ROUGHNECKS: STARSHIP TROOPERS CHRONICLES – The Awesome Forgotten Gem of Sci-Fi Animation

Before Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming Starship Troopers film reignites the bug-squashing hype, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate one of my favorite projects in the franchise: Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles. This 1999 animated series was way ahead of its time, delivering a blend of gripping storytelling, surprisingly strong character development, and intense battle sequences that put most late ‘90s CGI efforts to shame. While it never got the proper finale it deserved, this show remains one of the most underrated sci-fi gems out there.The series followed Johnny Rico and his squad of Mobile Infantry as they waged war against the Arachnid threat across different planetary campaigns. What made Roughnecks stand out was its episodic structure, with each arc focusing on a different hostile environment, from frozen wastelands to volcanic hellscapes. Instead of just throwing waves of bugs at the heroes for the sake of action, the show made each mission feel distinct, with real stakes and clever military strategies that made the battles feel more tactical and intense.For a CGI-animated show from 1999, Roughnecks looked incredible. Sure, by today’s standards, it’s rough around the edges, but at the time, it was ambitious as hell. The series pulled off some awesome fast-paced, large-scale battles, and the visuals worked in service of the story, creating a grounded, almost documentary-style feel to the action. The sound design and music also played a big role in selling the intensity, making every firefight feel like a desperate struggle for survival.One thing that I really loved about Roughnecks was its characters. Unlike the satirical, over-the-top nature of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers movie, this series leaned more into the camaraderie and hardship of soldiers on the battlefield. Each squad member had a distinct personality, and their relationships evolved over time. The show actually took the time to flesh out its cast, making you care about who lived or died, which added some surprising emotional weight that you didn’t get from a lot of animated action series of the era.Unfortunately, due to production issues the series was never finished, leaving fans hanging without a proper conclusion. Regardless, Roughnecks still holds up remarkably well. It captured the spirit of Robert Heinlein’s novel while carving out its own identity, blending military sci-fi with engaging character development. If you’re a fan of the franchise and haven’t given this one a shot, you owe it to yourself to watch it.With Blomkamp’s new film on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to revisit Roughnecks. While it may have been a victim of bad timing and budget constraints, the series show us how good a Starship Troopers adaptation can be when it’s done right. If the new movie can capture even half of what made Roughnecks great, fans are in for something special.

Mar 18, 2025 - 19:57

ROUGHNECKS: STARSHIP TROOPERS CHRONICLES – The Awesome Forgotten Gem of Sci-Fi Animation

Before Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming Starship Troopers film reignites the bug-squashing hype, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate one of my favorite projects in the franchise: Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles.

This 1999 animated series was way ahead of its time, delivering a blend of gripping storytelling, surprisingly strong character development, and intense battle sequences that put most late ‘90s CGI efforts to shame. While it never got the proper finale it deserved, this show remains one of the most underrated sci-fi gems out there.

The series followed Johnny Rico and his squad of Mobile Infantry as they waged war against the Arachnid threat across different planetary campaigns.

What made Roughnecks stand out was its episodic structure, with each arc focusing on a different hostile environment, from frozen wastelands to volcanic hellscapes. Instead of just throwing waves of bugs at the heroes for the sake of action, the show made each mission feel distinct, with real stakes and clever military strategies that made the battles feel more tactical and intense.

For a CGI-animated show from 1999, Roughnecks looked incredible. Sure, by today’s standards, it’s rough around the edges, but at the time, it was ambitious as hell.

The series pulled off some awesome fast-paced, large-scale battles, and the visuals worked in service of the story, creating a grounded, almost documentary-style feel to the action.

The sound design and music also played a big role in selling the intensity, making every firefight feel like a desperate struggle for survival.

One thing that I really loved about Roughnecks was its characters. Unlike the satirical, over-the-top nature of Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers movie, this series leaned more into the camaraderie and hardship of soldiers on the battlefield.

Each squad member had a distinct personality, and their relationships evolved over time. The show actually took the time to flesh out its cast, making you care about who lived or died, which added some surprising emotional weight that you didn’t get from a lot of animated action series of the era.

Unfortunately, due to production issues the series was never finished, leaving fans hanging without a proper conclusion. Regardless, Roughnecks still holds up remarkably well.

It captured the spirit of Robert Heinlein’s novel while carving out its own identity, blending military sci-fi with engaging character development. If you’re a fan of the franchise and haven’t given this one a shot, you owe it to yourself to watch it.

With Blomkamp’s new film on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to revisit Roughnecks. While it may have been a victim of bad timing and budget constraints, the series show us how good a Starship Troopers adaptation can be when it’s done right.

If the new movie can capture even half of what made Roughnecks great, fans are in for something special.