The Astartes fan animation is a five-part CGI series made by one fan, Syama Pedersen, following a squad of Retributor Space Marines as they board a rebel ship. It went viral, got him hired by Games Workshop, and helped push 40k animation into official territory.
What Astartes actually is
It’s a series of short 3D films set in Warhammer 40,000, made by Syama Pedersen and funded through Patreon. The first episode runs in five parts and follows the Retributor chapter as they deploy an Impulsor kill-team to hunt the fleeing leaders of the failed Argosa Uprisings.
The squad boards one of the rebel warships and fights a desperate but competent crew. The deeper they go, the worse things get, until an orb and something in the Warp turn the mission into a nightmare. It’s mostly visual storytelling, with very little dialogue.
- Creator: Syama Pedersen, originally a solo fan project
- Chapter: the Retributors, in plain grey armour
- Structure: one episode split into five parts
- Tone: quiet, methodical, then brutal
Why it matters
Astartes racked up millions of views on YouTube and showed what a single dedicated animator could do with 40k. Games Workshop noticed, hired Pedersen onto the Warhammer animation team, and made the series official content.
That’s a big deal because it’s part of a pattern. Fan projects like Richard Boylan’s Helsreach and Guardsman had already turned into official work, with Boylan going on to make Angels of Death for Warhammer Storyforge. Astartes helped convince GW there was real demand for animated 40k.
Where to watch it now
You can’t find it on Pedersen’s old YouTube channel anymore. Once it became official, Astartes moved to the Warhammer Community website, and as of October 2021 it lives on Warhammer+.
It’s still free to watch there, so you don’t need the full subscription just for the first episode. A sequel, Astartes II, is in development for Warhammer+ and has a teaser trailer out.
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Astartes (episode one) | On Warhammer+, free to view |
| Astartes II | In development for Warhammer+ |
| Angels of Death (Boylan) | Official series, Warhammer Storyforge |
How it connects to other 40k animation
Astartes arrived alongside a wave of announced projects under the Warhammer Animation Team. Lost Legion Studios made The Exodite, about the T’au. Paxel Art made Primaris: The Last Templar, following the Black Templars. Codex Film made Iron Within, with Iron Warriors fighting the Drukhari.
So Astartes isn’t a one-off curiosity. It’s the project that opened the door for a whole slate of 40k animation, and it’s still the benchmark fans measure the rest against.
Key facts
- Astartes is a five-part 3D fan animation by Syama Pedersen, set in Warhammer 40,000.
- It follows the Retributors chapter boarding a rebel warship after the Argosa Uprisings.
- It drew millions of YouTube views and led Games Workshop to hire Pedersen.
- The series is now official and streams free on Warhammer+.
- A sequel, Astartes II, is in development for Warhammer+.
FAQ
Who made the Astartes fan animation?
Syama Pedersen made it as a solo fan project, funded through Patreon. Games Workshop later hired him onto its animation team.
Is Astartes still on YouTube?
No. Once it became official content, it was pulled from Pedersen’s channel and moved to Warhammer+, where it’s still free to watch.
Is there a sequel to Astartes?
Yes, Astartes II is in development and will release on Warhammer+. A teaser trailer is already out.
Which Space Marine chapter is in Astartes?
The Retributors, shown in plain grey armour with very little ornamentation. They deploy a kill-team to hunt rebel leaders from the failed Argosa Uprisings.