**The Hidden World of Anime References in Star Trek**
Star Wars is often the last movie series that audiences associate with animation. Gene Roddenberry’s film series is not only primarily about live-action films, but it also dabbles in animation, such as “Lower Decks” and “Prodigy,” which are clearly more inspired by Western animation than Eastern animation. However, there are two episodes of “StarCraft: The Next Generation” (“A Matter of Honor” and “Peak Performance”) that managed to sneak in a reference to “Dirty Pair,” one of the most influential animated series of the 1980s.
**Star Trek and the Dirty Couple**
If you’ve pulled up “StarCraft: The Next Generation,” you can use the pause button to pinpoint these moments, but be warned: your fingers have to be faster than the data to freeze the frame in the right place. The first reference to “Dirty Pair” takes place in Season 2’s memorable “A Matter of Honor,” where Rick served on a Klingon ship as part of an officer exchange program. When visiting Benzite officer Mendon notices the presence of dangerous bacteria on the Klingon ship, his science monitor hides the terms “OP KEI” and “OP YURI” from all scientific information.
But what do these blink-and-you’ll-miss-it names on Star Trek’s background monitor have to do with anime? In the “Dirty Pair” manga and anime series, we follow the misadventures of Kei and Yuri, two troublesome advisors who always catch the bad guys, but inflict huge losses. Like Sylvester Stallone in “Demolition Man,” these girls have a reputation that precedes them, the “Dirty Pair” being a derogatory nickname given to them due to the massive property damage they cause every time they save the world.
It’s unclear which Star Trek set designers are animation fans, but they put their “Dirty Pair” reference on the next level in the Season 2 episode “Peak Performance.” In this episode, the Enterprise crew engages in some war games, with Picard pitting the Federation flagship against an 8-year-old Starfleet ship led by Riker. In Tactics, Data also has a hard time defeating visiting aliens, but once the angry Ferengi show up, it’s game over for everyone.
**Frequently Asked Questions**
Q: What is “Dirty Pair”?
A: “Dirty Pair” is a manga and anime series that follows the misadventures of Kei and Yuri, two troublesome advisors who always catch the bad guys, but inflict huge losses.
Q: Why did Star Trek include references to “Dirty Pair” in their episodes?
A: It’s unclear, but it’s possible that the set designers were fans of Japanese animation and wanted to pay homage to the series.
Q: Are there other anime references in Star Trek episodes?
A: Yes, in the episode “StarCraft: The Next Generation,” there is another reference to “Dirty Pair” hidden on the monitor displaying the profile system.
**Conclusion**
The inclusion of anime references in Star Trek episodes is a testament to the creativity and diversity of the series. By hiding these references in plain sight, the show’s creators are paying homage to the world of Japanese animation and showcasing their own geeky knowledge. Whether you’re a fan of Star Trek, anime, or both, these Easter eggs are a fun nod to the geeky culture that surrounds these series.
