Following in the tradition of MTV’s Liquid Television animation showcase and the 1981 anthology film Heavy Metal, the Emmy-winning series Love, Death + Robots brings together a diverse roster of directors, writers and animators to produce animated science fiction, horror and fantasy shorts. Episodes are wildly different in style and tone, ranging from dark dramas to over-the-top action-comedies.
You don’t need to have watched the previous seasons to dive into Season 3, and you don’t need to watch the episodes in order. While we think they’re all great, this episode guide will let you pick and choose the ones that suit your mood. It also provides you with the names of the creators in case you want to seek out more of their work.
Episode 1: “In Vaulted Halls Entombed” Director: Jerome Chen Writer: Philip Gelatt, based on a short story by Alan Baxter Studio: Sony Pictures Imageworks An American Special Forces team on a rescue mission in the mountains of Afghanistan encounters an ancient monster. Don’t watch this if you are afraid of spiders, but definitely do watch if you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror. The episode uses motion capture and Unreal Engine (used for 3D video games) for a realistic animation style.
Episode 2: “The Very Pulse of the Machine” Director: Emily Dean Writer: Philip Gelatt, based on a short story by Michael Swanwick Studio: Polygon Pictures The adaptation of Michael Swanwick’s Hugo Award–winning story follows an injured astronaut stranded on Jupiter’s moon Io. The survival story becomes increasingly trippy as the astronaut uses drugs to keep moving across the harsh landscape. The episode is inspired by the work of psychedelic fantasy writer and artist Moebius, utilizing a mix of hand-painted backgrounds and computer-generated characters.
Episode 3: “Swarm” Director: Tim Miller Writer: Tim Miller, based on the short story by Bruce Sterling Studio: Blur Studio Fans of StarCraft and Ender’s Game will want to check out this deeply unsettling and philosophical episode. It follows a human scientist studying an ancient race of insectoid aliens. Her research takes a dark turn when she’s seduced by an explorer looking to exploit the Swarm. Motion capture and CG animation bring to life a strange, weightless world.
Episode 4: “Kill Team Kill” Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson Writer: Philip Gelatt, based on a short story by Justin Coates Studio: Titmouse, Inc. Jennifer Yuh Nelson is best known as the director of Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3, but “Kill Team Kill” is decidedly less family friendly. Inspired by G.I. Joe cartoons and action movies like Predator, the testosterone-fueled episode follows a team of soldiers trying to stop a CIA-engineered killing machine gone rogue. You won’t want to skip the credits, which feature a hilarious song from Grammy-winning DJ Skrillex.
Episode 5: “Bad Traveling” Director: David Fincher Writer: Andrew Kevin Walker, based on a short story by Neal Asher Studio: Blur Studio David Fincher makes his animation debut in this chilling tale of a sailing ship attacked by a giant crab that wants to eat more than the crew. When one of the men makes a deal with the monster — which talks through the body of the dead captain — the crew falls to paranoia and mutiny. Fincher worked closely with Love, Death + Robots co-creator Tim Miller to shoot the motion capture for the episode.
Episode 6: “Jibaro” Director: Alberto Mielgo Writer: Alberto Mielgo Studio: pinkman.tv Spanish filmmaker Alberto Mielgo, who won an Emmy for his Love, Death + Robots Season 1 episode “The Witness,” returns with a dialogue-free fable about a deaf knight who encounters a deadly golden siren. Mielgo did the storyboards for the dark fable, driving through forests in California, Washington and Oregon to find visual references for the handmade 2D painting and 3D modeling. He also worked with a choreographer to come up with the mythical women’s movements.
Episode 7: “Three Robots: Exit Strategies” Director: Patrick Osborne Writer: John Scalzi Studio: Blow Studio You may want to go back and watch the Season 1 episode “Three Robots” before watching “Three Robots: Exit Strategy,” which is the first direct sequel in the series. Follow the sharp-tongued trio as they continue their world tour, this time focusing on the many ways humans hope to survive the apocalypse. It’s got some biting commentary about survivalists and space billionaires.
Episode 8: “Night of the Mini Dead” Directors: Robert Bisi and Andy Lyon Writers: Robert Bisi and Andy Lyon, based on a short story by Jeff Fowler and Tim Miller Studio: BUCK The dead rise and overrun the Earth in this hilarious five-minute short that condenses an entire genre worth of tropes. Filmed with a tilt-shift lens that makes everything appear in miniature, the episode uses real-life photography and CG animation. It’s an absurd tale that starts with sex in a cemetery and just gets weirder as humans try to fight back the zombie hordes.
Episode 9: “Mason’s Rats” Director: Carlos Stevens Writer: Joe Abercrombie, based on a short story by Neal Asher Studio: Axis Studios When a Scottish farmer discovers the rats stealing his crops have started using tools, he turns to a series of increasingly deadly pest control solutions. Director Carlos Stevens wanted a war epic in the vein of Braveheart and Gladiator in miniature, and he delivers with this bloody yet somehow heartwarming episode. It’s a story about learning to adapt to change and finding a community where you least expect it.
