Cartoon Astartes (2018)
Following the Argosa Uprisings in 482.M39, the Retributor Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes is tasked with assisting in the hunt for fleeing renegades and their leaders, and bringing down the Emperor's justice for their crimes.
About the cartoon Syama Pedersen
“Astartes” is a cult animated project set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe that became a benchmark for how fan-made work can surpass official releases in quality. It is a grim, utterly serious, and almost wordless combat epic dedicated to the Space Marines—the elite warriors of the Imperium of Man.
Concept and Plot
The narrative is minimalist and delivered without exposition. A squad of Astartes carries out a combat operation to seize an enemy facility.
The viewer is not spoon-fed lore, motivation, or backstory—the story is told through action, tactics, and visual detail. Every movement, every shot, and every maneuver emphasizes the warriors’ inhuman efficiency and absolute superiority over their foes.
Astartes presents the Space Marines not as heroes in the conventional sense, but as instruments of war, devoid of emotion and doubt.
Critical Assessment
The project’s greatest strength is the sense of mass, power, and threat. Space Marines here do not run or pose—they advance, suppress, and annihilate.
The animation emphasizes the world’s physicality: heavy footsteps, the inertia of armor, the raw force of weaponry. It is a rare case where the viewer can almost feel the characters’ weight.
The absence of dialogue heightens the sense of alienation and makes the narrative universal—here, war speaks for itself.
Themes and Subtext
- militarism and absolute power;
- the dehumanization of the soldier;
- war as ritual;
- the human as a weapon;
- a universe without hope or compromise.
Visual Style and Sound
The visual language of Astartes is dark, cold, and technocratic. The camera often lingers on details of armor, weapons, and destruction, creating the feel of an industrial nightmare.
Sound design is a key element: dull impacts, low-frequency gunfire, and an almost complete absence of music create a crushing sense of presence.
Cultural Significance
Astartes became a viral phenomenon and a new entry point into the Warhammer 40,000 universe for a broader audience. The project proved that fan animation can capture the spirit of the lore more accurately than expensive but soulless productions.
Editor’s Conclusion
“Astartes” is not a story—it is a demonstration of force.
The film does not explain the world of Warhammer 40,000—it makes you feel it. Cold, merciless, and technically outstanding, it depicts war without heroics, but with terrifying precision.
Player / Trailer
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