"Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles" (1999) TV series

Director:

Andre Clavel

Writers:

Pat Allee (writer)
David S. Clark (episode)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

30 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Animation | Action | Adventure

Plot:

The missions of a Mobile Infantry squad as they participate in a war of survival against a ferocious alien insectoid invader.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Spacecraft | Spin Off | Military | Computer Animation

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Nicholas Guest	...	Maj. Zander Barcalow (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
James Horan	...	Cpl. Richard 'Doc' LeCroix (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Alexander Polinsky	...	Robert Higgins / ... (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Rino Romano	...	Johnnie Rico / ... (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Elizabeth Daily	...	Dizzy Flores / ... (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bill Fagerbakke	...	Cpl. Jeff Gossard / ... (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jamie Hanes	...	Jean Razak / ... (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Rider Strong	...	Carl Jenkins / ... (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
David DeLuise	...	Sgt. Francis Brutto (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Tish Hicks	...	Lt. Carmen Ibanez (9 episodes, 1999-2000)
Thomas Wagner	...	Commander Marlow (6 episodes, 1999-2000)

Also Known As:

Starship Troopers (USA) (working title)
Starship Troopers: The Series (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG for pervasive sci-fi action violence. (videos The Zephyr, Hydora, Tophet, Klendathu, and Homefront Campaigns)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:16 | USA:PG (episode "Trackers")

Company:

Adelaide Productions

Trivia:

The name Robert Higgins was named after one of the senior presidents of the Sony Company.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In episode #26 "Metamorphosis", when Zander-bug has Doc cornered in the Med-lab, Doc refers to Zander as "Lieutenant" even though Zander's rank is Major. It was speculated that Zander was demoted, but General Redwing reports that he accessed computer files as "Major Zander Barcalow" in episode #28 "The Mission".

Quotes:

[a bug grabs Razak, and tries to pull him away from the ship, he pulls out a hand grenade]
Lt. Jean Razak: Let go.
Pvt. Johnny Rico: NEGATIVE, SIR.
[Releases Razac, the grenade explodes. Johnny grabs a rifle lying on the platform. Rico screams]
Pvt. Johnny Rico: No!
Pvt. Isabelle 'Dizzy' Flores: Rico!
[Johnny starts shooting]
Pvt. Isabelle 'Dizzy' Flores: No!
[Johnny continues shooting]
Pvt. Isabelle 'Dizzy' Flores: . Johnny, No!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#28.14)" (2002)

Great show!

For a "kids" show, this is one of the better shows on TV. There is more plot and characterization in one season of "Roughnecks" than in five years of "Voyager." The computer animation is excellent (for it's time), but it is not a crutch or the star of the show. Rather, the CGI is just a well-used tool that is used to create an excellent show.

I think this show, as a whole, is much better than the movie in many ways. It has action without being too violent, and drama without being too frightening for kids.

Even though the show is targeted at kids (older kids), there is plenty for adult sci-fi fans to enjoy: good stories, long story arcs, morals, consequences, and characters that are more real than 75% of the "real" shows on TV. The animators give the characters life and the voice actors give them souls.