You’ve all seen it dozens of times, in banners, posters, trailers, and intro title sequences, the vivid rainbow-like warp field spectrum used in some capacity in almost every The “Star Trek” movie and TV shows since it was first adopted for the 1979s.Star Trek: The Motion Picture.”
The latest iteration of this prismatic screen appears in episode intros of “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.“In this new 60th anniversary tribute to the trademark image, a parade of notable Federation hero starships is seen forging new interstellar paths towards new worlds and new civilizations.
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Sure, this nostalgic birthday animated sequence may be missing some favorite ships — the USS Cerritos from “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” the USS Protostar from “Star Trek: Prodigy” and the USS Enterprise-E from “Star Trek: First Contact” are all absent — but it’s a wonderful way to embrace the franchise’s legendary ways in a lasting and long-lasting legendary way.
But what were the origins of this eye-catching, faster-than-light aesthetic, what does it represent, and how has it evolved to become an instantly recognizable part of the “Star Trek” universe? How did Star Trek become synonymous with the rainbow?
The first use of what has now become known as the “rainbow effect” was boldly seen in Paramount’s ad campaign and one-sheet movie poster for director Robert Wise’s “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”.
The Christmastime 1979 release, executive produced by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, revived the live-action “Star Trek” universe after a decade of neglect.
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Award-winning American film illustrator Bob Peak designed the iconic rainbow poster for “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”, as well as the stunning one-sheets for “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”, “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock”, “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” and “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier”.
Quite simply, it was a way to represent the visible spectrum of light that occurred every time the Enterprise made a warp. That warp rainbow caught on and became a trademark element of future “Star Trek” films.
But while the rainbow effect was meant to indicate a warp field, it was also a deliberate design choice to latch onto the popularity of rainbows in pop culture in the late 70s and early 80s.
Whether it was Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”, the Apple logo or the growing use of the rainbow as a symbol of LGBT+ pride, the 70s were all about the rainbow.
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The flashy images are a handy way to remind viewers that these starships are going very fast, stretching out the visible light as they zoom off. We’re drifting into speculation now, but it could also have been a calculated choice to show off “Star Wars” with a flashy way to signal that a starship travels faster than light.
While the newer films failed to use the full iridescent prismatic effect, it has been formally adopted by Paramount+ for their streaming posters, banners and thumbnails for each of the six original “Star Trek” films released from 1979 to 1991.
As a final note, it’s worth wondering if the dynamic, multi-colored visual cue isn’t also a respectful nod to the Stargate that Dave Bowman travels through near the end of director Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Whatever the exact reasons for “Star Trek’s” optical “rainbow effect,” its immediate, immersive rush of sheer speed visualized remains an integral part of the seminal sci-fi franchise that will continue to live long and prosper.
