San Diego Comic Con Celebrates Star Trek’s 60th Anniversary

Calling all Trekkies!

In Hall H. at San Diego Comic Con, we celebrated 60 years of Star Trek. Turning 60 this year, the series lives long and prospers with it’s original show and movies, animated series, remakes, novels, and so much more. After all these years, Star Trek projects are still being made, and the fans are still showing up.

Hall H. was a representation of this beloved series from across the years and eras. Coming from different generations of Star Trek, the panel covered it’s bases with actors from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Starfleet Academy, Star Trek: Picard, Deep Space Nine, Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the very original Star Trek series.

Those actors include Michael Dorn, Robert Picardo, Dominic Keeting, Cirroc Lofton, Doug Jones, Michelle Hurd, Jerry O’Connell, Christina Chong, Karim Diané, and the absolute lend himself, George Takei. Captain Sulu has arrived!

Over the pan of 60 years, these people have shared their love with fans for a series that means so much. They have also continued to put out impressive work for a series that was not taken so seriously at it’s start, pulling and stretching the limits of the Star Trek universe.

60 years of Star Trek has lead to many, many voyages and explorers bolding going where no one else has gone before! Before starting the panel, a presentation montage was screened, showcasing all the creative projects within this universe. Whether you’re one for the nostalgia or the new-age moments, Star Trek is a series made for the fans who continue to show support and love for a series that loves them back. Check out the 60th Anniversary presentation of Star Trek below!

SHIELDS UP!

Moderator of the panel, Scott Mantz, went above and beyond asking questions about the diversity, legacy, inclusion, and significance of the Star Trek universe. Opening up the panel with a congratulations and a thank you to George Takei, Scott asked him what it means to continue watching Star Trek grow more and more each year.

In response, George said, “It’s always wonderful to have people come up to you to say ‘congratulations’ or ‘happy 60th’. It makes me feel so young! I’m way older than 60, but that isn’t the only wonderful thing about this. It’s an extraordinary phenomenon . . . because of all the people like you, and your parents, and your grandparents, because of their intelligence and their sensitivity and their vision, they supported Star Trek to the extent that we have lived long and endured for sixty years and going. That is an extraordinary television phenomenon“.

Decade after decade, Star Trek has found a way to stay relevant and important for old fans and new fans. For a show that had low ratings and was cancelled after just three seasons, it’s pretty amazing what the series looks like in todays world. Nowadays, you can find Star Trek media just about anywhere. And it doesn’t even have to been on a screen—games, podcasts, books, graphic novels. Star Trek is pretty much ingrained in our every day pop-culture. The franchise itself is available in 11 different television programs, 14 films, and over 900 episodes of well-loved space exploration. It’s an incredibly impressive history of videography that has truly lasted over these decades.

CAPTAIN GENE RODDENBERRY

Creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, was also heavily celebrated at the 60th anniversary. After all, without him, we wouldn’t have these beloved characters, costumes, and catchphrases. For the time that it was created, Star Trek was a very progressive show, one ahead of it’s time with actors of different races and backgrounds. Michelle Hurd from Star Trek: Picard said how huge of it an impact it was on her and her family, watching Uhura, a Black woman, play such a huge lead in a television program. For Michelle, becoming a part of the world of Star Trek, and even sitting next to Takei at this very panel, is another demonstration of the reach, relevancy, and importance Star Trek has.

As always, Star Trek takes us on new adventures, giving it’s audiences new perspectives and outlooks on life, lessons, society, and most of all, space!

As the panel came to a close, we have one lasting quote from George who was explains the importance of the strength in diversity, and seeing that representation in television.

“We have a whole history that has shaped our vantage point on life and how we see life. And it’s recognizing that among all of us, coming together, and realizing that our strength is in our working together. We have various thoughts that are exchanged, we have maybe different reactions to what is said, but it’s our recognition of that difference and the courage and the boldness to think about that difference, and learn from it. I think that’s what the strength of Star Trek is: infinite diversity in different combinations . . . And then to live long and prosper“.

To read more about the Star Trek 60th celebration, check out this article here.

To watch the entire panel, check out this video below!