USS Archer: The Animated Series - Part Two

Well, the first episode got 20 likes, so I went and did a second! To get just 2 minutes 15 seconds of tightly-edited video it's been several days of, honestly, obsessive work - so I hope you like the results. My software proficiency and techniques have developed since the first one, so this one now has four layered audio tracks plus some nice SFX.

A lot of this was very challenging to animate, particularly the scenes with multiple characters and a lot going on. My prompt-writing skills are pretty good, but a few of these clips took dozens of attempts to get right and some required compromises. With the internal scenes, trying to stop the AI engine turning faces either hyperrealistic or Pixar-style is occasionally a struggle. Combining this with the need for each character to do what they're supposed to, end up where they need to stand and deliver their lines perfectly is quite an exhaustive process. Getting the transitions right between the shots requires re-shoots and editing to the microsecond so it flow.

The key shortcoming of AI is to maintain a consistent character appearance. Fortunately my render sequence keeps that grounded, however it has a habit of changing hairstyles or adding unwanted details to uniforms etc. that are immersion-breaking. I've tried to give each character their own consistent voice, altering pitch etc, in Audacity, to make them less generic.

I have leaned extensively on Star Trek lore, both TOS and the first three movies. USS Archer could be said to exist in a post-TOS, pre-TMP era. For the music I have used a mixture of Star Trek TOS cues, plus the amazing scoring of the great James Horner (tragically RIP before his time, now ten years ago).

Throwbacks, Easter Eggs and references are thick in this one. The USS Archer is a TOS-style Constellation Class cruiser, but the Klingons are K'Tinga class ships as seen at the start of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The overall scenario is based on the Kobayashi Maru test, and the space backdrop is based on Battle in the Mutara Nebula - both found in The Wrath Of Khan. The decloaking effect, and Klingon surprise attack, are very much based on the destruction of the USS Grissom in The Search For Spock. Lianne gets to deliver J.T. Estaban's line "Oh my God!" Of course, Star Trek is not the only franchise, so I based Amanda's "What!" on Princess Leia's reaction to Tarkin destroying Alderaan, and Katherina gets to use Admiral Ackbar's famous line "It's a trap!" Amanda's frozen reaction mirrors Gorman in Aliens when everything goes to hell so, as a bonus, Katherina gets to say "Do something!" just like Ripley did.

I do realise that not everyone is my age group and so it's worth listing these references - if you're too young to know these films then go watch them! Not TikTok mush :-)

Yeah - I had too much fun making this. These two parts only span 39 of the 110 images in the story, so you could say we are only one third of the way through the story. Obviously I want to do it all, but I am a little worried about what I have taken on. Regular 3D art posts may need to go on the back burner while I focus on it. If you DO want to see it, then the way to get it is likes and comments. Let me know what you liked, and who's your favourite character! If anything needs changing, this doesn't have to be the final version, if you want to leave critique or suggestions. Obviously I am sticking 99% to the original storyboard script so far.

Of course, there's always Amanda Jones in the Cellar, Penelope: Working Late or Ciara's Egyptian Nightmare I could do after that...