Voltron (1984 TV series) facts for kids
| Voltron | |
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| Genre | Science fiction, Action Adventure, Mecha, Superhero |
|---|---|
| Anime television series | |
Quick facts for kids Lion Force Voltron(Based on Beast King GoLion) |
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| Directed by | Franklin Cofod |
| Produced by | Ted Koplar, Peter Keefe |
| Written by | Jameson Brewer |
| Music by | John Petersen |
| Studio | World Events Productions Toei Animation (epis. 1–52) |
| Licensed by | NBCUniversal Television Distribution (on behalf of DreamWorks Classics) |
| Network | First-run syndication |
| Original run | Part I: September 10, 1984 – November 27, 1984 Part II: October 21, 1985 – November 18, 1985 |
| Episodes | 72 |
| Anime television series | |
| Vehicle Team Voltron (Based on Armored Fleet Dairugger XV) |
|
| Directed by | Franklin Cofod |
| Produced by | Ted Koplar, Peter Keefe |
| Written by | Jameson Brewer |
| Music by | John Petersen |
| Studio | World Events Productions Toei Animation |
| Network | First-run syndication |
| Original run | December 14, 1984 – February 18, 1985 |
| Episodes | 52 |
Voltron is a popular animated TV show that combines Japanese anime with American storytelling. It was first shown in 1984 and quickly became a favorite for many viewers. The series is about giant robots and brave pilots who fight to protect the universe.
The show was created by World Events Productions and has 124 episodes. It uses parts of two Japanese anime series: Beast King GoLion and Armored Fleet Dairugger XV.
Contents
What is Voltron About?
The first part of Voltron is called Lion Force Voltron. It tells the story of five amazing pilots. These pilots control five robot lions, each with special powers. When danger strikes, these lions can combine to form one huge, powerful robot called Voltron.
Their main mission is to protect the planet Arus. They face off against the evil Warlord King Zarkon and his powerful witch, Haggar. Haggar creates scary robot monsters called Robeasts to attack Arus. The brave Princess Allura rules Arus and helps the Voltron team.
As the narrator says in the opening, "From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend, the legend of Voltron, Defender of the Universe. A mighty robot, loved by good, feared by evil."
Meet Vehicle Voltron
The second part of the show is known as Vehicle Team Voltron. This season is based on the Japanese series Armored Fleet Dairugger XV. It even led to a TV special called Voltron: Fleet of Doom.
In this story, the Galaxy Alliance's home planets are getting too crowded. They need to find new planets for people to live on. This search causes problems with another group, the Drule Empire.
Instead of robot lions, this Voltron is made from many different vehicles. There are three main teams, each with their own special vehicles:
- The Aqua Fighter (Sea Team)
- The Turbo Terrain Fighter (Land Team)
- The Strato Fighter (Air Team)
Each team is skilled in different areas, like gathering information or fighting. Their vehicles combine to form the mighty Vehicle Voltron.
Who Are the Voices Behind Voltron?
Many talented actors gave voices to the characters in Voltron. Here are some of the main voice actors:
- Neil Ross voiced Keith and Pidge.
- Michael Bell was the voice of Lance and Sven.
- Lennie Weinrib voiced Hunk and Prince Lotor.
- B. J. Ward brought Princess Allura and Haggar to life.
- Peter Cullen was the voice of Coran and the Narrator.
- Jack Angel voiced King Zarkon.
- Tress MacNeille voiced Queen Merla.
How Voltron Changed from Japan
When Voltron was made for American audiences, some parts of the original Japanese shows were changed. This was done to make the stories more suitable for children's television in the United States. Characters' names were often changed, and some storylines were made less intense.
Storyline Differences
GoLion Changes
- In the original GoLion, the pilots return to Earth to find it destroyed by war. In Voltron, the pilots arrive on the planet Arus, which is already under attack.
- In GoLion, Takashi 'Shiro' Shirogane (Sven in Voltron), the pilot of the Blue Lion, is seriously hurt in a battle. In Voltron, the story explains that Sven was only injured and sent to a hospital planet to recover. Later, he escapes from being enslaved and reunites with his friends.
- A character named Hys (Nanny) was removed from the story in GoLion. In Voltron, scenes were edited to make it seem like she was still alive and present in later episodes.
- A girl named Lisa in GoLion was a survivor of a war. She was very sad and chose to end her life. In Voltron, this scene was removed. The character, now called Twyla, was said to have gone home to her own planet.
Episodes of Voltron
You can find a full list of all the Voltron episodes.
Where to Watch Voltron
Voltron has been released on DVD over the years. A complete series DVD set was released by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on September 10, 2019.
Voltron Video Game
A video game based on the 1984 Voltron show was developed and released in 2011 for PlayStation.
Images for kids
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A friendly robot.
See also
- In Spanish: Voltron para niños
