Editing Star Trek: The Animated Series (section)

== 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>