Television series
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles
A late-90s CGI animated series set in the Starship Troopers universe, following Razak's Roughnecks through brutal bug-squashing campaigns. It's lean, fast, and genuinely committed to its wars-and-soldiers tone—no winking at the premise. For anyone who wants sci-fi action that takes itself seriously without pretending to be profound.
If you liked this
The Animatrix2003
Anime anthology that expands the Matrix universe with stylish, self-contained stories. Each segment uses different animation styles to tell tales of rebellion and discovery within the system.
But Some segments are more successful than others, and the connective tissue to the films is deliberately loose rather than essential.
Neon Genesis Evangelion1995
Mecha anime that builds from military action into psychological horror. Genuinely unsettling, visually stunning, and willing to strip away the robot-fighting fun to examine what survival actually costs.
But It gets deliberately harder to watch. The ending remains controversial, and the TV version ends on deliberate ambiguity that infuriates some viewers.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket1989
A six-episode OVA about a kid caught in mobile suit warfare. Intimate, tragic, and proves that giant robots aren't the point—the human cost is.
But Very dated animation, and the pacing assumes you already care about Gundam. It's deliberately small-scale, so if you want spectacle, this isn't it.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Dead Like Me2003
Both deploy dark humor to soften the fact that characters die regularly and new ones arrive to fill the gaps. The real story is how the unit bonds despite constant turnover, not despite it.
Dark comedy about a team of misfits assigned to prevent deaths and disasters. Fast-paced, character-driven, with rotating cast members dying and being replaced—a found-family unit constantly cycling through losses.
But Tonal shifts wildly between funny and maudlin. Also cancelled mid-story, so you'll want closure it doesn't provide.
More like this (4)
Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation2004
Direct sequel that leans into the camp and body horror. More intimate than the first film, focusing on a small unit trying to survive impossible odds.
But The budget dropped visibly, and the CGI is noticeably cheap. Some find the shift in tone jarring.
Ghost in the Shell1995
Animated short based on John Steakley's novel. A single soldier's desperate last stand with dizzying, relentless action and a haunting ending. Pure adrenaline.
But It's only 15 minutes, so barely a commitment. Also incredibly bleak and offers no comfort.
Stray2019
Animated war film with a painterly visual style. Follows soldiers through an unnamed conflict with unflinching realism about violence and its aftermath.
But Slow burn with minimal dialogue. Some viewers find it glacial rather than meditative, and it's deliberately unglamorous.
Megazone 231985
Cyberpunk anime OVA with motorcycle action, mysterious sci-fi intrigue, and genuine atmosphere. Feels like a lost 80s action film that was always meant to be animated.
But Only 80 minutes and the plot requires you to fill in gaps. The ending is deliberately obscure.
