STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES
Classic Trek ended in 1969. The first Classic Trek Feature Film opened in 1979. But between these two widely accepted Trek permutations, there was another, less accepted version of Trek. The Animated Series ran between September 8, 1973 & October 12, 1974 - giving us 22 new adventures of Kirk's Enterprise! Many fans, and Gene Roddenberry (Trek's creator) himself seemed to believe that Trek's animated incarnation was not to be considered part of Trek proper. I have always considered the Animated Trek series part of the official Trek story; I enjoyed the sequel elements to Classic Trek episodes, and over time I noticed that many elements introduced in this animated form, eventually found their way into live action Trek. Here are the reasons that I consider Animated Trek to be a vital part of the Trek mythos.
01) Bem - in this animated episode we learn that Captain James T. Kirk's middle name is Tiberius; this was later confirmed in the Klingon Court in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country!
02) Time Trap - this animated adventure features the return of Klingon Captain Kor (above), who was introduced in Classic Trek's first Klingon episode: "Errand of Mercy". Kor would later reappear in 3 DS9 episodes, played by the same actor: "Blood Oath", "The Sword of Kahless", & "Once More Unto The Breach".
Besides featuring this recurring Trek character, "Time Trap" also introduced Kor's ship, the Klothos (above), which was later referenced in his final DS9 appearance!
03) More Tribbles, More Troubles - an animated sequel to Classic Trek's "The Trouble With Tribbles" which brings back that episode's characters: Cyrano Jones & Korax (see above); both of these characters were also seen with their Classic Trek appearances intact via time travel in the DS9 sequel episode: "Trials & Tribble-Ations".
Klingon Captain Koloth (above), also introduced in the "The Trouble With Tribbles", also returned in "More Tribbles, More Troubles". Like Cyrano Jones & Korax, he was later featured in a DS9 episode, but his return came in "Blood Oath".
04) Mudd's Passion - This animated episode features the return of Classic Trek character Harcourt "Harry" Fenton Mudd, who was featured in two Classic episodes: "Mudd's Women" & "I, Mudd".
05) The Practical Joker - The Rec Room seen in this animated episode, is an obvious precursor to Next Generation's holodeck.
06) Yesteryear - This most popular, and most respected episode of Animated Trek has been referenced more than any other animated adventure. The episode was written by D.C. Fontanna, who has been credited for writing or providing teleplays &/or stories for many of Trek's most popular episodes. The episode itself is a sequel of sorts to two wildly successful Classic Trek episodes: "The City on the Edge of Forever" & "Journey To Babel".
The episode features Spock traveling back in time through the Guardian of Forever (see above) to save his younger self's life. The time portal was introduced in the Classic Trek episode: "The City on the Edge of Forever".
In Spock's past we again see Spock's father, Sarek (see above), who appeared in the Classic Trek episode "Journey To Babel", "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock", "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home", "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier", "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", and 2 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Sarek" & "Unification, Part I".
We also see Spock's human mother Amanda (see above), who appeared in Classic Trek's "Journey To Babel", "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" & "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier".
In "Yesteryear" we witness young Spock going off on his own into the hills of Vulcan; this was later referenced by Sarek in his 2nd, and final Next Generation appearance (the first for Spock himself): "Unification, Part I"!
In "Yesteryear" we learn of the Vulcan Kahswan Ordeal, which was referenced by T'Pol in the 2nd season Enterprise episode: "The Catwalk".
In "Yesteryear", the design of Spock's Sehlat (which was previously mentioned in Classic Trek's "Journey to Babel") was seen and later replicated for the live action 4th season Enterprise episode "The Forge", though not in great detail.
In "Yesteryear" we learn of Vulcan's Forge, which was later referenced in the DS9 episode "Change of Heart"; and it was actually seen in the already mentioned Enterprise episode, "The Forge".
In "Yesteryear" we learn of the Vulcan city of ShirKahr, where Spock was born. This city seems to be referenced in the 1st season Enterprise episode "Fusion" when it is revealed that the Vulcan Tolaris taught literature at the ShirKahr Academy before leaving to join the V'tosh Ka'tur.
Finally, in "Yesteryear" we see the Vulcan city of ShirKahr (above - night & day), which was later replicated in a beautiful matte painting for the Remastered Edition of the Classic Trek episode "Amok Time" (below)!
Personally, I think this evidence confirms that Animated Trek is in fact a vital piece of the Trek puzzle. Here is a complete episode list of Star Trek: The animated Series:
001 YESTERYEAR
002 ONE OF OUR PLANETS IS MISSING
003 THE LORELEI SIGNAL
004 MORE TRIBBLES, MORE TROUBLES
005 THE SURVIVOR
006 THE INFINITE VULCAN
007 THE MAGICKS OF MEGAS-TU
008 ONCE UPON A PLANET
009 MUDD'S PASSION
010 THE TERRATIN INCIDENT
011 TIME TRAP
012 THE AMBERGRIS ELEMENT
013 SLAVER WEAPON
014 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR
015 THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
016 JIHAD
017 THE PIRATES OF ORION
018 BEM
019 PRACTICAL JOKER
020 ALBATROSS
021 HOW MUCH SHARPER THAN A SERPENT'S TOOTH?
022 THE COUNTER-CLOCK INCIDENT