The character's only television/movie appearance is in the ' episode "The Counter-Clock Incident", in which he is voiced by James Doohan and portrayed as the first captain of the USS "Enterprise". Initially, the decision was made by Paramount Pictures, studio owners of the franchise, and series creator Gene Roddenberry not to consider the animated series to be part of the official "Star Trek" canon; that decision, for the longest time, had led to debate as to whether April's place as first captain is actually a part of "Star Trek" continuity. However, "April, Robert" is listed in an alphabetical list of most-decorated Starfleet captains in the ' 2017 episode "Choose Your Pain". On June 27, 2007, "Star Trek"s official site incorporated information from "The Animated Series" into its library section, clarifying, finally, that the animated series is indeed part of the "Star Trek" canon. Both David Gerrold and D. C. Fontana have stated that the animated series is essentially the fourth season that fans wanted originally.