Sony Pictures Family Entertainment's ROUGHNECKS: STARSHIP TROOPERS has
fallen behind schedule. Although the show is currently in syndication by
BKN (Bohbot Kids Network), only nine out of forty episodes have been
completed and several episodes have already been repeated with many more
repeats expected. Burbank, California-based Flat Earth Productions opted
out of its fifteen episode production contract after completing only three
episodes because they felt the schedule with the budget was overly
ambitious. Valencia, California-based Foundation Imaging remains as one of
the original production companies, and Sony has also contracted Phoenix,
Arizona-based Rainbow Studios and Glendale, California-based Hyperimage to
help with the project. Although the human characters on the show are
animated using time-saving motion-capture technology, the bugs, robots,
vehicles, and environments are all created with CGI, and the process is
proving to be a difficult match for a budget-limited television show.
Historically, science fiction television shows have been prone to problems
caused by schedule demands and budget restrictions. For example, the
producers of the original STAR TREK series struggled throughout its three
seasons to deliver episodes on time. Because of its ambitious nature and
anticipated high quality, there was a good buzz for ROUGHNECKS: STARSHIP
TROOPERS among fans, and new episodes are eagerly awaited.