Star Trek: Lower Decks
An animated comedy following Starfleet's least important starship crew.
Star Trek: Lower Decks is an American adult animated science fiction television series created by Mike McMahan for CBS All Access (later rebranded as Paramount+). It is the ninth Star Trek series, debuted in 2020, and is the franchise's first adult-oriented animated series since Star Trek: The Animated Series concluded in 1974, as well as its first comedy. The series follows the low-ranking support crew of the starship Cerritos in the 24th century.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adult animation / Adventure / Comedy / Science fiction
- Creator
- Mike McMahan
- Based On
- Star Trek · Gene Roddenberry
- Voices
- Tawny Newsome / Jack Quaid / Noël Wells / Eugene Cordero / Dawnn Lewis / Jerry O'Connell / Fred Tatasciore / Gillian Vigman
- Composer
- Chris Westlake
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 5
- Num Episodes
- 50
- Executive Producer
- Alex Kurtzman / Heather Kadin / Rod Roddenberry / Trevor Roth / Katie Krentz / Mike McMahan
- Runtime
- 23–30 minutes
- Company
- CBS Eye Animation Productions / Secret Hideout / Important Science / Roddenberry Entertainment / Titmouse, Inc.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series was developed after Alex Kurtzman signed a five-year deal with CBS Television Studios in June 2018 to expand the Star Trek franchise. Mike McMahan, head writer of Rick and Morty, pitched a series about the low-ranking support crew, and CBS All Access ordered two seasons in October 2018. The series is produced by CBS Eye Animation Productions in association with Secret Hideout, Important Science, Roddenberry Entertainment, and animation studio Titmouse. Production shifted to remote work in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reader's Guide
Star Trek: Lower Decks is significant as the first animated Star Trek series since 1974 and the franchise's first comedy. It received positive reviews and several accolades, including three Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations and a Hugo Award. The series features many connections and references to past Star Trek series, and its focus on lower-ranking officers offers a new perspective on the Star Trek universe. The fifth and final season was released from October to December 2024.
Did You Know?
- The series is named after the episode 'Lower Decks' from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- The character Beckett Mariner is named after showrunner Mike McMahan's sister, Beckett Mariner McMahan.
- The Caitian doctor T'Ana is a reference to the Caitian M'Ress from Star Trek: The Animated Series.
- The series was the first original adult-oriented animated series for CBS All Access.
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