title_name=Voltron
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百獣王ゴライオン
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Hundred Beast King FiveLion
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Mecha
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Animanga/Anime| Information
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is a
Shape-changing giant
Mecha Robot first featured in the
1980s Animated Television Series ''Voltron, Defender of the Universe''. There has since been a second series, made in the
1990s using
CGI techniques. The 1980s Voltron series was based on two vaguely-related
Japan ese
Anime series (both originally produced by
Toei Animation &
Bandai , who also produced the popular
Super Sentai series in Japan). The anime was
Dubbed and strung together by
North America n television production and distribution company
World Events . The series was not a straight dub, however, as much of the violence of the original Japanese series was removed (among other things).
The first episodes were based on the 1981 series ''Hundred Beast King FiveLion'' (百獣王ゴライオン - ''Hyakujūō Goraion''), and featured a team of five young
Pilots commanding five robot
Lions , which could be combined to form Voltron. In this era, the Voltron force was in charge of protecting the
Planet Arus (ruled by Princess Allura) from the evil King Zarkon, his son Lotor, and the witch Hagar, who would create huge Robeasts to terrorize the people of Arus. (This storyline is similar to those of the Toei Super
Sentai shows, which formed the basis for ''
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ''.) Despite being the first of the two robots to appear on American television, the "Go Lion" version of Voltron was regarded as "Voltron III" within the toyline, possibly because of its distance from Earth.
Later episodes were based on the 1982 series ''
Armored Fleet Dairugger XV '' (機甲艦隊 ダイラガーXV - ''
Kikō Kantai Dairagā XV ''), and changed the storyline considerably. In this iteration of Voltron, the Galaxy Alliance's home planets have been overcrowded, and a fleet of Explorers have been sent to look for new planets to colonize. Along the way, they attract the attention of the evil Drule, who proceeds to interfere with the explorers and the colonists. Since the Voltron of Planet Arus was too far away to help the explorers, a ''new Voltron'' is constructed to battle the Drule threat.
This Voltron team consisted of 15 members and were divided into three teams of five, known respectively as the Land, Sea and Air Teams. Each team was specialized in gathering data or fighting in their area of expertise. Each team could also combine their vehicles into a bigger machine, with each combined vehicle differing amongst the three teams. These fighters were:
- The Aqua Fighter (Sea Team)
- The Turbo Terrain Fighter (Land Team)
- The Strato Fighter (Air Team)
When necessary, all 15 vehicles combine to form the mighty Voltron. This Voltron in the toyline was referred to as Voltron I and also called the Vehicle Team, possibly due to it being closer to Earth than the more popular Voltron III or Lion Force Voltron.
In the recent comic by Image and Devil's Due Publishing, this Voltron came about through the capture and study of the original Voltron. Thus, while machines cannot truly be cloned, this Voltron could be considered an imperfect clone of Voltron. The machine was referred to in one issue as V-15, and was actually attacked by the Lion Voltron in order to repair itself. Unlike in the animated series, which only had two crossovers with the Lion Force (once at the end of the Lion Force run and the other in the Fleet of Doom special which brought both Voltrons together), in which the two Voltron Forces were longstanding friends in most cases, the comics depicted Keith and Jeff having an antagonistic relationship with one another, particularly in regards to Voltron's supposed 'sneak attack' on the Vehicle Voltron.
In early episodes, it was mentioned that the Vehicle Voltron once assembled had only five minutes of fuel. This was promptly forgotten during later episodes.
There were plans for yet another Voltron, which would have been based on the series ''Light Speed Electric God Albegas'' (光速電神アルベガス - ''Kōsoku Denjin Arubegasu''). This series would have featured three smaller humanoid robots (named alpha, beta and gamma) that combined to form one larger robot aka Voltron. It was housed in a mountain base, and wielded a sword like the other Voltrons. Due to the strong popularity of the Lion Voltron, the unenthusiastic response to the Vehicle Voltron and ''Albegas''' lack of popularity in Japan, World Events Productions, (the St. Louis,
Missouri based company who owns the rights for both Voltron series) ultimately decided against another alternate Voltron series. Matchbox released a toy of Gladiator Voltron labeled ''Voltron II'', in addition to ''Voltron I'' (Vehicle Voltron) and ''Voltron III'' (Lion Voltron).
To appease fans who wanted to see a spawned feature from the Voltron II toy, Gladiator Voltron made a brief, one-panel appearance in the Devil's Due comic in 2004.
- - In 1986, World Events had Toei Animation produce some additional footage to create this crossover television special which was otherwise mainly composed of recycled ''GoLion'' and ''Dairugger'' footage. Made for the international markets, this special has not been released in Japan.
- - After some initial interest, a computer-generated series was released in 1998 (set five years after the end of the original Lion Voltron series) to a mixed response because of its departure from the original Lion Voltron's anime look, as well as some character changes such as the physical appearance of Prince Lotor. It served as a sequel to the Lion Voltron series, and among the tools used to bridge the gap was an official starmap as designed by Shannon Muir and finalized in partnership with World Events Productions. After , World Events Productions went back to the drawing board to develop a more traditionally animated series in an attempt to recapture the spirit of the original.
- - Producer Mark Gordon ('' The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen '') is developing a yet unnamed Voltron movie for release in 2008.
- - A new animated series originally slated to be released in the fall of 2005, it was set to be produced by Kickstart Productions, with Tom Pugsley and Greg Kline writing the episodes.
In the early 80's
Modern Comics produced a series based on the TV show.
Lion Voltron recently was revived in print through a hit
Comic-book series from
Image Comics . After a six issue run, Devils Due Publishing began to self publish Voltron. The series lasted another eleven issues, as well as two trade paperbacks collecting Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 Issues 1-5. The line was ended in 2004.
Note: Full names taken from Devils Due Comic Series
Japanese names are first, followed by the American names.
Based on the American version of '':
- (黄金旭 ''Kogane Akira'') / '''Commander Keith Kogane''' - Commander and Leader of the Voltron Force who Pilot s the Black Lion and wears a red uniform. He is approximately 21-23 years of age. Keith is a quiet individual who spends much of his time pondering his decisions, thinking up new strategies, and just being a leader. He also has this Hobby of Reading a lot of books. He can often be found doing so either in the pilot's Lounge or in his room.
- (黒銅勇 ''Kurogane Isamu'') / '''Lance Charles McClain''' - Second in command of Voltron who pilots the Red Lion and wears a blue uniform. He is a tall man, both wiry and wiley, about 21-23 years of age. Lance is always cracking jokes and teasing others whenever he gets the chance. He is the only one in the group who has the guts to contest any of Keith's commands. He is also a ladies' man, a great pilot, though a bit too daring at times.
- (銀貴 ''Shirogane Takashi'') / '''Sven Holgersson''' - Sven was the second in command who piloted the Blue Lion and wore a black uniform in the very beginning of the series. In episode 6, he was badly injured during an attack by Haggar and was sent away to be healed. Allura replaced him as the Blue Lion's pilot. His age is about the same as Keith's. Sven now resides on the Planet Pollux with Princess Romelle and Prince Bandor, both cousins of Allura. Sven was always very quiet and spoke only when he had something important to say. Though he may not look it, he is a very Emotional person, and his Heart is always leading his mind in any decision.
- (青銅強 ''Seidō Tsuyoshi'') / '''"Hunk" Garett''' - Hunk is the strong-man of the group, piloting the Yellow Lion and wearing a yellow uniform. He is about 22-24 years old. He may look tough and mean, but he has a soft heart, especially when it comes to children. He is never late for a meal. Though his friends tease him about his Appetite , most of Hunk's Bulk is Muscle . Hunk was voiced by Lennie Weinrib.
- (錫石宏 ''Suzuishi Hiroshi'') / '''Darrell "Pidge" Stoker''' - Pidge is the youngest and smallest of the group; he pilots the Green Lion and wears a green uniform. He is approximately 12 years old. Pidge graduated from the academy at a young age, and his specialty is Science . Like the others, he is well-trained in Martial Arts and uses his size and Agility to his advantage. Pidge is not afraid to speak his mind, especially to the villains, and his heart is often in his words. Pidge has a brother, Chip, who is a member of the Vehicle Voltron - Air Team.
- (ファーラ姫) / '''Princess Allura'''' - Princess Allura of the planet Arus is the Ruler of the Kingdom of Altaire (as well as the entire planet for the most part). She takes over for Sven as the pilot of the Blue Lion and wears a pink uniform. Her age is about 18-20. Though a bit Naive , especially with matters of Romance , Allura is a strong-willed person and is very capable of ruling her planet, though some like Coran and Nanny tend to disagree. Allura's voice was played by B.J. Ward
- / '''Princess Romelle''' - Princess Romelle is Allura's cousin who lives on the planet Pollux, where she co-rules with her brother, Prince Bandor. She is a dead ringer to Princess Allura. Though once a Slave of Lotor, Sven came to her rescue and together they fight for her people against the Drule Empire . She is also in love with Sven, who returns her feelings.
- / '''Coran''' - Coran is Allura's Royal Advisor , and is in charge of the Castle Control. He also advises the Voltron Force and is very Wise , though he can be very overprotective and opinionated sometimes.
- / '''Nanny''' - Nanny is Allura's over-protective Caregiver who always wants to make all of Allura's decisions for her. Like Coran, Nanny fusses over the Princess and is bent on keeping her away from all harm.
- / '''Prince Lotor''' - Prince Lotor is the evil son of the Drule King Zarkon. He dislikes his father greatly and wishes to rule in his place along with Princess Allura, to whom he's developed a strong and Obsessive Attraction . Lotor is a very sly, Smart , smooth, powerful man who exudes force and emanates pure evil. In Go Lion, Sincline's obssession with Fahra is due to the fact that she resembles his mother, whom Emperor Daibazar (aka King Zarkon) had killed. In other words, this is basically an Oedipus Complex .
- / '''King Zarkon''' - King Zarkon of the Planet Doom is one of the rulers of the Drule empire, though by no means the ruler. He is constantly using others as Scapegoat s for his own failures, more often his son Lotor.
- / '''Haggar''' - Haggar the Witch is the one responsible for creating all of the Robeasts Voltron must go up against. She is also notorious for using her Dark Magic to cast hypnotizing spells over people. Though she was once good and beautiful, she is now evil and ugly. It was Haggar who was responsible for originally splitting Voltron into 5 components. Like Princess Allura, Haggar's voice was played by B.J. Ward.
- / '''King Alfor''' - King Alfor is Allura's deceased father and previous ruler of planet Arus. Years ago, King Alfor went up to battle against King Zarkon and his Doom forces in the Valley of Zoar on Planet Arus. He was tragically killed on that day. His body was placed in a royal tomb located right underneath the castle. Nowadays, He returns to the world of the living every so often in a Ghost ly form to give advice to his daughter to help her in her struggles to maintain peace on Arus and the surrounding Galaxy . King Alfor is credited with being the designer of Voltron.
