🚀 Star Trek has NEVER been one tone, one era, or one future. Aaron Waltke @goodaaron.bsky.social on why Trek thrives on possibilities — and why new stories need room to boldly go. Full interview: youtu.be/6uj9sO5qKCo #StarTrek #AaronWaltke #TheTransporterRoom #StarTrekFandom

CALIFORNIA VOTERS: Today’s the LAST DAY to vote in the midterm elections! You can still fill out your ballot or visit a polling place if you haven’t yet. If you don’t know who to choose, there are many great voter guides that help lay out their positions and endorsements!

The funny thing about animation is that sometimes you see extremely cool things you can’t talk about for a long time. This week has been full of those days!

When I first opened the NextDoor app, I remember reading a completely serious post that said: “I knew this neighborhood was going downhill when all the songbirds left and all I saw was crows” I think about that a lot.

When I was fresh out of college, I had no connections and nothing but a dream. I co-wrote an indie animated spec. Somehow, we got it to Tom. He voiced our main character for free. “Putting good into the world has a habit of coming back around,” he said. RIP Tom Kane. Thank you, truly.

Growing up a few minutes south of Indianapolis, I attended the Indy 500 probably 6 or 7 times. After a few laps, we’d leave the stands and walk through the tunnel to the buildings in the middle. Check out the museum there. Buy lunch at one of many cafes. It was a small city.

I know the word “agonist” is just a medical term for a kind of neurotransmitter… But to me, it will forever sound like some kind of demon necromancer D&D monster that specializes in magical torment.

Since a few folks are curious, TV animation often takes a surprisingly long time. From development to greenlight to production usually lasts years, as scripts to character designs to environments and style are meticulously created from scratch! (1/2)

An interesting aspect of human nature and probability, now that prediction markets are so prevalent in news coverage. If the odds of something are 20% and it happens anyway, it doesn’t make it “wrong.” It means it was a 1/5 chance and we got the 1. Otherwise it would be 0%.

Peter and I loved talking with STAR TREK PRODIGY Writer & overall great dude Aaron Waltke! Tune in at the links below or wherever you find pods! LINKT.REE (all of our links) linktr.ee/secret_frien... AUDIO: secretfriendsunite.com/spotlight/sf... VIDEO: youtu.be/oHAPyq8OgN4?...

This was a fun conversation we had about Star Trek. Check it out if you are so inclined! youtu.be/oHAPyq8OgN4?...

When I was in college, I entered a “Lost” Sweepstakes. Grand prize? A trip to Hawaii. I forgot about it ‘til 5 months later when a box appeared in my garage. My roommate put it there “because it was suspicious.” Inside was a “Lost” DVD and 10 bags of popcorn. A “Year’s Supply.”

I understand loving a story so much you want to see it as soon as possible… but leaks can harm the ability for those stories to continue. It’s harder than ever for artists to live off what they make. Less human-made art, especially big swings, are a huge loss for everybody.

Are you a fan of STAR TREK, TROLLHUNTERS, TRANSFORMERS ONE or WINGS OF FIRE? Love animation or TV or film — or want advice on your own projects? I’m auctioning a virtual one-on-one chat where we can do that AND fight cancer! Proceeds to Blood Cancer United. www.charitybuzz.com/catalog_item...

QUESTION FOR ANIME FANS: How mainstream is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End? I’m really enjoying it — but I can’t help wondering if when I recommend it, it’s like telling someone “Hey, there’s this band called The Beatles…” Do I have good taste?

Years ago, I was speaking with a friend of a friend from Provence who insisted there was no French equivalent of “geek, nerd, or dork.” She said “we just call those smart or passionate people,” and mocking someone for that was an American thing. Maybe she was messing with me…?

I find it interesting how difficult it is for some Star Trek audiences to grapple with one fact… By the 24th century, property doesn’t hold the same value as now. Living in a fancy house/location with stuff means far less in a post-scarcity era with replicators and transporters. A novelty at best.

I’m often asked what inspired #TROLLHUNTERS while we were writing it. 80s films we loved. Amblin, Goonies, ET, Monster Squad, Lost Boys. Excalibur. Evil Dead, etc. In TV, ambitious worldbuilding like Star Trek, Gargoyles, even Steven Universe and TMNT. Games? D&D and Legend of Zelda!

Here’s another great indie animation project — STRAWBERRY VAMPIRE from @emilybrundige.bsky.social (creator of GOLDIE, PUBERTINA). Link below. Support artists! www.kickstarter.com/projects/str...

Here’s another great indie animation project called SPIN CYCLE from @angelamsanchez.bsky.social (PRIMOS, STILLWATER, etc.) Check it out! www.kickstarter.com/projects/127...

We're down to 60+ hours left on @kickstarter.com and only 11 backers away from hitting 120. I'd like to invite 5 friends and if they invite 5 friends, we can get the word out fast! @goodaaron.bsky.social @robmccallum.bsky.social @schiekapedia.bsky.social @jysexton.bsky.social @kibblesmith.com

Is it annoying to say… I really liked all the Best Picture nominees this year and I’m glad movies still exist and all art is a miracle…? #Oscars

Voice actors for animated film and television are some of the most talented performers I’ve ever worked with. Always worth remembering! #Oscars

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” - Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations”, Book 5

Found this in my notes app. I have no memory of writing it… likely half-asleep. Was I onto something?

Stories are like gardens that are nurtured — twisting along unanticipated paths, as they reveal themselves to even the authors. If you relinquish all choices too early, give them up in the name of efficiency, fully formed from the outset — you lose something. Wander curiously.

‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Wins Emmy Award For Animation https://bit.ly/pros2emmy

A huge congrats to Bastien Grivet for winning a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for STAR TREK: PRODIGY! He was recognized for “Individual Achievement in Animation - Background Design”. Very well deserved! 🖖

Writing In Star Trek’s Shared Universe Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Star Trek Prodigy’s @goodaaron.bsky.social! 📹 Watch the video version HERE: youtu.be/nwN67_mrArk?... 🎧Full interview on the TrekCulture podcast - available wherever you get your podcasts!🎧 #StarTrek #StarTrekProdigy

This was a fun conversation! 🖖 Always a pleasure to chat with the folks at @trekculture.bsky.social. youtu.be/nwN67_mrArk?...

Notable people I’ve been told I resemble over the years: - Actors Jake Gyllenhaal & Tobey Maguire - Teemu Selänne, Finnish Hockey Legend - Sam Riegel, Director, Actor, TTRPG Player Some I kind of see — some I really don’t. Maybe it’s the eyes?

To impregnate people with good requires a long time. But evil has wings. To build a house takes time. Its destruction takes none.” - Mohandas Gandhi, “Hind Swaraj”

New STAR TREK: PRODIGY ships are coming soon! 🖖

This was a fun interview! Check it out, if you are so inclined.

What’s a completely trivial thing that is profoundly meaningful to you? I always wanted to have a species, living or fossilized, named after me. I’d love nothing more than to learn every fact and spread the word of its existence.

This was great, @thetransporterroom.net. @goodaaron.bsky.social is a fantastic talent and a wonderful guy. Let's call him Father of Dragons now. 🔥 #StarTrek would only be better with Aaron back. 🖖

🚨 Beam-in Alert!🚨 This Sunday, Aaron Waltke joins The Transporter Room for a great Trek chat. @goodaaron.bsky.social February 15th 1:00 PM PT | 3:00 PM CT | 9:00 PM UK Set a reminder and join us when the signal goes live! youtu.be/6uj9sO5qKCo

The USS Protostar model has arrived. @goodaaron.bsky.social

Wow, what a list for TROLLHUNTERS to be included on. Thank you, Collider!

Here’s an interview I did recently, if you like those sorts of things! www.youtube.com/live/YXwZyx9...

There was a #StarTrekProdigy Art Book in the works. I was going to co-write it. It went into limbo when it was removed from Paramount+ with uncertainty if Season Two would find a home. Then more uncertainty when Paramount was merging with Skydance. If you want it — Trek fans should rally for it!

There's a TON of AMAZING Star Trek Prodigy concept art recently added to Jack Rossi's portfolio. 1/3

Macbeth: “I will not be afraid of death and bane, ‘til Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane” The Great Birnam Wood:

Do I know anyone who knows anyone who works in the upper eschelons of Google or YouTube? I’m trying to recover some old videos I made decades ago with a friend who passed away. They are trapped on a legacy YouTube account, whose password I’ve forgotten and cannot recover.

“How are you?” “Struggling to escape from the cash nexus doom spiral — whilst staring into the void of existential dread caused by the ‘double movement’ polycrisis hyperobject that threatens us all, magnified by the day.” “Can’t wait till Friday, huh”

This sort of genre cinema and practical effects I grew up with in the 1980s and 90s was something tremendously special. The handcrafted nature of creature makeup and puppetry lent a surreal authenticity to everything. I will always love it.

I remember when we were making this episode of @realgdt.bsky.social ‘s TROLLHUNTERS, we had total creative control… … until someone saw the kitchen knife fight and was terrified we’d get dinged by S&P for dangerous behavior. Thankfully, we kept it in, no one complained, and it’s rad!

The best.

My Heights? Wuthered.

I refuse to accept this.