Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles (1999)
An animated military sci-fi series following elite soldiers in humanity's desperate war against an alien insectoid species across the galaxy.
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles - Series Information
- Original Title: Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles
- First Air Year: 1999
- Last Air Year: 2000
- Created by: Duane Capizzi, Richard Raynis et al.
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Animation, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 22 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 40
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: French, English
- First Air Date: August 30, 1999 (United States - TV-PG), August 30, 1999 (Australia - PG)
- Networks: Syfy, Syndication
- Alternative Titles: Starship Troopers - Der Kampf geht weiter (DE)
- Production Companies: Adelaide Productions, Rainbow Studios, Columbia TriStar Television, Verhoeven-Marshall, Hyper Image, Foundation Imaging, Flat Earth Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles - Plot
The exploits of the Mobile Infantry squad, "Razak's Roughnecks," during the SICON–Bugs War between a newly united humanity and an extraterrestrial race, known as the "Bugs," also sometimes referred to as Arachnids.
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Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Duane Capizzi
- Richard Raynis
- Jeff Kline
Main Cast
- Rider Strong
- Irene Bedard
- Steve Staley
- James Horan
- Nicholas Guest
- David DeLuise
- E. G. Daily
- Rino Romano
- Bill Fagerbakke
- Alexander Polinsky
Writers
- Marsha Griffin
- Greg Weisman
- Greg Klein
- Jules Dennis
- Steven H. Berman
Executive Producers
- Richard Raynis
- Paul Verhoeven
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles - FAQs
Is Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles based on a book or movie?
The series draws from both Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel Starship Troopers and Paul Verhoeven's 1997 film adaptation. It borrows characters and setting from the movie while expanding the story into a full military sci-fi animated series with its own original missions and arcs.
Why was Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles never finished?
The series was cancelled before completing its planned story arcs, leaving several campaign episodes unfinished. Budget constraints and shifting network priorities at the time led to its premature end, which disappointed fans who had followed the Roughnecks through multiple campaigns against the Bugs.
Who voices Johnnie Rico in the animated series?
Rino Romano voices Johnnie Rico, the central protagonist of the series. The cast also includes Rider Strong as Carl Jenkins, E. G. Daily as Dizzy Flores, and Irene Bedard as Miriam Redwing, among other memorable voice performances throughout the show's 40 episodes.
How many episodes does Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles have?
The series ran for one season comprising 40 episodes. The episodes were grouped into themed military campaigns, each set on a different planet or location, giving the show a structured, mission-based narrative format that distinguished it from typical episodic animation of the era.
When did Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles first air?
The series premiered on August 30, 1999, in the United States. It aired on Syfy and in syndication, running through 2000. The show was one of the earlier examples of CGI-heavy animated television, produced partly by Foundation Imaging, known for their work on Star Trek series.
What is Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles about?
Set in a future where humanity has united to fight a war against an alien insectoid species called the Bugs, the show follows Razak's Roughnecks — an elite Mobile Infantry squad — as they battle across multiple planets. It blends military action, camaraderie, and sci-fi world-building into a compelling animated format.
What is the content rating for Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles?
The series carries a TV-PG rating, making it accessible to older children and teens while still delivering intense military action and themes of sacrifice and war. Parents may want to note that combat sequences and the consequences of battle are depicted with some seriousness throughout the show.
What animated series are similar to Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles?
Fans of the show often enjoy other action-driven animated series like Transformers: Prime, X-Men '97, Star Trek: Prodigy, and Creature Commandos. For sci-fi with a similar military or insectoid theme, Cagaster of an Insect Cage and SABIKUI BISCO also offer compelling genre experiences.
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