith Sutherland (uncredited) (1973), Jane Webb (uncredited) (1974) and Norm Prescott (uncredited) (1974)
Directors: Hal Sutherland (1973-1974) and Bill Reed (1974)
Producers: D.C. Fontana (1973-1974), Lou Scheimer (1973-1974) and Norm Prescott (1973-1974)
Screenplay: Gene Roddenberry (Creator) (1973-1974), Chuck Menville (1973-1974) David Gerrold (1973-1974), Len Janson (1973-1974), Stephen Kandel (1973-1974), D.C. Fontana (1973), James Schmerer (1973), Joyce Perry (1973), Larry Brody (1973), Larry Niven (1973), Marc Daniels (1973), Margaret Armen (1973), Paul Schneider (1973), Samuel A. Peeples (1973), Walter Koenig (1973), Dario Finelli (1974), David P. Harmon (1974), David Wise (1974), Fred Bronson (1974), Howard Weinstein (1974) and Russell Bates (1974)
Composers: Norm Prescott (1973-1974) and Ray Ellis (1973-1974)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
German: Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Italian: 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, French, German and Italian
Running Time: 526 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 3
Studio: CBS Home Entertainment / Paramount Television
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ [1973 / 1974] is the Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry’s STAR TREK franchise, and now totally remastered on Blu-ray in the stunning 1080p High Definition and was well worth the wait. Captain Kirk [William Shatner] and Mr. Spock [Leonard Nimoy] return, along with the faithful crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, to boldly go where no one has gone before. Get ready to beam aboard and explore the farthest reaches of the galaxy, discover new alien species, and of course, we find a few Tribbles along the way that cause mayhem.
With the ‘STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ the show's stylish colourful backgrounds represents the Animated Series secret weapon, and especially with its ability to create imaginative alien landscapes for such a small dollar budget, giving many of its episodes the added luxury of creative backdrops and captivating creatures. Equally impressive is the voice cast, with its immediately comfortable and familiar voices, with several regulars even earning overtime by voicing multiple supporting characters, especially James "Scotty" Doohan, for example, who supplied more than his fair share voicing the animated characters. This Emmy Award-winning Animated TV series sure captures the amazing imagination of Gene Roddenberry and of course every generation.
As with this Blu-ray disc set of ‘STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ you get the usual Holodecks, Klingon cloaking devices, de-aged crew members, old crew members restored by the transporter, plus loads of other ingenious sci-fi these things and much more, and especially with an amazing 50ft. Mr. Spock can be found in this brilliant ‘STAR TREK STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES,’ which features all 22 episodes and presented in stunning high definition images.
The TV series was critically acclaimed, because it was the first STAR TREK series to win an Emmy Award, and especially the space opera stories still holds up today. Also the screenwriters of the STAR TREK: The Original Series also penned many of the cartoon episodes, so it definitely has that original series feel to it even though it was made for the Saturday morning television audiences. So we boldly go and continuing the STAR TREK: The Original Series saga where it left off, and these animated adventures chart the progress of Captain Kirk and his crew in a universe unconstrained by “real-life” cinematography! With all characters voiced by their original actors, join Kirk, Spock, Bones and the crew for 22 new adventures: to boldly go where no animation has gone before!
As to the said animation, this was of course produced by the Filmmation style, which was very popular among Saturday morning cartoons of that era. If you are not familiar with this type of animation, it is very basic primal in style. Basic colour is used, but luckily in Technicolor and with some of the images, they can look very stationary at times and especially with lots of “stock” animated footage that gets repeated, but I expect that because it was the style of the time it was made. You also basically are treated to a stationary picture with a mouth moving and then maybe a slight movement. Coming with that there are some glaring mistakes in the animation, due to the repetitious use of some shots, but despite this, I still enjoyed what I viewed, as it has an animation style that is unique for this STAR TREK animated franchise and especially for all Trekkie fans as well.
With each and every episode of Gene Roddenberry‘s original STAR TREK TV Series began with William Shatner‘s Captain James T. Kirk waxing philosophical about the voyages of the starship U.S.S. Enterprise, and its five year mission, which we get the same Captain James T. Kirk wording again at the start of each episode. But now luckily for Trekkie fans and also fans of this cartoon series, it is now out on this glorious Blu-ray disc set and it has the same great writing we deserved in the live-action TV series, but of the same calibre. But of course the big bonus is that this Blu-ray three disc set has each episode looking and sounding absolutely pristine and well worth the wait.
STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES Episode List:
SEASON 1:
Beyond the Farthest Star [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] While exploring on the outermost rim of the galaxy the U.S.S. Enterprise is pulled into the orbit of a dead star Questar M-17, a source of mysterious radio emissions. Trapped there, the crew discovers that there is an ancient derelict pod ship trapped with them as well, and a malevolent entity on it is eager to take over the U.S.S. Enterprise Starfleet ship. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel] and James Doohan [Scott / Lt. Kyle / Ancient Insectoid / Magnetic Organism].
Yesteryear [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] After finding himself erased from recent history, Mr. Spock must travel back in time to save himself as a youth and again travels back in time through the Guardian of Forever and keep his younger self from dying and being replaced by an Andorian on his ship. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Amanda Grayson / Grey], James Doohan [Scott / Guardian of Forever / Aleek-Om / Bates / Lt. Erikson / Commander Thelin / Vulcan Healer], Mark Lenard [Sarek] (uncredited), Billy Simpson [Young Spock] (uncredited) and Keith Sutherland [Young Sepek] (uncredited).
One of Our Planets Is Missing [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise encounters a giant cloud creature that feeds on the energy of the planets that lie in its path. They determine it is heading for Mantilles, home to a Federation colony governed by former Starfleet officer Bob Wesley. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock],DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Cosmic Cloud] and James Doohan [Scott / Commodore Robert Wesley / Lt. Arex].
The Lorelei Signal [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise investigate a sector of space where starships have disappeared every 27 years, the U.S.S. Enterprise finds a race of beautiful women living on the planet Taurus II. The female crew members must take over the U.S.S Enterprise when the men are incapacitated. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura / Dara / Davison / Enterprise Computer], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel / Theela] and James Doohan [Scott / Lt. Carver].
More Tribbles, More Troubles [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [24:00] While the U.S.S. 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 U.S.S. Enterprise rescues the pilot, the Klingons attack with a new energy weapon and demand that the pilot Cyrano Jones is handed over to them. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock],DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Nurse Christine Chapel], James Doohan [Scott / Koloth / Korax], Stanley Adams [Cyrano Jones] (uncredited) and David Gerrold [Security Ensign] (uncredited).
The Survivor [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] While patrolling near the Romulan Neutral Zone, the U.S.S. Enterprise finds a ship manned by Carter Winston, a famous humanitarian is found alive near the Romulan Neutral Zone after being missing for five years, but he may not be who he claims to be. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura /Anne Nored], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel / Lt. M'Ress / Enterprise Computer], James Doohan [Scott / Romulan Commander] and Ted Knight [Vendorian /Carter Winston] (uncredited).
The Infinite Vulcan [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] While visiting the newly discovered planet Phylos, Lt. Sulu picks up a walking plant, called a Retlaw, and is poisoned. The alien species that inhabit the planet, who are plant like beings, approach and save Lt. Sulu's life. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [voice] and James Doohan [Scott / Agmar / Stavos Keniclius 5].
The Magicks of Megas-Tu [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] The U.S.S. Enterprise is exploring the centre of the galaxy, looking for the heart of creation. When the ship is caught inside a tornado made of pure energy, a devil like being calling himself Lucien appears to save them. Lucien takes Captain Kirk and his crew to the magical planet of Megas-Tu. But when the Megans discover the presence of humans, they put them on trial the same way they were treated when they visited Earth centuries earlier. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [voice] and James Doohan [Scott / Lucien] and Ed Bishop [Asmodeus] (uncredited).
Once Upon a Planet [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] Upon returning to the Amusement Park planet, the U.S.S. Enterprise crew finds the computer, which generates the planet's sophisticated robots is running amok, and the caretaker is nowhere to be found. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], James Doohan [Scott / Arex / White Rabbit / Gabler / Master Computer], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura / Alice] and Majel Barrett [Lt. M'Ress /Queen of Hearts].
Mudd's Passion [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] The U.S.S. Enterprise crew runs into its old nemesis; Harcourt Fenton Mudd, more commonly known as Harry Mudd. Time's not changed Harry Mudd's predilection for nefarious business ventures. This time, Harry Mudd's peddling an illegal love potion. The drug does have an accidental effect; on Spock, who, again finds himself falling for Nurse Christine Chapel. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura /Female Ursinoid Miner ], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel / Lt. M'Ress / Lora], James Doohan [Scott /Human Miner /Male Ursinoid Miner] and Roger C. Carmel [Harcourt Fenton Mudd] (uncredited).
The Terratin Incident [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] While on a mapping mission, the U.S.S. Enterprise receives an outdated transmission from the volcanic star Cepheus. A flash of light from the planet passes through the ship and disables all dilithium crystals. Soon thereafter, the crew begins to shrink. With no cure in sight, it becomes increasingly difficult for the Starfleet officers to handle the ship's controls. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel / Lt. M'Ress / Briel] and James Doohan [Scott / Lt. Arex / Gabler / Mendant of the Terratins].
The Time Trap [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] While exploring the Delta Triangle, where many Starships have disappeared, the U.S.S. Enterprise is attacked by several Klingon vessels. During the battle they are caught in an ion storm. The U.S.S. Enterprise and one Klingon battlecruiser are drawn into a space-time vortex and are trapped in space-time warp where only their cooperation will allow them to escape. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu / Kuri], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura / Devna / Kali / Magen], Majel Barrett [voice] and James Doohan [Scott / Kor / Bell / Clayton / Gabler / Kaz / Xerius].
The Ambergris Element [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] While the U.S.S. Enterprise investigates a water-world, Captain Kirk and Commander Spock go missing. They've been abducted by the world's inhabitants and altered into water breathers as well. 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. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Rila /Aquan Females], James Doohan [Scott / Lt. Arex / Clayton / Cadmar / Domar / Aquan male] and Lou Scheimer [Lemus / Aquan Harvester] (uncredited).
The Slaver Weapon [1973] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] In the shuttlecraft Copernicus, Mr. Spock, Uhura, and Lt. Sulu are en route to Starbase 25 to deliver a stasis box, which is a rare artefact of the Slaver culture when the Kzinti intervene and the crew is captured by the Kzinti who are equally interested in it. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Slaver Weapon Computer] and James Doohan [Chuft Captain / Kzinti telepath / Kzinti flyer].
The Eye of the Beholder [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] The disappearance of a scientific team lures the U.S.S. Enterprise to investigate near Lactra VII. The Starship Ariel is located there, abandoned, with its captain having transported to the planet's surface. But unfortunately Captain James T. Kirk and crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise find themselves placed in an alien zoo. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Lt. M'Ress / Randi Bryce] and James Doohan [Scott / Tom Markel / Arex].
The Jihad [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [25:00] The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives at the Vedala asteroid, where Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock have been summoned to learn about a stolen religious artefact, the "Soul of the Skorr", whose theft could ignite a galactic holy war, but become involved in a secret quest to retrieve a stolen artefact and prevent a warrior race from attacking the galaxy. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [voice], James Doohan [Sord / Tchar], David Gerrold [EM / 3 / Green] (uncredited) and Jane Webb [Lara /Vedala Female] (uncredited).
SEASON 2:
The Pirates of Orion [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [24:00] When Mr. Spock is stricken by a disease fatal to Vulcans, the U.S.S. Enterprise is to meet a freighter with a load of drugs that provides the only cure, but the Orion pirates attack the ship and Captain Kirk must track down the Orion pirates and the drug Mr. Spock before it is too late. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel / Library Computer / Huron Lieutenant] and James Doohan [Scott / O'Shea / Arex / Orion Captain / Transporter Chief].
Bem [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [22:00] This episode marks the first time that Captain James T. Kirk's full name is given, revealing that the middle initial stood for Tiberius, after the Roman emperor. The U.S.S. Enterprise crew is conducting a series of exploratory missions with honorary Commander Ari bn Bem, a representative from the newly contacted planet Pandro, who is working for his government as an independent observer of the Federation. Before long, Captain Kirk and his people are captured by primitive natives. They soon learn that these primitives are under the guardianship of a powerful entity who is upset that the U.S.S. Enterprise crew has come to her planet and interfered with her "children." Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura / Alien Entity], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel] and James Doohan [Scott / Ari bn Bem / Arex].
The Practical Joker [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] After passing through a strange space energy cloud, the computer of the U.S.S. Enterprise gains partial control and starts playing practical jokes on the crew, but the humour soon turns to danger. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura / Alien Entity], Majel Barrett [M'Ress / Computer Voice], James Doohan [Scott / Arex / Search party 7 Crewman], Norm Prescott [Romulan commander] (uncredited) and Lou Scheimer [Romulan crewman] (uncredited).
Albatross [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] Doctor McCoy is arrested for allegedly causing a deadly plague which once ravaged the planet Dramia and is charged with mass murder committed 19 years earlier. The Dramians allege that 19 years earlier Doctor McCoy had supervised an inoculation program against Saurian virus on Dramia II, and that once he had left most of the inhabitants died from a plague. The Dramian government believes the plague must have been a result from Doctor McCoy's activities there. Voice Cast: : William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [Nurse Chapel], James Doohan [Scott / Dramian Supreme Prefect / Kol-Tai] and Lou Scheimer [Dramian Guard] (uncredited).
How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [23:00] The U.S.S. Enterprise runs into a being which once visited Earth, and influenced the Mayan culture and is a mysterious being threatens to destroy the U.S.S. Enterprise if the crew is unable to solve an ancient puzzle. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura], Majel Barrett [voice] and James Doohan [Scott / Arex / Walking Bear / Kukulkan].
The Counter-Clock Incident [1974] [1080p] [1.33:1] [24:00] The U.S.S. Enterprise is transporting its first Captain, Robert April to Babel, where he will reluctantly accept his retirement. When the U.S.S. Enterprise attempts to stop an unidentified vessel on a collision course with the Beta Niobe nova, the ship accidentally pass into an alternate dimension, where time flows in the opposite direction. The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise rapidly begins to grow younger in age, and soon become unable to man the consoles. Voice Cast: William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk], Leonard Nimoy [Mr. Spock], DeForest Kelley [Dr. McCoy], George Takei [Sulu], Nichelle Nichols [Uhura / Dr. Sarah April / Karla Five], Majel Barrett [voice] and James Doohan [Scott / Arex / Commodore Robert April / Karl Four].
Blu-ray Image Quality – Paramount Television presents us with this Blu-ray disc set release with a really nice 1080p encoded image that looks closely to have been sourced from the same 2006 inferior DVD set, but of course this has been amazingly upgraded for this Blu-ray release and of course before Widescreen Television was ever thought of, we get a nice looking 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The little bits of print damage and speckles match up nearly perfectly. It’s a solid transfer nonetheless, and one that looks about as good as it can get without a complete remastering from the ground up. Colours are bright and vibrant, with the reds, blues and yellows of the Starfleet uniforms blending nicely with neon greens from alien creatures, as well as all sorts of primaries and slate greys for good measure. Fine detail is quite pleasing to the eye with the hand animated lines looking fantastic. There does not seem to be any DNR [Digital Noise Reduction], no digital manipulation of any kind to the naked eye. Black levels are strong, but sometimes look a teensy bit washed out and the overall image are very stable besides some mild wobbled here and there.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Television brings us with this Blu-ray disc set release with a really nice 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience. Even though it was originally broadcast in mono and there is actually a 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono audio track for the purists. The show was remixed in 5.1 for the old inferior DVD release and this appears to be the same mix with just the added upgrade done to it. Dialogue is crisp and well centred in the front, while the rest of the front soundstage shows nice imaging up there between the mains. The surround channels are mainly utilised for the score and certain action queues that may require their use. Otherwise the new mix doesn’t try to create a wildly immersive mix that is slightly unnatural, but despite this it is tight and clean, but fairly minimalistic due to being sourced from a simple 1970s mono mix. While the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track doesn’t try to be ostentatious or overly “modern,” it still maintains a high level of quality for a budget TV show series from Paramount Television is near flawless, just slightly hampered by the afore mentioned minimalistic style.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: DRAWN to the FINAL FRONTIER: The Making of STAR TREK: The Animated Series [2006] [1080i] [1:37.1] [24:31] This is a CBS DVD presentation and especially an in-depth look at the making of the STAR TREK: The Animated Series. We also look at certain episodes, especially ‘The Terratin Incident’ [1973]; ‘The Time Trap’ [1973]; ‘More Tribbles, More Troubles’ [1973]; ‘The Lorelei Signal’ [1973]; ‘Mudd's Passion’ [1973]; ‘The Magicks of Megas-Tu’ [1973]; ‘The Survivor’ [1973]; ‘The Counter-Clock Incident’ [1974]; ‘Albatross’ [1974]; ‘One of Our Planets Is Missing’ [1973]; ‘Beyond the Farthest Star' [1973]; ‘The Practical Joker’ [1974]; ‘The Ambergris Element’ [1973] and ‘Bem’ [1974]. This very enjoyable documentary brings together some of the brilliant talent behind this often overlooked 1973/1974 addition to the STAR TREK franchise. It is so good to finally see the faces of Lou Sheimer and Hal Sutherland, having the young and old have grown up with a lot of their work, who seem very amiable and enthusiastic even almost 40 years after the animated series finished. Naturally there is nothing but praise for the “Great Bird of the Galaxy” himself, Gene Roddenbery, as nobody wanted to go into the fact that he later proclaimed the animated series not to be part of the overall continuity of the STAR TREK franchise, with the possible exception of one episode, but what is confusing is that at the time the animated series was being produced Gene Roddenbery gave the green light to go ahead with the animated series. Overall this is a really very nice special feature and was so nice hearing so many personal views on all who was involved with the STAR TREK: The Animated Series and how enthusiastic they were being involved with this particular STAR TREK series. We also get a nice rare clip of the 1974 – 1975 Daytime Emmy Awards in honour to the STAR TREK animation series. Contributors include Lou Scheimer [Producer], Hal Sutherland [Director], David Gerrold [Writer], Dorothy C. Fontana [Writer/Associate Producer], Larry Brody [Writer], Mike Sussman [Writer/Producer], Judith Reeves-Stevens [Writer] and Garfield Reeves-Stevens [Writer].
Special Feature: What's the STAR TREK Connection? [2006] [1080i] [1:37.1] [7:12] Here we get a quick look at some of the ways the STAR TREK animated series connects to other STAR TREK TV shows and of course the other STAR TREK films in the larger Star Trek universe. Here we get to view a selection of 12 very short features, which consist of the following: Introduction; Sehlat; Tribbles; Mind Meld; Holographs; Kor; Orion; Eugenics; Rapidly Aging Crew; James T. Kirk and Native American Crew. As usual, you can either play them separately or Play All. Also at the end of each short feature they advertise only the inferior DVD releases of STAR TREK TV Series, STAR TREK: The Next Generation TV Series and the STAR TREK: Voyager TV Series.
Special Feature: Show History: Here we get featured four text slides providing some background on the origins of the STAR TREK TV series. This animated series featured many of the characters from the original STAR TREK TV Series. The scripts came from veteran science fiction and STAR TREK writers, including Dorothy C. Fontana, Walter Koenig, David Gerrold, Samuel A. Peeples, and many others. With the freedom provided by the animated medium, new and bizarre alien species and exotic locales could be seen here for the first time.
The “Animated Adventures” ran for Twenty-Two episodes starting in September 1973 on NBC, with production by veteran animation house Filmation Associates Production Company. Most of the STAR TREK cast provided voices for their original series characters, including Captain James T. Kirk [William Shatner], First Officers Commander Spock [Leonard Nimoy], and Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy [DeForest Kelley].
Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott was again portrayed by James Doohan, who exercised his versatile talent by also providing the voice for countless alien creatures, StarFleet crew members, and robots. Lieutenant Sulu [George Takei] was there to steer the ship, but his young friend Ensign Chekov was conspicuously absent.
Nichelle Nichols as Uhura and Majel Barrett as Nurse Chapel were present in many episodes and both of these talented women also voiced several other characters.
At the start of this special feature, it informs you that you must use the Right and Left arrow keys on your remote control to view the images in this gallery, but all you get to view is the in-depth information about the ‘STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES.’
Trailer: STAR TREK Blu-ray and DIGITAL HD Promotional Trailer [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:17]
The Cutting Room Floor: With this Blu-ray packaging it has printed information for the Extra Special features on the Third Blu-ray disc; where it states we are to experience Audio and Text Audio Commentaries. It also says we are to view a "Storyboard Gallery" that is nowhere to be found, but apparently the older inferior DVD edition had such a storyboard gallery for animated episode of ‘The Infinite Vulcan.’ The DVD also came with a booklet that is not included with this package. Also we are informed that we were to have the STAR TREK experts Michael and Denise Okuda provide text trivia tracks for episodes like ‘Yesteryear,’ ‘The Eye of the Beholder’ and ‘The Counter-Clock Incident.’ But for some unknown reason this is nowhere to be found, can anyone out there explain this anomaly, as it seems that these items have either been sucked into a black hole or had experienced a vortex of some kind.
Finally, the ‘STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ is a brilliant Blu-ray release from Paramount Television and especially for all you Trekkie fans out there and although the animation itself has all the hallmarks from the 1970s, the stories at least are very well written and these serve nicely as an unofficial fourth and fifth seasons of the original TV series, highlighted of course by its original cast. Also ‘STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ was usually dismissed as an afterthought or forgotten entirely, but this animated Sci-Fi TV Series is an important part of the STAR TREK franchise's resurrection between the actual STAR TREK TV series and the later on with the STAR TREK film franchise. Featuring most of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew, who did the voicing of their characters plus members of the original series screenwriters and production team helped also. It is totally imaginative collection of episodes with fewer constraints than the live-action material. Of course, it also suffers the moderate hit-or-miss of the classic STAR TREK writing quality goes and of course the limited animation can be to some as a turn-off at first, but die-hard Trekkie fans should enjoy themselves. Paramount's Blu-ray collection offers just a modest upgrade from the 2006 inferior DVD set; and the A/V presentation obviously gets a decent boost and the packaging is absolutely terrific, especially for established Trekkie fans and curious newcomers alike, so enjoy and “Go Boldly Where No One Has Gone Before.” Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
