Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks Go from Storyboard to Final Animation
Star Trek: Lower Decks - S0 - E3
Creating an animated series is a multi-stage process. Get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the earliest forms of Star Trek: Lower Decks' premiere episode, "Second Contact," compared to the completed animated product.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Season 0 - 47 Episode s
0x1 - Cast and Creator Talk Characters and Favorite Moments from Season 1
July 23, 2020
Creator Mike McMahan and the cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks give insight into their characters and roles on the series' ship, the U.S.S. Cerritos, and dish about some of their favorite moments from the upcoming debut season.
0x2 - Ep. 1, “Second Contact” - Easter Eggs
August 9, 2020
Series Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer Mike McMahan highlights some of the callouts to Star Trek lore from the premiere episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
0x3 - Watch Star Trek: Lower Decks Go from Storyboard to Final Animation
August 10, 2020
Creating an animated series is a multi-stage process. Get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the earliest forms of Star Trek: Lower Decks' premiere episode, "Second Contact," compared to the completed animated product.
0x4 - Star Trek Day 2020: Lower Decks Panel
September 8, 2020
Mica Burton speaks with Star Trek: Lower Decks Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer Mike McMahan and voice cast members Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noël Wells, and Eugene Cordero. The group discusses favorite moments from the debut season, what it's been like joining the Star Trek family, and more.
0x5 - Lower Decktionaries - Joining Starfleet
May 18, 2021
A nice introduction to the origins of ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks,’ and to how Mike McMahan pitched the series to Alex Kurtzman and Secret Hideout. The short gives you quick glimpses of some of the content in McMahan’s original pitch, as well as some concept art of the look and feel of the series… including the USS Cerritos’ original name: the USS San Diego.
0x6 - Lower Decktionaries - Art Design
May 18, 2021
A look at the art design for the characters and locales of ‘Lower Decks.’ The most interesting thing I learned, which you won’t be able to un-see once you realize it, is that the aesthetics of the furniture aboard the Cerritos is shaped to emulate the look of Starfleet’s LCARS design, with all rounded corners and angular designs.
0x7 - Lower Decktionaries - The Main Titles
May 18, 2021
Mike McMahan and composer Chris Westlake break down the development of the visuals and the music for the ‘Lower Decks’ main theme, and explain what the titles are trying to tell us about the show as a whole. McMahan and Westlake also talk about how the music of the show influences the storytelling.
0x8 - Lower Decktionaries - Aliens Among Us
May 18, 2021
Many of the production personnel involved in the show’s animation go into detail about how they include previous ‘Star Trek’ aliens, focused on the series’ second episode “Envoys” and the multitude of canon aliens that appeared there.
0x9 - Lower Decktionaries - The Animation Process
May 18, 2021
This short explains how an episode of ‘Lower Decks’ gets made, from the script all the way through the finished episode. You learn a lot about animatics and the different stages of the animation process — there are different people who animate the backgrounds than the people, which I didn’t know! — that will give you a new appreciation for the amount of work that goes into each episode.
0x10 - Lower Decktionaries - Division 14
May 18, 2021
A look at the character designs for the Division 14 ship from “Much Ado About Boimler,” including the appearance of the Triexian doctor that harkens back to Lt. Arex from The Animated Series.
0x11 - Lower Decktionaries - The Holodeck
May 18, 2021
Mike McMahan talks about the use of the holodeck on ‘Lower Decks,’ including the origins of the infamous Badgey, a 90s era joke (based on Clippy, the infamous Microsoft Office virtual assistant) that McMahan argued would work well on ‘Lower Decks,’ since the show itself is an homage to 90’s-era Star Trek.
0x12 - Lower Decktionaries - The Music of Lower Decks
May 18, 2021
A more in-depth look at the use of music across the whole series by composer Chris Westlake, focusing on the episode “Crisis Point” and the movie music homages contained within. Mike McMahan also expands on his comments about the role of music on the show as a whole and how important it is to the humor.
0x13 - Lower Decktionaries - Deck Dynamics
May 18, 2021
The cast and producers of the show explain in more detail the dynamics between the series main characters and the supporting bridge crew, including the role that the relationship between the main characters and the bridge crew plays as the series progresses.
0x14 - Faces of the Fleet
May 18, 2021
Extended look at the eight primary cast members of Lower Decks. Including interviews with Tawny Newsome (Mariner), Jack Quaid (Boimler), Eugene Cordero (Rutherford), Noel Wells (Tendi), Dawnn Lewis (Freeman), Jerry O’Connell (Ransom), Gillian Vigman (T’Ana) and Fred Tatasciore (Shaxs) — along with series creator Mike McMahan — the feature dives into what each actor thinks of their character and stories about each of their casting experiences. In addition, the feature also includes some fun audition tape recordings from several of the cast, with some funny outtakes that show off their spontaneity and vocal talents.
0x15 - Lower Decktionaries - All in the Family
May 18, 2021
This feature charts the evolution of the relationship between the main characters over the course of Season 1, and goes into detail about the inclusion of legacy characters like Riker, Troi, and Q.
0x16 - Hiding in Plain Sight
May 18, 2021
Discussion of the show’s many Star Trek references and deep cut Easter Eggs.
0x17 - Crisis Point Trailer
May 18, 2021
Promo for the Holo Adventure - Crisis Point
0x18 - Comic-Con@Home 2021 Star Trek Lower Decks Panel
July 23, 2021
0x19 - Lower Decktionary: Season 2
July 12, 2022
A look at season 2, including where we left the crew in season 1, and the goals for the second season. We hear from Alex Kurtzman, Mike McMahan, Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Eugene Cordero, Noël Wells, and others.
0x20 - A Sound Foundation
July 12, 2022
Mike McMahan starts a discussion about the sounds of Star Trek and how important it is to set the tone for the different eras of Trek. Sound for an animated series is particularly important, go behind the scenes in an interview with the Emmy-nominated team (“No Small Parts” was nominated from season 1) that creates the dynamic audio for Lower Decks while they discuss how they bring the series to life.
0x21 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 1
July 12, 2022
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Strange Energies"
0x22 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 2
July 12, 2022
Noël Wells and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Kayshon, His Eyes Open"
0x23 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 3
July 12, 2022
Eugene Cordero and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "We'll Always Have Tom Paris"
0x24 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 4
July 12, 2022
Eugene Cordero and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Mugato, Gumato"
0x25 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 5
July 12, 2022
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "An Embarassment of Dooplers"
0x26 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 6
July 12, 2022
Noël Wells and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "The Spy Humongous"
0x27 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 7
July 12, 2022
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie"
0x28 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 8
July 12, 2022
Noël Wells and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "I, Excretus"
0x29 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 9
July 12, 2022
Eugene Cordero and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "Wej Duj"
0x30 - Easter Eggs - Season 2, Episode 10
July 12, 2022
Tawny Newsome and Mike McMahan discuss easter eggs in the episode "First First Contact"
0x31 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 1
July 12, 2022
0x32 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 2
July 12, 2022
0x33 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 3
July 12, 2022
0x34 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 4
July 11, 2022
0x35 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 5
July 12, 2022
0x36 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 6
July 12, 2022
0x37 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 7
July 12, 2022
0x38 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 8
July 12, 2022
0x39 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 9
July 12, 2022
0x40 - Animatics - Season 2, Episode 10
July 12, 2022
0x41 - Lower Decktionary: Season 3
October 27, 2022
A look at season 3.
0x42 - Docking at Deep Space 9
October 27, 2022
Loving on the DS9 universe, animating the station and the wormhole, getting small details just right, writing and voicing the episode, and more.
0x43 - Second Contact Deleted Scene Animatic
May 18, 2021
0x44 - Second Contact Full Length Animatic
May 18, 2021
Watch the premier full episode of Lower Decks in the rough cut Animatic form.
0x45 - Moist Vessel Deleted Scene Animatic
May 18, 2021
0x46 - Old Friends
April 16, 2024
Looking at the "cold opens" and the recurring background narrative of the mystery alien vessel, the ninth episode of the season and its pacing, exploring character backgrounds in the season, legacy Star Trek characters and the actors who played them returning to the universe.
0x47 - Lower Decktionary: Setting Up Season 4
April 16, 2024
Looking at starting the season with a Voyager episode and promotions for the crew being moved up to the start of the season rather than the end.