Captain Star is a 1997 animated television series created by Steven Appleby and is based on Appleby's comic Rockets Passing Overhead. It stars Richard E. Grant as the voice of Captain Jim Star. The show was produced by Cosgrove Hall Films and HTV.

13 half-hour episodes were produced and aired from 1997 to 1998.

The narrative of Captain Star revolves around the crew of a rocket ship named The Boiling Hell. They receive orders to travel to a dry planet known as "The Nameless Planet" at the Ragged Edge of the Universe, where they are to await their next assignment. The ship's crew comprises the deeply egocentric and often paranoid Captain Star, the Science Officer Scarlett, the nine-headed, six-armed mutant Engineer/Stoker "Limbs" Jones, and the fish-keeping milquetoast Navigator Black. Later on, they are joined by a robot named Jim-Bob-Bob, tasked with laundry duties and various other acts of menial servitude.

Captain Star is heralded in the opening theme song as "the greatest hero any world has ever known." A legendary explorer with hundreds of planets named after him, Captain Star's birthday is celebrated as a holiday throughout the entire universe. Despite his renowned status, the characters in the program find themselves continuously awaiting further orders from Mission Control, which never materialize. Stranded on The Nameless Planet for an extended period, Navigator Black even constructs a fish restaurant during their wait. It remains unclear whether Mission Control has simply forgotten about Captain Star and his crew, but there is an implication that they have spared him the indignity of forced retirement, allowing him to maintain his hero status in the public eye. Throughout the series, events both on and off the planet frequently necessitate Captain Star's intervention.

Captain Jim Star (voiced by Richard E. Grant) — Groomed from birth to be a starship captain, Captain Star is regarded as the greatest captain in the fleet. Leaving the Captains' Academy at the age of 12, Captain Star embarked on a year-long apprenticeship under Captain Ned Nova of the Merry Cheeser. Notably, Captain Nova had named 115 planets after himself, a record eventually surpassed by Captain Star. At present, Captain Star is approximately 127 "space years" old, equating to a man in his 50s in his society. Possessing confidence that borders on arrogance, Captain Star views himself as a hero and deems himself worthy of the widespread acclaim he receives. Despite his lack of humility, he remains unquestionably loyal and firmly believes that his awaited orders will eventually arrive, often disregarding both danger and the advice or concerns of his crew.

First Officer Scarlett (voiced by Denica Fairman) — A strong, brave, redheaded woman, and an accomplished scientist, Scarlett often saves the day through her scientific endeavours. Scarlett's logic and investigative mood are a stark contrast to Captain Star's tendency to improvise in an emergency. On The Nameless Planet, where Captain Star has no ship to command or adventures to lead, Scarlett handles most of his command duties.

Atomic Engine Stoker "Limbs" Jones (voiced by Adrian Edmondson) — Mutated in an atomic accident, "Limbs" Jones has nine heads and six arms. Each of Jones' heads accommodates a different part of his brain, causing each head to have a slightly different personality. Jones is a cat lover, having sequentially named pet cats Sputnik 1 through 374. Conversations between Jones' many heads and other members of the crew often lead them to become impatient and annoyed with him.

Navigator Black (voiced by Kerry Shale/Gary Martin) — Separated from his twin sister at birth because they had different birthdays and once the navigator of the Boiling Hell, Navigator Black sets up a small fish-shaped restaurant on The Nameless Planet and becomes the cook. Obsessed with fish, the restaurant is filled with aquariums. Black often swims with his fish, and even creates a brain-computer interface device that depicts their thoughts. Black has a nervous temperament and often panics under pressure. A running gag in the show is Navigator Black's inability to tell his left from his right.