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Star Trek: The Animated Series is returning with new shorts featuring Riker, Quark, and Saru

At San Diego Comic Con 2023, the network announced all-new animated TV spots and an upcoming IDW comic.

Image credit: CBS
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Feature by Grant DeArmitt Contributing writer
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It's been 50 years since one Star Trek series took us into a bold, entirely strange new world: animation. And at San Diego Comic Con 2023, Star Trek's owner CBS Studios announced a tribute to the classic Star Trek: The Animated Series in honor of its very special golden anniversary.

CBS's salute to the series comes in two parts. The first will be five all-new animated TV spots in the style of the show's 1973 animation, but featuring Star Trek characters that came after the cartoon went off the air. So far, CBS has confirmed that three Trek staples are returning to voice their characters for the TV spots; those being Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Doug Jones as Saru, and Armin Shimerman as Quark. Check out their character designs below.

Image credit: CBS Studios
Image credit: CBS Studios
Image credit: CBS Studios

Interestingly, the animated TV spots will be spearheaded by Casper Kelly, known for the Adult Swim viral piece Too Many Cooks.

The second part of the animated series celebration will come in the form of comics, published by Star Trek's comic homebase IDW, and also written by Casper Kelly. The issues will be available digitally on StarTrek.com at first, then show up in print later. CBS has released a first look at the comic, which you can see here:

Image credit: IDW Publishing
Image credit: IDW Publishing

Judging just by the art, we can see that the comic, entitled The Scheimer Barrier, will have some sort of multiverse hopping going on, as the Lower Decks animation will be used in tandem with the 1973 style.

Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier will be available in physical form at this year's New York Comic Con, which is October 12 - 15.

Star Trek: The Animated Series is currently streaming on Paramount+.

Popverse saw it and did most of it, and you can find all about our guide to All the big news, magic, and moments from San Diego Comic-Con. And if you want to go to SDCC next year, we have the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 dates as well.

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