Voltron is the giant robot formed by the combination of all five Voltron Lions. It was created by King Alfor from the Quintessence-infused ore of a Trans-Reality Comet.
It has been ten thousand years since it was last formed, and its return is brought about when Shiro returns to Earth a year after his capture by the Galra Empire, drawing Keith, Lance, Hunk, and Pidge together to locate the Blue Lion and use it to find the Castle of Lions on Arus. They reawaken its sleeping inhabitants, Princess Allura and Coran, and these last living Alteans help locate the subsequent Lions to form Voltron and defend the universe against Zarkon's empire.
As of "The End is the Beginning", it is permanently deformed due to the Lions being left in space pilotless.
Lions[]
Voltron is housed in the Castle of Lions as five separate components in the feline form of a lion. Each Lion that comprises a part of Voltron has standard as well as unique abilities; all Lions have some measure of sapience and must choose their pilots themselves, seeking those whose Quintessence mirrors their own.[2] The lions are linked with the spirit of their chosen pilots even in their deaths and pilot the lions without their physical bodies.
These pilots are called Paladins. Paladins are given a special device known as a Bayard that allows them to unlock special abilities through their Lion for Voltron to wield. The Lions and Paladins are usually color-coded to match each other. When formed as Voltron, the Paladins pilot the giant robot in unison. The Lions and known Paladins are as follows:
|
Lion |
Stats |
Paladin |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Black |
Role |
Element |
Original |
Pro Tem |
Current |
 |
Head, Torso |
Sky |
|
|
|
|
Red |
Role |
Element |
Original |
Pro Tem |
Current |
 |
Right Arm |
Fire |
|
|
|
|
Green |
Role |
Element |
Original |
Current |
|
 |
Left Arm |
Forest |
|
|
|
|
Yellow |
Role |
Element |
Original |
Current |
|
 |
Left Leg |
Land |
|
|
|
|
Blue |
Role |
Element |
Original |
Pro Tem |
Current |
 |
Right Leg |
Water |
|
|
|
Weapons & Abilities[]
Befitting of a super robot, Voltron is armed to the teeth with weapons. Besides its immense physical strength and ability to fly, Voltron has access to the mouth cannons of the Green Lion and Red Lion for combat, the Green Lion's shield for defense, and Red Lion's jaw blade for close-quarters combat.[3] The wings of the Black Lion can detach from the robot and combine to form a much larger shield wielded by the Green Lion. Voltron also has a shoulder cannon and double swords.
It is also possible for a Lion to split off from the robot while it remains otherwise formed and use its own abilities, and particularly for the Green Lion to detach its head and act as a distraction for its enemies.[4][5] Voltron is powered by Quintessence, which can be amplified for offensive and passive abilities by Allura via her energy manipulation and Altean alchemy.[6][5]
In addition, when a Paladin's Bayard is inserted into the control console of a Lion, it acts as a key to unlock a large, powerful weapon for Voltron to wield based on the Paladin, such as a saber when Keith inserts a Bayard into the Red Lion or Black Lion.[7][8] Having multiple Bayards inserted into their respective Lions' control consoles will activate upgraded abilities. Another weapon is the shoulder cannon which is formed when the Yellow Paladin inserts his bayard. When the Green and Red bayards are inserted Voltron gets a double sword ability. [9][10] While within the Quintessence Field, Voltron is able to remain at full power continuously, though at the risk of the Paladins within. While in that environment, Voltron demonstrated the ability to shoot lasers from its eyes, as well as from its sword.
The known Bayard abilities for Voltron are:
- Keith(Red): Saber
- Hunk(Yellow): Shoulder Cannon
- Keith(Red), Pidge(Green), Hunk(Yellow), and Lance(Blue): Enlarged Cutlass[9]
- Shiro(Black) and Keith(Red): Blazing Sword[10]
- Pidge(Green): Arm Cannon
- Lance(Red) and Pidge(Green): Dual Sabers
- Keith(Black) and Lance(Red): Enhanced Flight Boosters
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Christine Bian, the series design supervisor, claims re-imagining the iconic Voltron figure was the most difficult challenge for the staff because it had to be rendered in 2D, 3D, and eventually a toy line. Series staff looked at Gundam and other mecha anime for inspiration in designing the new Voltron robot to make sense logically and visually.[11] At one point during production, Bian unintentionally designed the Black Lion to look like a zebra.[12]
- During early production, Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery were asked if and when Voltron would speak; they immediately shut down the concept and threw it out of the writer's room.[13] Voltron has yet to truly speak at all, only having an added voice speak for it during The Voltron Show! performance to hype up its fans.
- In the original Japanese anime Beast King GoLion, Voltron was called GoLion.
References[]
- ↑ Voltron: Legendary Defender Official Website
- ↑ Season One: Episode 1, "The Rise of Voltron"
- ↑ Season Two: Episode 3, "Shiro's Escape"
- ↑ Comic: Vol. 1 Issue #5
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Season Six: Episode 7, "Defender of All Universes"
- ↑ Season Four: Episode 6, "A New Defender"
- ↑ Season One: Episode 3, "Return of the Gladiator"
- ↑ Season Three: Episode 6, "Tailing a Comet"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Season Two: Episode 6, "The Ark of Taujeer"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Season Two: Episode 13, "Blackout"
- ↑ Den of Geek with Tim Hedrick and Christine Bian
- ↑ Nerdist with Lauren Montgomery, Joaquim Dos Santos, and Christine Bian March 2016
- ↑ Let's Voltron Episode 127: "Joaquim & Lauren Interview & The Voltron Show Review"