Red Planet

Red Planet the animated miniseries based upon the novel by RAH is a mixed bag. I'd have liked it to have been more faithful to the book but it is pretty good for what it is. There is a lot to like and a lot to hate. The villans and action sequences are disapointing but the feel that New Ares (Mars?) has is quite nice. The alien "locals" are also well done. I wish they'd do more animated miniseries based upon novels, it would much improve the quality of animation on television.

This is an eco-anime, it's story is very good, and well put together, it still holds up in 2019

This was a great way to bring the novel to the screen. Think two- or three-episode "Batman" -- just enough time to tell a longer story, and still aimed at kids just old enough to follow a more intricate plot. Heinlein's juvenile novel "Red Planet" wouldn't make much of a film, but was very well adapted into a rarely-seen form, the animated miniseries. I would like to see more of these!

Red Planet the animated mini-series based upon the novel by RAH is a mixed bag. I'd have liked it to have been more faithful to the book but it is pretty good for what it is. There is a lot to like and a lot to hate. The villans and action sequences are disappointing but the feel that New Ares (Mars?) has is quite nice. The alien "locals" are also well done. I wish they'd do more animated mini-series based upon novels, it would much improve the quality of animation on television.

As a kid, I loved reading Heinlein's stories, many of which were ahead of their time in terms of inclusivity, diversity, and promoting various ethnicities, races, and religions, not common during the period in which he wrote.

Some of his books still hold up well today, this adaption being one of them. The animation is good, particularly the scenes showing the Locals, the voice work is solid, especially Roddy McDowell as the strict headmaster and Nick Tate as the evil incarnate boss of the mining colony.

Now, the bad part--or is it bad? For one, the planet is New Aries, not Mars. Why? There are inconsistencies in the atmosphere...some scenes, the characters wear space suits, but the planet has Earth-like storms and weather. And the central plot has been changed to one of economic greed. That in and of itself isn't bad, but it's not like the book.

However, this is basic Heinlein for young kids, and it imparts an economic message without being preachy. And for that reason, this is a movie worth seeing.