Logo

See also Culture jamming, Guerrilla communication. Here are a few of the major reference works related to the production and influence of the franchise. The best-known organizations subverting established logos and brands are ®™ark and AdBusters. Star Trek may be the most documented entertainment franchise in history. Virtually all distinctive design elements related to brands or logos can become subjects to subvertising. Despite this, however, the company maintains that it has ambitious plans for the line, including (in May 2005) the confirmation that an Enterprise Relaunch series of novels is in the planning stages.[17]. flag with the white stars replaced with major corporate logos. Although book line editors stressed that the decision to reduce the number of books was made a year earlier and was not related to popularity/ratings problems within the franchise, the announcement was seen by some as another indication that the Star Trek franchise is on the wane.

Another example is the AdBusters' corporate flag, a U.S. However, soon after Enterprise was cancelled, the company announced that it was halving the number of Star Trek novels it would be publishing, down to only one mass-market paperback per month, plus several trade paperbacks and hardcovers throughout the year. Perhaps the best known example of a logo "hijacked" this way is the Swooshtika. Pocket Books, current publishers of officially licensed fiction based upon all the series (as well as numerous original Star Trek series of its own), plans to continue publishing original novels for the foreseeable future. The wide recognition the most famous logos receive provides the brand's critics with the possibility of meme-hacking, a process also known as subvertising, turning the marketing message carried by the logo (either in its pristine form, or subtly altered) into a vehicle for an alternative message, frequently highly critical to the brand in question. [16]. Perhaps the most famous (and possibly the oldest) of these is the emblem of the Olympic Games: the Olympic Rings, five interlocking rings (blue, yellow, black, green, and red respectively) on a white field. and Bethesda Softworks.

And, logos don't have to represent commercial enterprises to be well-known. [14] An interview has also been secured between one of the top Star Trek Gaming Fansites, Star Trek Gamers [15]. Note also, the right pointing arrow in the new logo is a subliminal hint of motion. Further information was published in the February Issue of Game Informer magazine, and an official announcement was made by Bethesda shortly aftwards. Besides creating a much stronger, shorter brand name, they reduced the amount of color used on vehicles (planes, trucks) and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in paint costs. Mad Doc software is no stranger to Star Trek gaming, having developed the acclaimed Star Trek: Armada II title. An interesting case is the refinement of the FedEx logo, where the brand consultants convinced the company to shorten their corporate name and logo from "Federal Express" to the popular abbreviation "Fed Ex". In January 2006, Information was leaked regarding plans for two new Star Trek games, Star Trek - Legacy (for the Xbox 360 and PC) and Star Trek - Tactical Assault (for PSP and DS), both being published by Bethesda Softworks and developed by Mad Doc Software and Quicksilver Software respectively, both these games are rumoured to be released in September 2006.

Some famous examples of his work were the UPS package with a string (updated in March 2003) IBM, Goodwill Industries and NeXT Computer. More detailed information regarding the game can be found in Stography, a wiki dedicated to the game. However, Paul Rand is considered the father of corporate identity and his work has been seminal in launching this field. Currently, the game is tentatively titled Star Trek Online and is expected to be set roughly 20 years after the events of Nemesis. Corporate identities today are often developed by large firms who specialize in this type of work. This will be the first game of this type to be based on Star Trek. He hired a young student (Caroline Davidson) to design his logo, paying her $35 for what has become one of the best known marks in the world (she was later compensated again by the company). In 2004, Perpetual Entertainment announced plans for an MMORPG based in the Star Trek universe.

When Phil Knight started Nike, he was hoping to find a mark as recognizable as the Adidas stripes, which also provided reinforcement to the shoe. Its continued operation after the release of Star Trek Online is unknown. Other logos that are recognized globally: the Nike "Swoosh" and the adidas "Three stripes" are two well-known brands that are defined by their corporate logo. While it is known that hundreds of Star Trek sims exist online providing non-graphical gaming experiences, this forum serves as the text based game for the official Paramount operated Star Trek website [13]. Automotive brands can be summed up simply with their corporate logo- from the Chevrolet "Bow Tie" mark to the circle marks of VW, Mercedes and BMW, to the interlocking "RR" of Rolls-Royce each has stood for a brand and clearly differentiated the product line. In late 2002, an organization offering an online chat based role-playing game was established called the Star Trek Simulation Forum (STSF). There are some other logos that must be mentioned when evaluating what the mark means to the consumer. In March 2005, an agreement was reached and all lawsuits were dropped, but the other terms have been deemed confidential [12].

What started as International Business Machines is now just "IBM" and the color blue has been a signature in their unifying campaign as they have moved to become an IT services company. Activision cancelled the contract and sought compensation for losses. IBM, also known as "Big Blue" has simplified their logo over the years, and their name. None of the games produced sold well, with the exception of the Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force games. Coca Cola's script is known the world over, but is best associated with the color red; its main competitor, Pepsi has taken the color blue, although they have abandoned their script logo. Many games were released under this agreement, but in 2003, Activision filed a lawsuit against Viacom stating that they were not holding up to their end of the bargain because the Star Trek franchise was not as valuable as it once was. Other well-known examples are: Apple Computer, Inc.'s apple with a bite out of it started out as a rainbow of color, and has been reduced to a single color without any loss of recognition. In 1998, Viacom entered into an agreement with Activision to produce Star Trek video games.

The logotype will be recognized from afar because of its shape and its yellow color. Counted among the commercially unsuccessful Star Trek games are Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Star Trek: New Worlds, Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: Klingon Honor Guard, and Star Trek Deep Space 9: The Fallen. The same will be true when one is looking at the airport for the booth of the Hertz Rent-A-Car company. Among the most positively reviewed of contemporary game titles are the Interplay's Star Trek: Starfleet Command and Star Trek: Klingon Academy, and Activision's Star Trek: Bridge Commander, Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force, and the Star Trek: Armada series. For example, a box of Kellogg's cereals will be easily recognized in a supermarket's shelf from a certain distance, due to its unique typography and distinctive red coloring. Much like the movie series, Star Trek videogames have been of a hit-and-miss nature. Due to the design, the color, the shape, and eventually additional elements of the logotype, each one can easily be differentiated from other logotypes. Graphical adventures for the PC followed with limited success, but the first must-have title was created when the game publisher Interplay acquired the licence in 1992 and created Star Trek: 25th Anniversary to the delight of fans and critical acclaim.

In the next table, the name of these companies is shown in their specific design, their logotype. The first commercial text-based Star Trek game was Star Trek: The Promethean Prophecy, which was released in 1986. In these examples, recognizing the companies entails reading the name. Among the first plot-driven Trek games for home computers were text-based adventures. The following table shows the names of six well-known companies in the same typeface in all cases. More advanced graphics were introduced with Sega's coin-operated arcade game, Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator, which arrived in 1982 after the successful release of Wrath Of Khan, and featured vector-based graphics and a viewscreen view of battles with Klingon ships. There are essentially three kinds of logos:. Play was not in real time; each turn consisted of entering travel co-ordinates or a direction in which to fire phasers or torpedoes.

When designing (or commissioning) a logo, practices to encourage are:. In most of these versions, game play consisted of a grid-like map and keyboard controls, with the mission being to destroy a set number of Klingon vessels within a set period of time or number of moves. Conversely, cool colors (blue, purple) are associated with lightness and weightlessness, thus many diet products have a light blue integrated into the logo. The first graphically driven Star Trek game was simply called Star Trek and created for, initially, the Commodore PET in the late 1970s and later appeared on other systems such as the TRS-80 and Apple II. Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) are linked to hot food and thus can be seen integrated into many fast food logos. As early as 1974, a text-based game simply called Star Trek was experimented with on one of the first large-scale computer networks. Color is also useful for linking certain types of products with a brand. Star Trek videogames have a long history on the personal computer.

For other brands, more subdued tones and lower saturation can communicate dependability, quality, relaxation, etc. On December 1, 2005, it was reported via Patrick Stewart that discussions have been held regarding a possible new film featuring the TNG crew, although the actor indicated that his stage commitments would prevent him from participating in such a production until sometime in 2007.[11] Stewart also alluded to this during a live interview on ITV's This Morning whilst discussing his new show Eleventh Hour. Green is often associated with health foods.). The announcement of Paramount's new DVD Premiere division, devoted to direct-to-DVD original productions and franchise spin-offs, has led to speculation as to whether a future Star Trek film might be produced in this format.[10]. Red, white, and blue are often used in logos for companies that want to project patriotic feelings. [9]. Loud colors, such as red, that are meant to attract the attention of drivers on freeways are appropriate for companies that require such attention. In a follow-up interview for the September 2005 issue of Star Trek Magazine, Berman stated that planning for the film is still "in its infant stages."[8] In late February 2005, Berman told Variety that screenwriter Erik Jendresen, producer Jordan Kerner, and former Paramount Television president Kerry McCluggage were attached to the project.

Some colors are associated with certain emotions that the designer wants to convey (e.g. In a May 2005 interview for the UK Star Trek Magazine, Rick Berman stated that he does not expect Trek XI, if it is actually produced, to be released for several years.[7] Some sources such as the user-edited Internet Movie Database have given the film the working title Star Trek: The Beginning, and have suggested a 2007 release, however Paramount has yet to announce any official title, or if it will actually produce an 11th Star Trek film. Color is important to the brand recognition, but should not be an integral component to the logo design, which would conflict with its functionality. Most details about a possible eleventh film are either unknown or undecided. A good logo:. [6]. Because logos are meant to represent companies and foster recognition by consumers it is counterproductive to redesign logos often. In April 2005, he claimed that up until 2003–2004, Paramount had actually intended for the cast of Enterprise to become the focus for the next Star Trek film.

The logo, or brand, is not just an image, it is the embodiment of an organization. It has been reported that the decision to cancel Enterprise after its fourth season may have been made by Paramount as early as the 2002–2003 season, while lead actor Scott Bakula has gone on record as stating that management changes at Paramount in 2003–2004 left the Star Trek franchise without strong support at the studio. Logo design is commonly believed to be one of the most important areas in graphic design, thus making it the most difficult to perfect. One campaign, Trek United, attempted to raise funds to finance a fifth season, raising pledges and cash donations of more than $3.1 million (U.S.) Its proposal, which would have seen a fifth season jointly produced by Paramount along with Canadian and British production houses, was rejected by the studio. In non-profit areas, the Red Cross is an example of an extremely well known emblem which does not need a name to go with, though in Muslim countries it is the Red Crescent. Berman, however, stated that Paramount is not interested in shopping the show around to other networks. A sign or emblem would keep the general proprietary nature of the product in both markets. A campaign by Enterprise fans was mounted to have the show aired on the Sci-Fi Channel, which was rumored to be interested in the show at one point, although TV Guide reported otherwise.

Emblems will sometimes will grow in popularity, especially across areas with differing alphabets; for instance, a name in the Arabic language would be of little help in most European markets. There is some consensus among Star Trek fans that the fourth and final season of Enterprise was better than the previous three seasons, and that continuation of the program under the new "mini-arc" writing style introduced in season four would have stood a chance of the series acquiring better ratings during a fifth season. Examples of well-designed logos and logotypes are available in competitive design annuals. [3] [4] Stewart subsequently stated his concern that he may be too old to play the role of Picard by the time another film is made.[5]. Therefore, the trend in the recent years has been to use both logos and names, and to emphasize the design of the name instead of the logotype, making it unique by its letters, color, and additional graphic elements. In December of 2005, Patrick Stewart, who had earlier maintained that he was not interested in portraying Picard again, revealed that serious meetings have been held with parties interested in a fifth TNG film, which could be made in 2008 or 2009. The consequence is the notion that it makes less sense to use a sign as a logotype, even together with the name, if people will not duly identify it. Later that year, Sirtis and Frakes reprised their TNG roles for the Enterprise finale.

Today there are so many corporations, products, services, agencies and other entities using a sign or emblem as logotype that many have realized that only a few of the thousands of signs people are faced with are recognized without a name. However, Spiner portrayed Arik Soong, an ancestor of the creator of his character Data, in Enterprise's fourth season. During many decades, when a new logo was being designed, owners, advertising professionals, and graphic designers always attempted to create a sign or emblem which, together with the name of the company, product, or service, would appear as a logotype. Additionally, it has been reported that Brent Spiner is no longer interested in reprising the character of Data because, though every actor ages, the character, as an android, should not. The name being shaped often in a specific way by each manufacturer, these combined logotypes, which for the first time included sign and name, became extremely popular. After the failure of the tenth film in the franchise to meet expectations, the cast members indicated that they did not expect any future TNG films to be produced. The manufacturers later began to add the name of the company or of the product to their sign. Sulu later appeared in the video games Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (unrelated to the proposal laid out by William Shatner) and Star Trek: Shattered Universe, the latter of which is set in the Mirror, Mirror alternate universe.

More and more manufacturers began therefore to include a symbol, sign, or emblem on their products, labels and packages, so that all the buyers could easily recognize the product they wanted. Sulu and the Excelsior originally appeared in the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, as well as in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager ("Flashback"), but this did not lead to a new series. The industrial leaders became soon aware that the public would not easily differentiate their product from the same product of their competitors. George Takei and fans have made frequent attempts to convince the studio to create a series based on Captain Sulu's voyages on the Excelsior, but, despite support from fans, it has enjoyed little success. At that time, a significant part of the population was still illiterate. He plans to pitch his idea to Paramount Pictures in 2006. New competitors appeared from time to time, and the offer of products of a same kind increased notably. Kirk.

The new products were distributed in large geographical areas, even nationwide. [2] Recently, Shatner has made public on various talk shows his proposal for a Starfleet Academy series featuring a young James T. The new industrial procedures allowed a much higher output than that of the former handmade products. There is some desire among fans to bring back the character of Captain Kirk, as played by William Shatner, to give him a more dignified end than that shown in Star Trek: Generations. The origin of logotypes goes back to the 19th century, when industrial manufacture of products became important. Cast members and fans have suggested that even if there are no further Star Trek series or movies, the franchise may continue in television movies, mini-series, specials, and other forms of media. Examples:. G4 has been airing TNG since January 8; reportedly, Spike will continue to broadcast TNG as well.

The difference between a slogan and a brand slogan is that brand slogan remains the same for a long time to build up the brands image while different slogans link to each product or advertising campaign. In December 2005, Comcast's G4 network announced it had obtained the syndication rights for both TNG and TOS. The main purpose of it is to support the identity of the brand together with the logotype. TOS, TNG, and Voyager air daily in Canada on Space: The Imagination Station, which has also purchased Enterprise for daily rebroadcasts starting in the fall of 2005. In this case it is a brand slogan also called a claim, a tagline or an endline in the advertising industry. Spike TV will also begin airing reruns of Voyager in the fall of 2006, as part of its original deal for all three series. If the slogan appears always in the logotype, and in the same graphic shape, it can be considered as part of the logotype. Reruns of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine are aired regularly on Spike TV in the United States.

Sometimes a slogan is included in the logotype. [1] In an ironic twist to the fan-based efforts to bring back Trek in the 1960s and 1970s, there were groups of fans who felt that the concept had run its course and who had actively pursued the end of Star Trek. While large corporations spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to update and implement their logos, many small businesses will turn to local graphic designers to do a corporate logo. Moore, and the former Enterprise executive producer Manny Coto have been suggested as possible replacements, and Straczynski has expressed an interest in taking the helm of Star Trek. The image at right shows an example of the two elements of a logotype. Michael Straczynski, former Star Trek writer Ronald D. A logotype consists of either a name or a name and a sign. Babylon 5 creator J.

This is, however, not the way it is defined by graphic designers and by advertising professionals. Many Trek fans had wanted former executive producers Berman and Brannon Braga to be replaced. A common misconception holds that a logotype is merely a graphic symbol or sign. However, due to the cancellation of Enterprise and the poor box-office performance of the 2002 film Nemesis, executive producer Rick Berman has stated that Paramount intends to rest the franchise (film and television) for at least three years. If rights in relation to a logotype are correctly established and enforced, it can become a valuable intellectual property asset. Enterprise, which scored the lowest ratings of any Trek series to date, was widely reported in the media to be on the verge of cancellation after each of its first three seasons and a "death watch" of sorts was maintained throughout its fourth and final year. Once a logotype is designed, one of the most effective means for protecting it is through registration as a trademark, so that no unauthorised third parties can use it, or interfere with the owner's use of it. The rumored near-cancellation of Star Trek: Voyager in the mid-1990s led to more such predictions.

To the extent that a logotype achieves this objective, it may function as a trademark, and may be used to uniquely identify businesses, organizations, events, products or services. As early as 1993–1994, when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine failed to generate the high ratings of its predecessor, magazines such as Entertainment Weekly predicted the end of the franchise. The uniqueness of a logotype is of utmost importance to avoid confusion in the marketplace among clients, suppliers, users, affiliates, and the general public. Predictions of the demise of Star Trek are nothing new. Emblems with non-textual content are distinct from true logotypes. Some assert that the many incarnations are formulaic, repetitive, mediocre, and sometimes discontinuous, while others ascribe this decline to static leadership at Paramount. In this article several examples of 'true' logotypes are displayed, which may generally be contrasted with emblems, or marks which include non-textual graphics of some kind. Reduced viewership and box office receipts for recent productions and the short tenure of Star Trek: Enterprise connote decreased popularity.

In recent times the term 'logo' has been used to describe signs, emblems, coats of arms, symbols and even flags. Conversely, many fans contend that the Star Trek franchise, particularly after Roddenberry's death in 1991, has reached a nadir. It also depicts an organisation's personality. Phrases like "Beam me up, Scotty" have entered vernacular, and devices have arguably been inspired by fictional counterparts. A logo is a tangible form used to represent any given article. An entire subculture grew up around the show and, anecdotally, there are indications that Star Trek has influenced many peoples' lives. . Star Trek conventions have become popular, though now often meshed with conventions of other genres, and fans have coined the term "Trekkies" (or "Trekkers") to describe themselves.

should be distinctly different from others in a similar market. The show’s cultural impact goes far beyond its longevity and profitability. The shape, color, typeface, etc. Star Trek and its spinoffs have proved highly popular in television repeats, shown endlessly on TV stations in the US and worldwide. A logotype, commonly known as a logo, is the graphic element of a trademark or brand, which is set in a special typeface and/or font, or arranged in a particular, but legible, way. It became the number one syndicated TV show, lasting seven seasons, and spawned two sequels, a prequel, four movies, a vast marketing business, and a considerable fan base. Icon (symbol / brandmark). TNG was syndicated through local TV stations rather than a nationwide network.

Logotype/Wordmark/Lettermark (text or abbreviated text). In 1986, Roddenberry created a second TV show, Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), which was set more than seventy years after events in the earlier series and related movies. Combination (icon plus text ). The movie did sufficiently well at the box office and spawned several more movies during the eighties. avoid culturally sensitive imagery, such as religious icons or national flags, unless the brand is commited to being associated with any and all connotations such imagery may evoke. Encouraged by the burgeoning fan base for the show throughout the seventies, Roddenberry sought to start a second television series; this abortive attempt morphed into Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979. avoid photography or complex imagery as it reduces the instant recognition a logo demands. In 1976, following another letter-writing campaign, NASA named its first space shuttle, Enterprise, after the fictional starship.

do not use the face of a (living) person. NBC put the show in a timeslot when it was watched by few, and it was cancelled after its third season. do not use a specific choice of third-party font or clip-art as a distinguishing feature. After a letter-writing campaign by fans, NBC reversed its decision and renewed the series for a third season. brand standard manual). During its initial run from 1966 to 1969, TOS did not garner substantial TV ratings and was almost cancelled after its second season. include guidelines on the position on a page and white space around the logo for consistent application across a variety of media (a.k.a. It was the first aimed at adults that told of morality tales with complex narratives.

be aware of design or copyright infringements. While there were other successful science fiction TV shows at the time, TOS broke new ground. design using vector graphics, so the logo can be resized without loss of fidelity (Adobe Illustrator is one of the main programs for this type of design work; open source programs like Inkscape are emerging as excellent free alternatives). Harking of human diversity and contemporaneous political circumstances, Roddenberry included a multiethnic crew. produce alternatives for different contexts. The central trio of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy was modelled on classical mythological storytelling. avoid gradients (colors that transition from dark to light/light to dark) as a distinguishing feature. The opening line "to boldly go where no man has gone before" was taken almost verbatim from a US White House booklet on space produced after the Sputnik flight in 1957.

use few colors, or try to limit colors to spot colors (a term used in the printing industry). Though set on a fictional starship, Roddenberry wanted to tell more sophisticated stories using futuristic situations as analogies for current problems on Earth and rectifying them through humanism and optimism. represents the brand/company appropriately. Gene Roddenberry sold TOS to NBC as a classic adventure drama. abides by basic design principles of space, color, form, consistency, and clarity. Arguably, only Star Wars has had as great an impact as a science fiction and pop culture phenomenon. may be able to maintain its integrity printed on various fabrics or materials (where the shape of the product may distort the logo). The original series (TOS), which aired in the late sixties, has since yielded four successor series, ten feature films, a plethora of merchandise, and a multibillion dollar industry collectively known as the Star Trek franchise (owned by Paramount).

can work in "full-color", but also in two color presentation (black and white), spot color, or halftone. Star Trek is one of the most culturally influential television shows – and perhaps the most influential science fiction TV series – in history. should remain effective reproduced small or large. See Star Trek, fan made productions for more detailed information about these productions. is functional and can be used in many different contexts while retaining its integrity

. While none of these projects are licensed by Paramount, some have attracted participation from official cast and crew. is unique, and not subject to confusion with other logos among customers. At one time, Paramount was against these productions, but has since reportedly loosened its stance on allowing them.

Charles Schwab: On the side of the investor. One of the more prominent fan series of late is Star Trek: New Voyages, a "continuation" of the original Star Trek. BRAVIA: The next step in the evolution of TV. For example, in recent years, so-called Star Trek "fan films" have been created for distribution over the Internet. Amazon.com: And you're done. The Star Trek series has also inspired many non-official fan-made productions. Impossibly small. For example, the Voyager novels Mosaic and Pathways are known to have given essential background information for characters in the Voyager live-action series.

iPod nano: 1,000 songs. (Similarly, writers for TV and film are under no obligation to pay heed to any of the derivative works, which has occasionally caused conflict.) Nonetheless, these works often expand the backstories of characters, species, planets, etc, already seen in the official live-action productions. Army: An Army of One. The creators of these works are generally free to tell their own stories set in the Star Trek universe, and are free to either keep an existing continuity, or use their own. U.S. This expanded universe consists of the aforementioned animated series, books, comics, video games, etc. Outside of the television series and motion pictures produced by Paramount pictures, the Star Trek franchise has been officially expanded and elaborated on by various authors and artists in the so-called "Star Trek Expanded Universe," despite the fact that Paramount does not consider these derivative works canon.

Although the Star Trek animated series, books, comic books, video games, and other materials based on Star Trek (i.e., those licensed by Paramount Pictures) are generally considered "non-canon," there are several works which deserve mentioning, including a number of fan-made (or "fanon") productions set within the Star Trek universe. The Star Trek canon comprises the five live TV series and ten motion pictures.
. Although North American and UK releases of the films were no longer numbered following the sixth film, European releases continued numbering the films.

Despite fetching the lowest revenue at the box office in Star Trek history, its 2003 DVD release sold well. Many critics accused it of attempting to imitate the plot (and success) of Star Trek II. Another exception is X (Star Trek: Nemesis), which was one of the most critically derided Star Trek films. This is not wholly applicable, however; III followed on from the success of II, which continued into IV.

This rule of thumb is most easily applicable to the first few films: Star Trek II and IV are usually at or near the top of the fan-favorites, while I and V are usually at the bottom (though I has since received quite a bit of positive re-evaluation in the wake of an acclaimed "Director's Edition" revision released on DVD). A common and fondly-held superstition among fans is that the even-numbered Star Trek films are superior to the odd-numbered Star Trek films. The first six continued the adventures of the TOS cast; the later four featured the TNG cast. Ten Star Trek films have been produced by Paramount Pictures.

Although the show gained a much more positive reaction from fans during the fourth season and had become popular, Paramount cancelled the show in early 2005. During the third season Berman and Braga turned much of their leadership role to writer Manny Coto, but retained final control for themselves. Ratings for Enterprise were never particularly strong; and, as it had done during the initial airing of The Original Series, fan support during Enterprise's second and third seasons helped keep the series on the air. Star Trek: Enterprise was promoted as being more accessible for newcomers to the Star Trek franchise, as well as for taking place during the formative years of the Federation.

This series depicts the exploration of space by the crew of the Earthship Enterprise, a new, NX-class starship, which is able to go farther and faster than any humans had previously gone. The pilot episode, "Broken Bow," takes place ten years before the founding of the Federation, about halfway between the "historic" events shown in the movie Star Trek: First Contact and the original Star Trek series. Star Trek: Enterprise (named simply Enterprise during its first two seasons and the first few episodes of its third, and abbreviated as ST:ENT or ENT) is a prequel to the other Star Trek series. It was during this show's run that criticism of producer Rick Berman began to mount, coinciding with the growth in popularity of online discussion forums that amplified the message of a vocal group of fans who felt Berman was no longer welcome as the franchise leader.

Although Voyager's ratings were initially solid, they fell dramatically as the show progressed. Essentially, the USS Voyager and crew were "lost in space": the series follows the adventures of the starship Voyager and her crew, joined by Maquis resistance fighters, who have all become stranded in the Delta Quadrant, seventy thousand light years from Earth by an entity known as the "Caretaker." Unless they can find a shortcut, it will take them seventy-five years to return to Federation space. Star Trek: Voyager (also known as ST:VOY, ST:VGR, VOY or Voyager) was produced for seven seasons, and is the only Star Trek series to have had a female, Captain Kathryn Janeway, as the commanding officer. Deep Space Nine sheds some of the utopian themes that embodied the previous versions of Star Trek, and focuses more on war, religion and political compromise.

This immediately makes the station an important strategic asset, as well as a vital center of commerce with the largely unexplored area of space. In the first episode, the crew discovers the presence of a nearby, uniquely stable wormhole, which provides nearly immediate travel to and from the distant Gamma Quadrant. It chronicles the events surrounding the space station Deep Space Nine. It introduced Avery Brooks as Commander (and, later in the series, Captain) Benjamin Sisko, the first African-American in the commanding role of a Star Trek series.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or DS9) ran for seven seasons and was the first Star Trek series to be established without any direct input from Gene Roddenberry. Many fans, both casual and "hard-core," often treat The Next Generation as a kind of 'golden age' of Star Trek, primarily because of its broad acceptance, its viewer base, and the active influence of Roddenberry (who was alive during the first part of its run). Star Trek: The Next Generation had the highest ratings of all the Star Trek series and was the #1 syndicated show during the last few years of its original run. Even during that time, the show was produced solely for syndication.

The show gained a considerable following during its initial run. It premiered on September 28, 1987, with the two-hour pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint," and ran for seven seasons, ending with the final two-part episode, "All Good Things..." on May 29, 1994. Star Trek: The Next Generation (also known, colloquially, as The Next Generation, NextGen, ST:TNG, or TNG) is set nearly a century later and features a new starship (also named Enterprise) and a new crew, venturing where "no one has gone before.". The first script of this aborted series formed the basis of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, while two others were eventually adapted as episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

However, the risks of launching a fourth network and the popularity of the then-recently released film Star Wars led Paramount to make a Star Trek film instead of a weekly television series. Sets were constructed and several minutes of test footage were filmed. This series would have put most of the original crew back aboard the Enterprise for a second five-year mission, except for Spock, because Leonard Nimoy did not agree to return; a younger full-blooded Vulcan named Xon was planned as a replacement, although it was still hoped that Nimoy would make guest appearances. Star Trek: Phase II was set to air in 1978 as the flagship series of a proposed Paramount television network, and 12 episode scripts were written before production was due to begin.

So while the series itself is not strictly canon, it has been used as "canon fodder." TAS also came back to television in the mid 1980s on the children's cable network Nickelodeon. Star Trek: Enterprise also incorporated several TAS concepts into canon. Even so, elements of the animated series have worked their way into official canon, such as Kirk’s middle name, Tiberius, first revealed in TAS and made official in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The episode "Yesteryear" is considered by some sources such as the Star Trek Encyclopedia to be a partial exception concerning the events depicted in Spock’s youth (although it still officially remains non-canon along with the rest of TAS).

However, the series is not considered to be canon, which has caused controversy among some fans. A few episodes are especially notable due to contributions from well known science-fiction authors. While the freedom of animation afforded large alien landscapes and exotic life forms, budget constraints were a major concern and animation quality was poor. It featured most of the original cast performing the voices for their characters.

It was produced by Filmation and ran for two seasons, with a total of 22 half-hour episodes. The series was aired under the name Star Trek, but it has become widely known as Star Trek: The Animated Series (or abbreviated as ST:TAS or TAS). All subsequent films and television series, except the animated series of the 1970s, have secondary titles included as part of their official names. It has in recent years become known as Star Trek: The Original Series, abbreviated as ST:TOS or TOS, or as "Classic Trek," retronyms to distinguish it from its sequels and the franchise.

The series subsequently became phenomenally popular in syndication, ultimately spawning the film and television sequels that followed. The last original episode, "The Turnabout Intruder," aired on June 3, 1969. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was the third episode aired, while "The Cage" was reworked into a two-part episode, "The Menagerie.". Only the character of Spock remained, at Roddenberry's insistence.

However, an unprecedented second pilot was commissioned, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," which featured an almost entirely new cast led by Shatner. Originally, Roddenberry had created a pilot entitled "The Cage," with a very different cast, led by veteran actor Jeffrey Hunter, which was rejected by NBC, the network that ordered the pilot through Desilu. The first episode aired, "The Man Trap," was actually the fifth produced. Created by Gene Roddenberry, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley, and co-starring James Doohan, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett, and (later) Walter Koenig, it told the tale of the crew of the starship Enterprise of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet and their adventures "to boldly go where no man has gone before.".

Star Trek debuted on NBC on September 8, 1966, having aired in Canada some days earlier. There have been five live-action Star Trek series and an animated series, altogether comprising (as of May 2005) a total of 726 individual aired episodes (not including the original unaired pilot) and thirty seasons’ worth of television. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry, it had been in the planning stages for at least six years prior to this. Star Trek originated as a television series in 1966, although according to The Making of Star Trek by Stephen E.

. Star Trek (or sometimes merely "Trek") is one of the most popular names in the history of science fiction entertainment, and one of the most popular franchises in television history. It depicts an optimistic, almost utopian future in which humanity has largely overcome such traditional frailities and vices as sickness, racism, poverty, environmental destructiveness, intolerance, religion and warfare on Earth, and has united with other intelligent species in the galaxy; the central characters explore the galaxy, discovering new worlds and encountering new civilizations, while helping to promote peace and understanding. Star Trek collectively refers to a science-fiction franchise spanning six unique television series, 726 episodes and ten motion pictures in addition to hundreds of novels, video games, fan stories and other works of fiction all set within the same fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the mid-1960s.

I'm Working on That: A Trek from Science Fiction to Science Fact by William Shatner and Chip Walter (Pocket Books, 2002). with Ed Robertson (HarperCollins, 2000). The Ethics of Star Trek by Judith Barad Ph.D. Get a Life! by William Shatner and Chris Kreski (Pocket Books, 1999).

Future Perfect: How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth by Jeff Greenwald (Viking Press, 1998). Justman (Pocket Books, 1996). Solow and Robert H. Inside Star Trek: The Real Story by Herbert F.

Ono, Elyce Rae Helford (Westview Press, 1996). Enterprise Zones: Critical Positions on Star Trek, edited by Taylor Harrison, Sarah Projansky, Kent A. City on the Edge of Forever by Harlan Ellison (White Wolf Publishing, 1996). Krauss (Basic Books, 1995).

The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Beyond Uhura by Nichelle Nichols (Putnam, 1994). Star Trek Movie Memories by William Shatner and Chris Kreski (HarperCollins, 1994). Star Trek Memories by William Shatner and Chris Kreski (HarperCollins, 1993).

On the Good Ship Enterprise: My 15 Years with Star Trek by Bjo Trimble (Donning Starblaze, 1983). A Star Trek Catalog edited by Gerry Turnbull (Grosset & Dunlap, 1979). The Making of the Trek Conventions by Joan Winston (Doubleday Books/Playboy Press, 1977). Star Trek Lives! by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Sondra Marshak, and Joan Winston (Bantam Books, 1975).

The World of Star Trek by David Gerrold (Ballantine Books, 1973; revised edition, Bluejay Books, 1984). The Trouble with Tribbles by David Gerrold (Ballantine, 1973). Whitfield (Ballantine Books, 1968). The Making of Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry and Stephen E.