star trek skin a cat

Skin a Cat (episode)

• View history
• 2.1 Production timeline
• 2.2 Continuity
• 3.1 Voice actors
• 3.2 Background characters
• 3.3 References
• 3.4 External link

Summary [ ]

The USS Enterprise is under attack by a fleet of Klingon battle cruisers . On the bridge , the captain receives the damage report from Spock , telling him that their weapons are disabled and their shields are down. The captain then tells him that he knows a way out. Spock asks him how, since their warp drive and impulse drive were also down, making an escape impossible.

The captain tells him with confidence that " there's more than one way to skin a cat . " Lieutenant M'Ress finds this idiom offensive and tells the captain that perhaps he might not feel so great about her saying something similar about Humans . The computer voice then alerts the crew that the hull integrity is at fifty percent. The captain tells M'Ress there's no time to argue, because they have "bigger fish to fry ."

" You want to fry me?! "

This, in turn, offends an Antedian lieutenant . He then asked the captain if he really wants to fry him. The captain tries to calm him down, and tells him not to get his " knickers in a twist." This also backfires on him, as this comment is offensive to a female Knickersonian who tells him her species is a proud race who have served the Federation with honor . He apologizes to her, but she still threatens to report him to HR .

Spock then suggests that he refrain from using figures of speech until they reach safety . The captain then decides to give a speech to the bridge crew that he's fairly certain will not be offensive to any non-Human crewmembers. Unfortunately he offended an anthropomorphic ass face and screwhead after saying " I'm a dumbass , I screwed up. "

" We handle water pressure. "

He then immediately admits that he had never seen the two before, and he asks them what their job is. They tell the captain that their job is to take care of the water pressure . The captain finds it strange that they would operate that from a desk on the bridge , since he assumed such a job would be on a lower deck . Just as he said that, a leak is sprung and water spews out of the console station . Screwhead then says " You were saying? "

Spock then tells the captain that the hull is breached and that one more blast will destroy the ship. The captain then asks what he'd like him to do about it, since every time he is about to give an order , someone gets offended... almost as if they were just conjured up out of thin air for the sole purpose of being offended. Just then, the captain gets an idea. He says " There's more than one way to decapitate a Human woman who knows how to get us out of this situation, and also, this Human woman... she loves me. " He then continues talking about this woman, only to find that there has been just such a woman like that on the bridge all along, his " Dream Woman ," if you will. And just as she's about to tell him what they should do to escape, she's interrupted by the captain, who asks her to marry him. She doesn't have enough time to tell him anything, and the ship explodes .

Background information [ ]

Production timeline [ ].

• 5 September 2023 : Title revealed on StarTrek.com . [1]
• 8 September 2023 : Premieres on StarTrek.com and the Star Trek YouTube channel.

Continuity [ ]

• Ethan Peck reprises his role as Spock , however the character appears as he did when the role was voiced by Leonard Nimoy .
• The captain in this continuity was not named, but did sound and share many mannerisms of James T. Kirk .
• It is implied that in this scenario, Constitution -class ships – or at least the Enterprise – have a Ten Forward , much like the later USS Enterprise -D .

Links and references [ ]

Voice actors [ ].

• Ethan Peck as Spock
• Pete Holmes as Captain
• Dream Woman
• Knickersonian
• Bonnie Gordon as Computer

Background characters [ ]

• Montgomery Scott

References [ ]

Antedian ; Australia ; bridge ; Caitian ; captain ; cat ; chicken fingers ; claw ; commander ; conjuring ; Constitution -class ; D7-class ( unnamed ); decapitation ; disembowelment ; Edosian ; ensign ; Enterprise , USS ; ether ; Federation ; figure of speech ; game show ; Human ; hybrid ; impulse drive ; Knickersonian ; lieutenant ; mac and cheese ; metal ; peace treaties ; pioneers ; Risk ; shields ; skinning ; Starfleet uniform ; synonymous ; Ten Forward ; Vulcan ; warp drive ; water pressure ; weapons systems

External link [ ]

• Watch "Skin a Cat"  at YouTube
• 3 Marlys Burdette

Season 1 E 1 • 11/22/2023

S1 • E1 Star Trek: very Short Treks Skin a Cat

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50 Years Later, Star Trek Finally Addresses Its Laziest Alien Tradition

New life in the final frontier is sometimes... unconvincing.

Throughout the history of Star Trek, most “new life and new civilizations” have had two arms, two legs, and a head. A variety of sculpted ears and bumpy foreheads differentiate the aliens that populate the Final Frontier, but it’s rare to see truly far-out Arrival -style aliens in Trek.

But as Star Trek celebrates its 57th birthday, a special episode has poked some fun at the fact that all these aliens are basically human-ish. For Star Trek Day 2023, “Skin a Cat” elevates Trek’s silliest alien trope into an absurd hyperbole.

Star Trek Day 2023 explained

On September 8, 1966, the original Star Trek debuted on NBC with “The Man Trap.” While not exactly the greatest Trek adventure by any metric, it marks the beginning of American audiences seeing the voyages of the Enterprise . Fans have celebrated Star Trek Day on September 8 ever since, and Paramount formalized the holiday in 2020.

In the past, Star Trek Day has featured panels, big announcements, and live performances. However, because of the ongoing writers and actors strikes, there weren’t any live events this year. Instead, Paramount+ dropped a YouTube tribute special hosted by Jerry O’Connell. It was also revealed that in October, the Star Trek brand is collaborating with rapper Kid Cudi on clothing and music.

Paramount hasn’t released any new trailers or announced any release dates, although O’Connell did mention that Discovery Season 5 is coming in “early 2024.” So, that vague release window hasn’t been pushed yet. Instead, this year's big Star Trek Day reveal is where the kooky alien stuff comes in.

Very Short Treks Begins With “Skin a Cat”

September 8 also happens to be the first airdate of the Animated Series, which debuted in 1973. So the franchise’s quirky and tragically underrated foray into animation celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In celebration, Paramount is releasing five animated shorts spearheaded by “Too Many Cooks” impresario Casper Kelly between now and October 4. These shorts are animated in the style of the 1973 series, but we’ve been warned that their events are “anything but canon.”

The first episode is available now on YouTube . In it, we find the crew of the Enterprise under attack by Klingons, as per usual. Captain Kirk is played by comedian Pete Holmes, while Strange New World’s Ethan Peck reprises his role as Spock. Seeing the old animation style again is a treat for longtime fans, but this short isn’t just about fan service.

Instead, Kelly’s subversive humor comes to the forefront. When Kirk says, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat,” the cat-like Lieutenant M’Ress is understandably offended. A crewmember on The Animated Series, M’ress is Caitian, as is Dr. T’ana on Lower Decks.

The release schedule for ‘Very Short Treks.’

As Kirk continues to use expressions like “dumbass” and “screwup,” aliens with butt-faces and screw-heads appear, all offended by Kirk’s careless talk. That’s the entire gag: Kirk causing chaos with common idioms, which, if you squint, isn’t too far removed from a premise a non-spoof version of Star Trek would try out. Recently, on Strange New Worlds , the Enterprise crew was caught in an improbability field that compelled them to behave like they were in a musical . So this premise isn’t exactly out there.

The gag goes pretty far, but it highlights what longtime fans have always known. If you’re looking for a serious discussion of theoretical extraterrestrials, Star Trek only does that occasionally. Instead, we love Trek because of the absurd aliens with zany heads. Even the ass-heads.

Star Trek: Very Short Treks releases new episodes to YouTube every Thursday.

• Science Fiction

• Cast & crew
• Episode aired Sep 8, 2023

A dire Klingon attack is further complicated by poor word choice. A dire Klingon attack is further complicated by poor word choice. A dire Klingon attack is further complicated by poor word choice.

• Aaron Hawkins
• Casper Kelly
• Pete Holmes
• Cristina Milizia

• Knickersonian

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Connections Featured in Star Trek: Very Short Treks: Walk, Don't Run (2023)

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• September 8, 2023 (United States)
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Watch Trailer For ‘Star Trek: Very Short Treks’; Animated Shorts With Legacy Stars Debuts On Star Trek Day

| September 5, 2023 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 41 comments so far

As part of their celebration of the 50th anniversary of  Star Trek: The Animated Series  CBS Studios is launching a new series of animated promotional spots in the style of TAS featuring characters voiced by familiar Star Trek celebs.

Very Short Treks

First teased at SDCC, today CBS Studios revealed these shorts will be titled Very Short Treks . Five shorts will be released through September and October with the first episode “Skin a Cat” arriving on Friday, September 8 as part of the Star Trek Day celebration.

Check out the trailer…

As noted in the trailer, the key difference with the two-season series Star Trek: Short Treks is that these five animated shorts are not considered canon . However, there are a number of familiar stars reprising their roles for these shorts, including Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Doug Jones as Saru and Armin Shimerman as Quark, and a new line-up of exciting voices, including Ethan Peck as Spock, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura, Connor Trinneer as Trip Tucker, Bruce Horak as Hemmer, Noël Wells as Tendi, and the legendary George Takei as Sulu.

Star Trek: Very Short Treks comes from creative consultant Casper Kelly, best known for the viral smash hit “ Too Many Cooks ” and his work on Star Trek: Short Treks and Adult Swim.

The first animated spot will launch on Star Trek Day, Sept. 8, exclusively on StarTrek.com and the official Star Trek YouTube channel, with four additional animated spots rolling out weekly on Wednesdays through Oct. 4 at 10:00 A.M., PT/1:00 P.M., ET.

Titles and release schedule:

Sept. 8 – “Skin a Cat” Sept. 13 – “Holiday Party” Sept. 20 – “Worst Contact” Sept. 27 – “Holograms, All the Way Down” Oct. 4 – “Walk, Don’t Run”

CBS also released a new poster for their animation celebration.

Prodigy writer/producer wrote an episode

I wrote “Holograms, All the Way Down.” It’s strange and fun, a la Adult Swim. A loving tribute. Absolutely not canon. Hope folks enjoy it! #VeryShortTreks https://t.co/PaxSYG9RWS — Aaron J. Waltke (@GoodAaron) September 5, 2023

Animated celebration comic book too

Casper Kelly will also release a new comic book with IDW Publishing, “Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier.” The first chapter of the comic will debut digitally on Sept. 8 on StarTrek.com with physical copies available at New York Comic Con in October. Additional chapters of the comic will drop weekly on Wednesdays on StarTrek.com at 10:00 A.M., PT/1:00 P.M., ET.

For more on Star Trek Day, check out our previous report .

Keep up with news for the  Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

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Color me happy!

To quote Kirk “Sounds fun.”. Also Trip Tucker back. 👍👍

“Anything but canon” dashed my hopes of a secret reveal Trip survived. But yes, lovely to see that news!

He survived in the novels.

I hope they don’t use that terrible 70s style animation.

You’re kidding… right? For one thing, this is a celebration of the ’70s cartoon. For another, the trailer is very clearly drawn in that style.

The art style is fine, but I hope the actual animation is more modern than what they used back then.

Not at all. the 70s cartoon animation was cheap and bland.

I’m sure you guys can stomach it for one very short Trek. Yeah, it was cheap for the time, yeah it didn’t have too many frames, but it can be appreciated in the same way that TOS uses long takes and has, for our standards, cheap looking sets (although certainly not cheap for the time). There’s a nostalgia factor at play here and it works perfectly for the Filmation style they’re emulating.

AWESOME! Cant wait to watch.

Is this Canon btw?

Someone’s gonna complain about this. Not me, though, I’m pretty pleased to see the franchise explored in strange new ways….

Why would anyone complain about this lol. These look like a ton of fun.

YAAAAAY, Trip Tuker is back!!!

That better be Night Bird he’s playing.

Honestly, even with the non-canon, promotional nature, I’m really excited for this. The list of actors is pretty great. I love that they’re bringing on Trip, as the first Enterprise character to return in the modern era. Also, as someone whose favorite modern show is Prodigy, I’m especially looking forward to “Holograms, All the Way Down,” written by Aaron Waltke (my favorite Prodigy writer).

Still no official release of the original animated series on iTunes though. I really can’t believe it’s anything but an oversight at this point… :(

Never mind, they added it! THEY FINALLY ADDED IT TO ITUNES!!! I don’t know if anyone here helped with that but if you did, THANK YOU! I have been waiting for this for years!!! :) :) :)

iTunes still exists?

Yep! And know ST: TAS is available on it! Woo-HOO!!! :) :) :)

Yes, but it tries desperately to shove Apple Music down your throat.

Way to persevere! Next best thing to owning a physical copy in my book. And Apple upgrades old files to 4K as they become available.

EXACTLY! Thanks for understanding, Ian. I really love that series and part of me wanted to see it take its place with the others since it was the only one missing. And now it has, woo-HOO!! :) :) :)

How short is very short?

TAS is my favorite animated trek. I count it as year 4 of Kirk’s 5 year mission. It’s an amazing show written by amazing sci fi writers. I’m looking forward to the celebration of this show.

I see Enterprise gets some love. Finally!

Were these done before the strike, or are they covered by the animation contract?

Did Casper Kelly write this ATHF episode? Drewbacca, a shaved Wookie, is a member of a  Star Trek  tribute band. 

It blows my mind they can’t find a role for Shatner anywhere.

He gets paid to show up at conventions. His action hero days are long gone.

A lot of action hero stunts required for voice actors in animation, are there?

I suspect that Shatner is either uninterested or is asking for too much money. I’m sure they would have loved to have Shatner do one of these if it was possible.

At least we got George..so one TOS cast member…

So how short is VERY short?

I have just started AI up-ressing Enterprise to 4K to rewatch the series. So happy Trip is coming back and I’m loving ‘… anything but canon!’ – a chance for some real fun, I’m hoping!

These look fun. Can’t wait to see Tendi on the original Enterprise even if it’s just a holodeck version. Still wish she could’ve been on the real one with Boims and Mariner.

And Trip Tucker is making a reappearance. This made me smile even if it’s not canon, still really cool.

I’m very excited for these shorts now.

If they’re not concidered cannon than why waste the money on these & make things that are cannon. Yay for Trip.

lol someone doesn’t like having fun I guess?

Why would we treat these as canon – they’re a celebration of a show for its anniversary. It’s like the kinda stuff studios make for any anniversary, except this time they’re having fun with animation. Seems like a great use of money to me

Its funny, just a few days ago in the LD s3 thread I posted about the idea of doing a LD crossover using TAS footage, a la TRIALS & TRIBBLEATIONS.

They’re really going to blow up the Enterprise AGAIN……. >.>

Honestly most excited I’ve been for a Trek production in years

If it’s on screen, it’s canon by definition. That’s how it works. I think they’re just poking fun at the original confusion introduced by Roddenberry after TAS’s original run when he at first denied it was canon, but then years later he changed his mind. Since this series is commemorating TAS, I suspect they’re just giving a tongue-in-cheek nod to that by saying it’s “non-canon” when of course it has to because it’s it’s on-screen.

Also, I found it really strange that this article didn’t even mention that Ethan Philips is apparently reprising his role as Neelix, as depicted in the trailer.

What a horror. Is it necessary to continue parodying Star Trek? The best homage would be to produce new animations of action, of intrigue, of something that doesn’t necessarily look like Rick and Morty.

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• Entertainment

Star Trek is getting five new ‘very Short Treks’

The five animated shorts from the ‘too many cooks’ guy feature voice actors from a bunch of star trek shows and are ‘anything but canon.’.

By Nathan Edwards , a senior reviews editor who's been testing tech since 2007. Previously at Wirecutter and MaximumPC. Current fixations: keyboards, DIY tech, and the smart home.

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CBS Studios just announced Star Trek: very Short Treks , a set of five animated shorts from Casper Kelly (the “Too Many Cooks” guy). The first of them will debut this Friday — Star Trek Day — in honor of the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series . You can catch the (brief) trailer below.

The shorts will feature characters from The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , The Original Series , Discovery, and The Lower Decks . Animation styles visible in the trailer run the gamut from “indistinguishable from The Animated Series ” to “just the regular Lower Decks style.”

After the first episode (“Skin a Cat”) launches Friday, the rest will follow on Wednesdays, starting on September 13th; they’ll stream on StarTrek.com and the Star Trek YouTube channel .

In terms of cast, here’s who’s listed on the press release :

• George Takei as Sulu
• Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
• Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker
• Doug Jones as Saru
• Armin Shimerman as Quark
• Ethan Peck as Spock
• Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura
• Connor Trinneer as Trip Tucker
• Bruce Horak as Hemmer
• Noël Wells as Tendi

Notably not listed in the announcement but present in the trailer and our hearts: Neelix. Oh, Neelix.

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Published Sep 5, 2023

Celebrate 50 Years of Star Trek Animation with the Launch of 'Star Trek: very Short Treks'

The first of five 'very Short Treks' to debut on Star Trek Day 2023 along with the first chapter of a new comic book!

StarTrek.com

Star Trek continues its salute to the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series with the launch of Star Trek: very Short Treks , five all-new animated promotional shorts, and the new comic book, Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier , both debuting on Friday, September 8 as part of the annual Star Trek Day global celebration .

Previously announced Star Trek Day programming and events can be found at StarTrek.com/Day .

CBS Studios is launching Star Trek: very Short Treks , a series of all-new animated promotional spots in the style of Star Trek: The Animated Series .

The very Short Treks will feature previously announced fan-favorite characters voiced by cast members from across the Star Trek universe, including icons Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Doug Jones as Saru and Armin Shimerman as Quark, and a new line-up of exciting voices, including Ethan Peck as Spock, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura, Connor Trinneer as Trip Tucker, Bruce Horak as Hemmer, Noël Wells as Tendi and the legendary George Takei as Sulu.

Star Trek: very Short Treks comes from creative consultant Casper Kelly, best known for the viral smash hit Too Many Cooks and his work on Star Trek: Short Treks and Adult Swim. The first animated spot will launch on Star Trek Day, September 8, exclusively on StarTrek.com and the official Star Trek YouTube channel , with four additional animated spots rolling out weekly on Wednesdays through October 4 at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET. Titles and release schedule include:

• September 8 – “Skin a Cat”
• September 13 – “Holiday Party”
• September 20 – “Worst Contact”
• September 27 – “Holograms, All the Way Down”
• October 4 – “Walk, Don’t Run”

Casper Kelly will also release a new comic book with IDW Publishing, Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier . The first chapter of the comic will debut digitally on September 8 on StarTrek.com with physical copies available at New York Comic Con in October. Additional chapters of the comic will drop weekly on Wednesdays on StarTrek.com at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET.

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'Star Trek' Launches New 'Very Short Treks' Series With George Takei & More Returning

The new series of shorts celebrates the 50th anniversary of 'Star Trek: The Animated Series.'

The Big Picture

• Star Trek: Very Short Treks celebrates the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series with comedic adventures featuring beloved characters from the franchise.
• The Very Short Treks are separate from the main canon and are meant to push the limits and bring wacky, out-of-this-world stories to fans of the franchise.
• The shorts will feature appearances from iconic Star Trek actors, including Jonathan Frakes, Ethan Peck, and George Takei, and will air every Wednesday from September 8 to October 4 on StarTrek.com.

Star Trek Day is right around the corner and this year's event comes with a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series . September 8 marks 50 years since the debut of Star Trek 's first animated series and 57 years since the debut of Star Trek: The Original Series . In that time the franchise has spawned several spin-off shows, multiple movies, and even two new animated series with Lower Decks and Prodigy — Lower Decks acts as an adult-oriented workplace comedy while Prodigy introduces a new generation of children to the wonderful world of Star Trek . Now, to celebrate Star Trek 's rich and growing history of animation , Paramount is launching Star Trek: Very Short Treks .

Short Treks debuted back in 2018, with episodes acting as little glimpses into the Star Trek universe as supplemental short films with stories ranging from hilarious to heart-wrenching. Now Very Short Treks will see characters from across the franchise go on comedic adventures in even less time as five new promotional spots celebrate The Animated Series as you've never seen it before . Unlike the two seasons of Short Treks , these Very Short Treks are being marketed as "anything but canon" allowing director Casper Kelly to deliver a handful of wacky, out-of-this-world stories that celebrate the franchise without changing its trajectory.

Earlier this year at San Diego Comic-Con, Collider's Perri Nemiroff sat down with Kelly to talk about the upcoming shorts. Kelly previously worked on the Short Trek "Too Many Cooks," which is a delightful episode featuring Archer star H. Jon Benjamin and the origin of Star Trek 's adorable and unstoppable Tribbles. During their chat, Kelly spoke to Collider about striking the right balance with the upcoming shorts, saying:

"I'm writing them along with these two other writers, Claire Friedman and Aaron Waltke. I write them and then I'm directing them basically along with Awesome Incorporated, the animation studio. And I think the challenge is this isn't something new I'm making myself, it is a beloved thing with a storied history. So it is negotiating, but you want, you want to push limits. So what's the right limits to push? What's not right? What feels good? What makes this not feel like Star Trek anymore, and just figuring all that out because it is a show about optimism and hope for the future. But it's also a show that does not take itself too seriously."

Check out a new poster for Star Trek: The Animated Celebration below and keep scrolling for more details on when you can watch Star Trek: Very Short Treks .

'Star Trek: Very Short Treks' Features Talent From the Entire Franchise

Back in July, it was announced that Star Trek legends Jonathan Frakes , Armin Shimerman , and Doug Jones would be reprising their roles as Will Riker, Quark, and Saru , respectively, now we've learned that even more familiar voices will be heard in the upcoming episodes. In addition to Frakes, Shimerman, and Jones, Very Short Treks will feature appearances from Ethan Peck as Spock, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura, Connor Trinneer as Trip Tucker, Bruce Horak as Hemmer, Noël Wells as Tendi and Original Series star George Takei as Sulu. In bringing back so many iconic characters, Kelly also shared his fear that "the talent would say, 'wait a minute, you can't have my character doing this,'" so it sounds like we're in for quite a trip.

The first Very Short Trek will air at 1 p.m. ET on September 8, with the remaining four shorts airing at the same time each Wednesday through October 4. While the plot of these shorts has not yet been revealed, the titles (in order of air date) are "Skin a Cat," "Holiday Party," "Worst Contact," Holograms, All the Way Down," and "Walk, Don't Run."

Watch the teaser for Star Trek: Very Short Treks below and keep an eye out for "Skin a Cat" on StarTrek.com as part of this weekend's Star Trek Day celebrations on September 8.

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In addition to “Skin a Cat,” Paramount+ has also released this 22-minute video, hosted by Lower Decks actor Jerry O’Connell, celebrating the franchise. O’Connell is also joined by castmates Tawny Newsome and Eugene Cordero, who react to some of the more outlandish moments of the last 56 years.

Unfortunately, because this video is a Paramount+ creation (and not one specifically produced by CBS Studios itself), there is no inclusion (or even a mention) of  Star Trek: Prodigy , which was removed from the streaming service back in June… which is a real bummer. (Go buy the Prodigy Blu-rays! )

Check back to TrekCore often for the latest in  Star Trek franchise news!

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Star Trek: very Short Treks "Skin a Cat": Was It Something He Said?

Posted in: Paramount+ , Star Trek , TV , YouTube | Tagged: paramount , star trek , Star Trek Day , youtube

In the first Star Trek: very Short Treks, "Skin a Cat" sees Spock and the crew teaching the Captain a lesson in watching what you say.

With today being Star Trek Day and the theme being a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the classic animated series, it seemed like a "perfect storm" kind of day for the first animated spot from Star Trek: very Short Treks . The all-new series of promotional spots is done in the style of Star Trek: The Animated Series , with the spots showing fan-favorite characters voiced by cast members from across the Star Trek universe. And that impressive voice cast includes Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker, Doug Jones as Saru, and Armin Shimerman as Quark. In addition, viewers can also look forward to hearing Ethan Peck as Spock, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura, Connor Trinneer as Trip Tucker, Bruce Horak as Hemmer, Noël Wells as Tendi, and the legendary George Takei as Sulu. And here's a look at the lineup: September 13 – "Holiday Party," September 20 – "Worst Contact," September 27 – "Holograms, All the Way Down," and October 4 – "Walk, Don't Run." But it all kicked off today with the release of "Skin a Cat" – with Peck (Spock), Pete Holmes (Captain), Cristina Milizia (Knickersonian, Dream Woman, M'Ress), Bonnie Gordon (Computer), and Eric Bauza (Antedian, Ass Face, Screwhead) offering a twistedly funny lesson in the importance of watching what you say. And then taking that lesson and going off in a direction we did not see coming…

Stemming from creative consultant Casper Kelly ( Too Many Cooks, Star Trek: Short Treks ), the first animated spot launched today, exclusively on StarTrek.com and the official Star Trek YouTube channel – with four additional animated spots rolling out weekly on Wednesdays through October 4 at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. Now, here's a look at "Skin a Cat" – followed by a look back at the teaser for the special animated short series that was released earlier this week:

Stay tuned to  the main website for more details on this and other news as we head into the special day. And be sure to follow the franchise on Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Instagram  for more up-to-the-minute details (and- of course – Bleeding Cool will be here to get the news to you).

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Star Trek's New Warp Drive Breaks the Prime Directive in a Way No-One Expected

8 star trek warp drives (& which is the fastest), the conners' season 6 finale admits roseanne's replacement character didn’t work.

• Star Trek: very Short Treks, a new animated series, will premiere on Star Trek Day, featuring guest actors such as Ethan Peck, Gates McFadden, Celia Rose Gooding, Connor Trinneer, and Ethan Phillips.
• The first episode, "Skin a Cat," will be released on September 8th, followed by four additional shorts each week.
• The series will also include a new comic book titled "Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier," debuting digitally on September 8th.

Star Trek brings back Short Treks as a new series of animated shorts to celebrate 50 years of Star Trek: The Animated Series . At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Star Trek announced that Jonathan Frakes as Commander Will Riker, Doug Jones as Saru, and Armin Shimerman as Quark would be among the guest actors lending their voices to new animated shorts by creative consultant Casper Kelly, best known for the viral smash hit Too Many Cooks and his work on Star Trek: Short Treks and Adult Swim.

The new animated shorts are called Star Trek: very Short Treks . On Star Trek Day , Paramount+'s global celebration of Star Trek on September 8th, the first of the very Short Treks , "Skin a Cat," will premiere exclusively on StarTrek.com and the Star Trek YouTube channel at 1pm EST/10am PST with four additional shorts premiering each following week. Check out the trailer for very Short Treks below:

The titles and release schedule for very Short Treks is below:

Sept. 8 – “Skin a Cat”

Sept. 13 – “Holiday Party”

Sept. 20 – “Worst Contact”

Sept. 27 – “Holograms, All the Way Down”

Oct. 4 – “Walk, Don’t Run”

Joining the previously announced guest voice cast for Star Trek: very Short Treks are Ethan Peck as Spock, Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher, Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura, Connor Trinneer as Trip Tucker, Bruce Horak as Hemmer, Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi, and George Takei as Sulu.

Casper Kelly will also release a new comic book with IDW Publishing titled Star Trek: The Animated Celebration Presents The Scheimer Barrier . The first chapter of the comic debuts digitally on September 8 on StarTrek.com with physical copies available at New York Comic Con in October. Additional chapters of the comic will drop weekly on Wednesdays on StarTrek.com at 1pm EST/10am PST. Check out the comic book cover and the logo for very Short Treks below:

Related: No More Strange New Worlds? Time To Give Star Trek Animation A Watch

very Short Treks Joins Star Trek Day 2023

Star Trek: very Short Treks joins an already impressive Star Trek Day lineup, which includes episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks (with a sneak peek at season 4) screening in movie theaters in select cities to celebrate 50 years of Star Trek animation. In addition, the first two episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will air on CBS at 8pm on September 8th. A Star Trek Day special program hosted by Lower Decks ' Jerry O'Connell with appearances by Tawny Newsome and Eugene Cordero that honors the Star Trek franchise will also premiere on Paramount+ and multiple streaming platforms.

Of particular note to Star Trek fans are Connor Trinneer and Bruce Horak being among the very Short Treks voice cast. In Trinneer's case, it will be the first time he has portrayed Commander Trip Tucker since his beloved character was killed off in Star Trek: Enterprise 's series finale in 2005. Horak voices Hemmer after the Aenar engineer perished in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1. Ethan Phillips also voices Neelix for the first time since Star Trek: Voyager ended in 2001. All of the very Short Treks look to be animated in the style of Star Trek: The Animated Series and, as the trailer announces, they are "anything but canon," but they should be fun additions to the Star Trek franchise to look forward to.

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Watch: Star Trek: very Short Treks ep. 1: “Skin a Cat”

By chad porto | sep 8, 2023.

Star Trek debuts very Short Trek son Star Trek Day.

Star Trek Day hasn’t provided much in 2023 . The writers’ and actor’s strike has sidelined anything unique and impactful for the day to present and fans are left with a rather empty holiday feeling. The much balleyhooed stream featuring Jerry O’Connell left a lot to be desired, and there was really no f ranchise shaking announcements to speak of.

Just a new look website, a Kid Cudi merchandise crossover and some game news. Though, one of the things that the fans did get was the debut of the very Short Treks. The new five-part animation series is done in the design of the 1973 Star Trek: The Animated Series, and features several very interesting talents returning to the roles they played in live action.

For instance, Ethan Peck is back as Spock in the very first episode, “Skin a Cat”. It features James Kirk, Spock and comany doing their thing, though Kirk keeps running afoul with various members of the crew for his choice of word play.

Kirk isn’t played by Williams Shatner, Paul Wesley or Chris Pine, but instead comedian Pete Holmes. Cristina Milizia, Bonnie Gordon, and Eric Bauz round out the cast for the first episode of the new mini-series.

Star Trek: very Short Treks delivers but only kinda

The gimmick to these admitted non-canon shorts, are that they’re done in the vein of the 1970s animated series, but have a Lower Decks sense of humor. They’re interesting, and they certainly do bring back the vibe of the original cartoon, especially with its animations and prologuned firing sequences, done to extend the run time of the show.

But the humor is a bit rough, and dare I say, gratuitous. While this seems to be fine for the Lower Decks fandom, not every Star Trek fans appreciates the more ‘out-there’ humor and so the mini-series won’t strike a cord with everyone.

Next. The Top 100 episodes in Star Trek franchise history according to metrics. dark

How Ethan Peck's Spock became the mirthful glue binding us to "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"

Peck's younger version of one of trek's most beloved figures deepens our understanding of the vulcan he becomes, by melanie mcfarland.

Hijinks do not separate man from beast, as any cat owner, squirrel friend or chimpanzee observer knows far too well. They are, however, one of the many stark differentiators between humankind and Vulcans. Ethan Peck's version of Spock learns this early on in " Star Trek: Strange New Worlds " when he accidentally switches bodies with his betrothed T-Pring (Gia Sandhu) and duty calls, for each of them, before they can switch back.

"I do not like hijinks," T'Pring tells Spock.

"Neither do I," he replies, "but it appears that hijinks are the most logical course of action." He's proven to be correct when each awkwardly steps into the shoes of their other half and gains a better understanding of their daily lives. Everything works out – awkwardly, but well enough.

That episode, "Spock Amok," is an instructive prerequisite to the actions Spock undertakes in the second season premiere of "Strange New Worlds," "The Broken Circle." When Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ) leaves Spock in charge of the Enterprise for a few days while he heads off on a personal mission to save his Number One, Una Chin-Riley ( Rebecca Romijn ) from imprisonment, you knew his time in the captain's chair wouldn't be uneventful.

Pike assumes it will be, since the ship is undergoing a mandatory inspection while docked at Starbase 1. What's the worst that could happen? How about this: La'An Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), who has stepped away from Starfleet to pursue her own exploits, sends a time-sensitive distress signal from a sector of the universe the Federation avoids for fear of running afoul of the Klingons . This places Spock and the bridge crew in a predicament: they can follow orders to remain where they are, the logical choice, or defy them to save a friend, which could go wrong in all kinds of ways.

This Spock chooses hijinks.

"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" maintains the closest fidelity to Gene Roddenberry's vision as it was established in the original series , both in terms of its mission of the week format and episodic considerations of sociocultural matters.

The United Federation of Planets' principles are always being tested, stretched and broken as the voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise demonstrate. Nevertheless, even when the crew's best intentions end up being the wrong ones, they learn, adapt and grow.

Future Spock is a master of subtlety; Peck's is still learning how to harness the human clown goofing about in his DNA.

"Strange New Worlds" evolves the original model by emphasizing character over scenario, a luxury the 1960s show didn't have. Back then its now-iconic characters were entirely new. Now they're like family or, if not that, someone universal enough that even people who never connected to the tales of William Shatner's Captain Kirk get any references to him or Leonard Nimoy's Spock.

Because of this, Peck had the toughest needle to thread in picking up Spock's mantle. The second most difficult undertaking in that regard is shouldered by Celia Rose Gooding, who expands Nyota from the version Nichelle Nichols originated.

But as central to the Trek legend as Nichols is, Nimoy's Spock is on par with Shatner's Kirk as the personification of the franchise. In hindsight, J.J. Abrams lessened that burden for Zachary Quinto by setting his adventures in an alternate universe, the Kelvin timeline. He acquitted himself well enough.

Peck is the third actor to take on the role and the one who's spent the second longest amount of time in Spock's skin. His portrayal holds the challenge of plausibly maturing Spock in a way that connects the character's past to who he eventually becomes – as in, the Starfleet officer we already know. Therein rests the delight in what he brings to "Strange New Worlds," in that he's a half-human, half-Vulcan figuring out the balance of who he is and who he strives to be.

Season 1 of "Strange New Worlds" is a trip through destiny – Pike's specifically. In the original series, Pike was introduced as a disfigured character kept alive inside by a boxy apparatus through which he could communicate with a blinking light. In this one he's a silver-haired Space Zaddy who cooks for his crew and commands from a place of mutual respect and understanding. During a mission undertaken on " Star Trek: Discovery " Pike is made aware of this terrible fate that awaits him. It continues to haunt him in this series.

Through a glimpse at a another possible fate that his future self presents to him, Pike is made to realize that what awaits him has to happen. If he prevents it, not only will it rip apart the Federation, it will kill its best chance at attaining peace with its Romulan adversaries. Which is Spock.

Season 2 widens its lens to build the case as to why that will be by focusing initially on Spock before diving deeper into other figures and their backgrounds, with a connecting thematic refrain that one's legacy should not necessarily determine one's prospects. (A newly introduced Starfleet officer named Pelia, played by Carol Kane, is a mirthful reminder of that for reasons best discovered by watching.)

She and others point out, in a complimentary way, that Spock is not like any other Vulcans they've encountered. He still follows logic above all else while understanding that occasionally doing what's right and best for the galaxy, and his fellow crewmembers, requires going against logic.

"Hijinks are the most logical course of action."

Venturing deep into his self-realization journey allows us a peek into how Nimoy's half-Vulcan mastered the art of dry-to-nearly-invisible humor and brainy sarcasm without breaking his deadpan expression or violating who we expect Spock to be. Future Spock is a master of subtlety; Peck's is a superbly capable leader who's still learning how to harness the human clown goofing about in his DNA.

His Spock's story is one of becoming which, like the premiere's mission, presents many opportunities to lurch sideways. This is why when "Star Trek: Discovery" announced its intention to bring Spock into the storyline, I was not hopeful. And I don't think I was alone in that feeling. Not initially anyway.

Spock's essential prominence in the "Star Trek" universe is one of those traits that can be equally beloved and exhausting; there is no lazier way to buy the fandom's affection than injecting him into a plot. In fairness, that was an inevitability in "Discovery." Its main character, Michael Burnham, is Spock's adopted sibling.

But Peck defied those assumptions by building the character from the text instead of following prior depictions. The resulting Spock is plausibly more emotional than his future self is while allowing his devotion to logic to play on the borders of comedy.

"Strange New Worlds" directors accentuate this whenever it makes sense; even in the gloomiest junctures can be somewhat softened by Spock's eyebrow dancing into its quizzical arch.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter , Crash Course.

There is a fear these new episodes may over-index on that charming quirk. It is prominent in the first two episodes, and when it pops up in the second episode its usage is a bit too cute for the moment.

But in the premiere, when the crew asks for his Warp catchphrase, explaining that it announces what kind of commander he is – Pike's is "Hit it," for example, and Burnham's is "Let's fly" – Spock's best at a moment's notice is also totally in character. "I would like the ship to go," he commands, cocking that eyebrow before adding, "Now."

Then, when they get to the mission at their destination, hijinks ensue. This time they are terrifying and bring the Federation to the precipice of war.

With Spock at the helm, there is never a time when the audience is made to feel that the situation won't work out, and that's true even when a couple of characters flirt with death. "Strange New Worlds" proved its willingness to off series regulars in the first round of episodes, so the possibility of that happening was very real. So too is Peck's connection with his human side's eruption of fear, panic and sorrow. 

Spock dials these back in upcoming episodes, both earning and boosting his comedy side. As a character tells another, Vulcans convey their true feelings not through words but in the way they comport themselves. You have to watch them closely to comprehend the nuances of their expression. Those who didn't get that from Nimoy's performance may gain a better understanding by spending time with Peck's Spock, which is one of the sweeter assignments a viewer can give themselves.

Season 2 of "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" premieres Thursday, June 15 on Paramount+. New episodes debut on Thursdays.

about the Trek universe

• Goodbye to Trek's greatest generation
• Why Star Trek characters still cook
• Star Trek boldly goes where canon won't

Melanie McFarland is Salon's award-winning senior culture critic. Follow her on Twitter: @McTelevision

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Best Cat Skins in Fortnite

• Katt is a rare and exclusive cat-inspired skin in Fortnite part of the Kataclsym Set available in the March 2024 Fortnite Crew Pack for $11.99.
• Azuki is a Samurai cat skin in Fortnite from Chapter 3, Season 1, part of the Nyanjitsu Set for 1,400 V-Bucks or 1,800 V-Bucks in a set.
• Catwoman, a popular cat-themed outfit in Fortnite, is part of the Gotham City Set and costs 1,500 V-Bucks, giving players a sleek comic book look.

Fortnite has a vast selection of unique skins for players to own. One unique outfit category is cat-themed skins designed for feline lovers who wish to express their personality and individuality.

Fortnite: 5 Rarest Back Blings

The vast selection of cat-themed skins in Fortnite is inspired by movie characters such as Catwoman as well as real-life felines. Almost all, if not all, the cat-inspired skins in Fortnite look splendidly amazing and unique, but some look much better than others. With the huge selection of cat skins, choosing the best can be challenging, making it important to know the best cat skins in Fortnite .

Part of the Kataclysm Set

• Introduced In: Chapter 5, Season 1
• Cost: $11.99
• Release Date: March 1, 2024

Katt is an Epic cat-inspired skin in Fortnite that’s part of the Kataclsym Set. It was first introduced in Chapter 5, Season 1, in the March 2024 Fortnite Crew Pack, which is an exclusive pack for Fortnite subscribers. The Fortnite Crew Pack gives players the best content , including exclusive and unique skins plus other exciting rewards. Players must subscribe to the Fortnite Crew Pack in March to obtain the Katt cosmetic skin. The subscription costs $11.99, and grants players the Kataclysm set alongside 1,000 V-Bucks.

The Kataclysm Set contains the Katt outfit, the Ro-boy Back Bling, and the Katt’s Craver Pickaxe. The Kataclysm Set will only be available for a limited time, so players who want to obtain this cat skin should subscribe to the March 2024 Fortnite Crew Pack before the month ends.

A Warrior Samurai Cat

• Introduced In: Chapter 3, Season 1
• Cost: 1,400 V-Bucks
• Release Date: January 2, 2022

Fortnite: 5 Most Customizable Skins

Azuki is a Rare rarity Fortnite skin that was first introduced in Chapter 3, Season 1, as part of the Nyanjitsu Set. The skin features a cat dressed like a Samurai warrior, with two Nyan Claws as its pickaxes. Azuki is one of the few skins in Fortnite that look like ancient warriors from the 1800s.

To obtain the Azuki skin, players had to spend 1,400 V-Bucks. Alternatively, they can also purchase the entire set last part of the Azuki Bundle for 1,800 V-Bucks. The bundle includes the outfit and its cosmetics, including Catana, Nyan Claws, Yoki Tote, Three-Claw, Nyanstoppable, and Lucky Grin.

A Comic Book Outfit

• Introduced In: Season X
• Cost: 1,500 V-Bucks
• Release Date: September 21, 2019

Catwoman is a popular and fan-favorite cat-themed outfit in Fortnite , making it one of the best cat skins to own. Introduced in Season X, Catwoman is a DC Series skin that’s part of the Gotham City Set. The cat skin is wearing a jet-black spandex suit from head to toe in a slender body frame. The outfit’s head covering has two little cat ears that add to its feline features and attributes. Players can also remove the Catwoman’s goggles, revealing her entire face.

Out of all the Comic Book outfits in Fortnite , Catwoman is the sleekest outfit for players who want to stand out on the battlefield and play as heroines. The Comic Book Outfit costs 1,500 V-Bucks, and if players want its matching cosmetics, they must purchase the Gotham City Set for 1,800 V-Bucks.

Black Panther

A homage to chadwick boseman.

• Introduced In: Chapter 2, Season 5
• Cost: $24.99
• Release Date: December 22, 2020

Black Panther is one of the most honorable cat skins players can own in Fortnite . Shortly released after the passing of Chadwick Boseman, this Marvel Fortnite skin pays respect to the character T’Chala in the Black Panther film.

Fortnite: 5 Rarest Skin in 2024

The Black Panther skin was first introduced in Chapter 2 Season 5 and has since made over 100 appearances. Featuring a jet-black spandex suit from head to toe with gold highlights and a black cap, the skin is the spitting image of the one in the film. The Black Panther skin also features a large masculine frame that is quite intimidating and powerful.

The Swolest Cat in the Game

• Introduced In: Chapter 2, Season 2
• Cost: 950 V-Bucks
• Release Date: February 20, 2020

Meowscles is an Epic rarity Fortnite skin that was first introduced in Chapter 2, Season 2, as part of the Swole Cat Set. The cat skin is inspired by the masculine cat in the Feline by Design loading screen. The skin features a buff cat wearing a pair of trousers with suspenders. The buff nature of the skin can easily intimidate and oppress opponents on the battlefield.

To obtain Meowscles in Fortnite , players had to reach level 60 of the Battle Pass and spend 950 V-Bucks. Meowscles has many variations, including the Purradise Meowscles that was part of Chapter 4 Season 3 Battle Pass. It has since then become one of the most iconic skins in Fortnite , making it the best cat skin in the game.

Platform(s) Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PC, iOS, Android, Mobile, Xbox One

Released July 25, 2017

Developer(s) Epic Games

Genre(s) Survival, Battle Royale