While Robert A. Heinlein's controversial classic sci-fi romp about humanity fighting an intergalactic space war with alien bugs has been largely overshadowed by Paul Verhoeven's more satirical audience friendly but deprived of high regard 1998 film adaptation. This Anime OVA (Original Video Animation) remains the more faithful and unique adaptation to date, it's also something industry professionals should look to if a 'Reboot/Re-adaptation' is in the works.
First and foremost, the original novel was more about the main character; Juan 'Johnnie' Rico making his way through the rough and tumbles of life training and living under the military. It was never pleasant and always fraught with conditions nobody would've ever believed and not just on the battlefield fighting a vehement and unreasoning enemy. That's what's presented here as being fairly accurate to the development for Johnnie, he loses family and friends, but he never loses his sense of purpose and follows through on strict orders. This anime is less melodramatic than Verhoeven which makes it easier to relate, even when some characters are being unpleasant due to circumstances. It also puts Heinlein's conception of 'Powered Military Suits' up front and center and being the primary weapon of combat for these soldiers. While there isn't much of that to distinguish this from other 'mech themed' anime, it's the story and commitment the series makes as Heinlein's 'Starship Troopers' that makes it unique. Even if action on the book pages were far and few in between, here it's very much worthy of the the wait and build up until the most thrilling of action battle scenes are on display.
My only criticisms for this film is the conception of the aliens, while the book and Verhoeven film make it quite clear the aliens are 'Insectoid' or 'Ant-like' which has always been up for interpretation and classification or it's kind(s). Here it's less of being 'bug-like' and act more like an infecting alien parasite threat that simply breeds and destroys, although still very effective, revealing less until the penultimate moment the squad of soldiers figures out how to fight them.
Overall, despite being dated and barely having a full narrative that pays-off much like Verhoeven's film. This version of Starship Troopers is surprisingly accurate to Heinlein's novel, straightforward with it's narrative and unique in it's design and characterization. Not the best anime of sci-fi to recommend but good enough for anyone to see a fresh perspective on Heinlein's book rather than spawning off from what someone else created.
