Star Trek: Prodigy
Star Trek: Prodigy is an animated series that premiered on , first on Paramount+, then on , a conglomerate sister broadcasting channel. It is the ninth Star Trek spin-off and the third animated Star Trek series, following  and . Unlike the previous animated series, this is the first to be rendered entirely with computer-generated imaging and 3D modeling. Previously, the  episode  was produced in a similar fashion.

Alex Kurtzman stated that unlike Lower Decks, Prodigy will be kid-focused with an "entirely different perspective and an entirely different tone," adding, "What's exciting about it is not only looking at each animated series as what's the different tone, but what's the different technology we can apply to these things so that visually they're entirely different?" 

In February 2019, it was announced Nickelodeon had entered talks to air the show, and  writers and executive producers Kevin and Dan Hageman had boarded the project. 

On , it was revealed that the series would indeed air (but not debut) on Nickelodeon and focus on a group of lawless teenage characters finding a derelict Starfleet ship which they use to "search for adventure, meaning and salvation". 

In May 2019, CBS filed trademarks for the titles "Star Trek: Section 31" and "Star Trek: Prodigy", with posts on Reddit later in the year attaching the Prodigy title to the second animated series. 

On 23 July 2020, it was revealed that the show would, in fact, be named Star Trek: Prodigy, and that it would air on Nickelodeon in 2021.   It was eventually announced that the first ten episodes (parts 1 and 2) would belatedly air on the broadcaster in the home market one year later, on .  Ironically, the show did premiere on some foreign Nickelodeon subsidiaries where Paramount+ was not (yet) available. One such market had been the Netherlands, where the in the Dutch language dubbed version of the show debuted on the local Nickelodeon channel in April 2022.

Opening credits 
The opening title sequence for Star Trek: Prodigy was unveiled on , with theme by Michael Giacchino.

Main cast

Guest stars
 Jason Alexander as Noum 
 Robert Beltran as Captain Chakotay 
 William O. Campbell as Thadiun Okona 
 Daveed Diggs as Tysess 
 Jameela Jamil as Asencia 
 Gates McFadden as Dr.

Episode list

Season 1
PRO Season 1, 20 episodes:

Season 2
PRO Season 2

About 
From Paramount+
Developed by Emmy® Award-winners Kevin and Dan Hageman (Trollhunters and Ninjago) the CG-animated series Star Trek: Prodigy is the first Star Trek series aimed at younger audiences and will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search for a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek Franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents. 

From 
Star Trek: Prodigy begins in deep space, where our six young heroes are detainees at a mining colony overseen by the mysterious Diviner. When assigned to work deep in the core of the colony, they discover the derelict Starfleet ship, the USS Protostar, hidden within the asteroid. This inexperienced crew launch a harrowing getaway aboard the starship with guidance from the ship's holographic computer assistant, Janeway. Together the escapees learn that the ship came from a far-off alliance of peaceful galactic explorers known as the Federation. They resolve to set a course for Starfleet, but the Diviner is hot on their trails. Their journey takes them on a wild adventure where they encounter strange new life and civilizations, learn about Starfleet's ideals, and hope to find a better future for themselves on the far side of the galaxy.

Development
In , the Hagemans announced the full writers' room for the show.  Among those revealed to be writing the series are Trollhunters writer-producers Aaron Waltke and Chad Quandt,  writer-producers Shawna Benson and Julie Benson,  writer Lisa Boyd,  writer Nikhil Jayaram, and Diandra Pendleton-Thompson.

In , Kurtzman said that this series will be animated in a digital 3D style, like Ninjago or Trollhunters, as opposed to the more "cartoon" look of Star Trek: Lower Decks. He also confirmed that the series had been picked up for a two-season order, and that a title had been chosen for the series, but he was not yet ready to reveal it. 

In the same interview, Heather Kadin said that, due to the time-consuming process of 3D animation, the series would likely air later than . Kadin also emphasized that the Hagemans' writing style will be accessible to kids without patronizing them or alienating their parents:
"The reason we went to the Hagemans is because if you've seen their work, you know that they're not writing "Muppet Babies". It's not "Little Spock and Little Kirk." It's not playing down [to viewers] that way."

"Even [with] their characters in Ninjago – they are teenagers – I was able to watch that with my kids and they write with a very epic quality. They tell stories the way we tell stories in live action: serialized, turning over cards…"

"I think it will be a great way for fans to introduce the franchise to their kids, and for new fans to be formed, because it's such a big franchise, [it can be hard] to get into as a kid." 

In an  interview with Trek Report, producer and writer Aaron Waltke said that Prodigy aims to bridge the gap between old and new iterations of the Star Trek franchise, with a series that strikes a tone of hope and idealism. 

"It's been exhilarating to make a series that honors classic Trek for legacy fans like myself, but also provides an entry point for new audiences to be introduced to the world of the Federation and its aspirations for an idealistic future, even when facing adversity. Writing the return of our beloved Voyager captain feels oddly iconic, like a homecoming for me. And we hope to create something both young and old can watch together... just as I once did with my dad all those many years ago." 

In , it was announced that Prodigy would debut on Paramount+ in . An image of the alien bridge crew was also released. 

On First Contact Day in , the Hagemans revealed that the series will be set in the Delta Quadrant in 2383. They also revealed an image of Captain Janeway as she will appear in the series, and explained that the character will appear as an emergency training hologram on board the starship. A new summary of the series' premise was also released:

Prodigy "will follow a motley crew of young aliens who must figure out how to work together while navigating a greater galaxy, in search for a better future. These six young outcasts know nothing about the ship they have commandeered – a first in the history of the Star Trek Franchise – but over the course of their adventures together, they will each be introduced to Starfleet and the ideals it represents." 

In , more details about the cast were released, with the main voice cast revealed. 

On , a teaser trailer was released during the Paramount+ Star Trek Comic-Con@Home panel, revealing the first animated footage of the series along with the first look and name of the vessel, the USS Protostar. 

The series' opening title sequence was publicly released on , as part of a Paramount+ presentation to the . This presentation also confirmed that the series' theme music had been composed by Michael Giacchino, and the music for the series would be composed by Nami Melumad.

Promotion
Season 1

Products
In , Eaglemoss/Hero Collector's project manager Ben Robinson indicated that the company would manufacture starship miniatures from this series,  though that intent was thwarted by the company's bankruptcy on 5 August 2022.

On , ViacomCBS Consumer Products and Playmates Toys jointly announced that the latter had acquired new licensing for "action figures, vehicles and ships, role play and other toy categories," and slated the first of these products for retail release in 2022. Among other Star Trek series and films, this licensing encompasses Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Lower Decks, , and . 

On , it was announced that two new tie-in books,  (also the title of a video game releasing in ) and A Dangerous Trade would be released on .

Related topics
 PRO directors
 PRO performers
 PRO studio models
 PRO writers

Media

External links
 
 
 

Star Trek series