Inktober161023

No this isn't the NX-Class U.S.S Enterprise, of the 22nd century. (BTW, could someone explain why the 22nd century w-5 ships weren't simply called the Enterprise Class, since she was the lead vessel in the series?)

This is an Akira class ship, which would first appear in "Star Trek: First Contact", and would later be seen, spectacularly burning and exploding in the back ground of many a battle scene on Deep Space Nine. (Seriously, the Akira's were the redshirts of the fleet.)

I'm amused by the name of this ship class, as it is yet another nod, by the Star Trek production staff to Japanese anime, just like:

-The Enterprise-D's sister ship, U.S.S Yamato which was a reference to the fabled Space Battleship Yamato anime, as was the aliens from the obviously named Gamelan Five.


-The Ferenghi access code, "kayee yooree dahtayee", which was a reference to the characters Kei and Yuri of the "Dirty Pair" anime.

-The Nausican's, which were both low rent Klingon wannabes, and a shout out the the Hayao Miyazaki's "Nausicaa of the Valley Wind".

If you hear a name in a TNG era Star Trek episode, that sounds similar to something you've heard in anime, know that it is not a coincidence.