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I know I cannot be the only Voltron fan around these parts ... and yet there is no thread on the upcoming Netflix show from DreamWorks Animation?

I can understand the reticence considering 2011's Voltron Force, a show I and other Voltron fans wanted to love but, well, it just didn't work out. After Voltron Force was canceled, I participated in a focus group with a half dozen other fans. I guess Legendary Defender is partly the result of that and other research WEP undertook. When I heard there was going to be another animated series, my reaction was mixed: on the one hand, I had no reason to hope for better than Voltron Force but, on the other hand, I was relieved that WEP had not managed to lock in a live action movie, which - if it was really bad - would do a lot more damage to the IP. Voltron Force was bad but it was not as bad as Third Dimension, and yet here we are with both of those behind us. It is a lot easier to recover from a bad series, which get canceled because basically no one cares about it, than it is to recover from something that is as expensive but, more crucially, as visible as a feature film. Anyhow, I did not expect the series to look good.

But Legendary Defender actually looks kind of okay. It's not just the animation, which is acceptable. Or the design, which is better than acceptable but nothing spectacular. These things did not get me very excited to be honest. Rather ... it was the tone that gave me some hope. It has an air of adventure as well as a sense of humor:
Well now I have managed to go and get excited about this ... here's hoping it is not another heart breaker!

Oh and looks like they learned at least one thing from the last go-around: THERE WILL BE TOYS!


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Here's the team ... notice how everyone is correctly color-coded to their lion ... for now. Hard to imagine this guy "Shiro" (Shirogane, a.k.a., Sven) will last long, even without a Norwegian accent. Plus, unless he goes ... which Lion will Allura fly?
I must say, they look great. I love how characterful the classic Pilots look. And Shiro seems pretty cool even if he isn't Sven. Look at that crazy robot arm projecting energy or whatever. Allura obviously has undergone some big design changes - she doesn't appear to be human anymore for starters! (Technically, I am not sure she ever was.) She's also 10,000 years old! By the way, look at her "vehicle"! Could it be a sneak peak of the Lion Castle design?

I love that Studio Mir is the animation studio for this and I'd watch it just for that.

For anybody that doesn't know, Studio Mir was formed by the people that did Avatar: The Last Airbender and they haven't put out much beyond the Legends of Korra (which was gorgeously animated) and some animated shorts, notably for League of Legends.

Not a huge Voltron fan, but will definitely be checking this out when it airs.

It has a giant robot in it - I'm in!

 Dr. What wrote:
Studio Mir was formed by the people that did Avatar: The Last Airbender

I'm hoping this means complex character development. You can already see the influence based on how expressive the character's are.

Here are a couple of new vids:

First impressions review:

The press materials for Voltron: Legendary Defender describe it as a comedic action series, but it doesn't seem that way to me. It feels more like a pure action series with some jokes. It definitely does not feel like a classic Toei super robot series—it's a little too restrained and modern to go that route. But with the first story arc behind me, I'm eager for more. As I watched, I found myself wondering who this Voltron was really for. Would kids latch on to it? Would teens and twentysomething hipsters buy in, based on the jokes and character chemistry? Or was it just a cynical grab at my generation, who watched the original in the 80s and now have money to spend and nostalgia to wallow in? As the sneak preview wound to its conclusion, I was left with one theory: This Voltron is for everyone.

More here ...

Sounds very promising indeed!

I'm not really a Voltron fan, but the animation is great (and I always liked the art design of the Avatar franchise). I assume by comedic action they mean the same kind of mix of comedy and action from the Avatar series which I'm behind.

From the clips, it has a strong resemblance to Legend of Korra in terms of humorous characterization.

I loved Voltron when I was a kid and I'm cautiously optimistic about the reboot.

Like the art style and feelings for the characters that I'm getting so far, will definitely check it out.

Character profile for Coran:Yu might wonder, who could possibly replace Peter Cullen?

The Official Voltron Website has been completely reinvented. There are some pretty neat graphics, loads of info even a little quiz to find out which Lion best suits you (Black Lion here). There is also a feature that gives you stats for all the Lions, like the character profiles posted above.

Apparently each Lion is now a Guardian Spirit - maybe this was the original intent from Beast King GoLion? In the original series, you could certainly tell that each Lion seems to "lair" (as it were) in a different environment. Anyhow Black Lion is the Guardian Spirit of the Sky, Blue of Water, Red Lion of Fire, Green Lion of Forrest, and Yellow Lion of Land. What I really like about the Lion profiles is that they describe the personalities of the Lions themselves: Black is courageous, Blue is friendly, Red is impetuous, Green is adventurous, Yellow is gentle. It is good to keep in mind that the Lions are not just vehicles or robots. They are mystical creatures and have their own life force. This reminds me of something Marc Handler, second head writer on the original show as well as on Third Dimension, brought up during an interview on the Let's Voltron podcast (and here):

What I love about the Lions is that they roar! They're machines but they're not just machines. They're not just space ships that look like lions - they roar. They've got some kind of spirit, some kind of personality, they're connected to the earth, the sea, the air, the fire ...

Mr. Handler mentioned this in connection to Allura's deep relationship with the Lions. In contrast to the Space Explorers,

... she's the one who has a mystery and a destiny ...

I would bet this will be a big component of Legendary Defender.

What no vehicle Voltron!?! He gets no love!

I actually liked the Druel (Or however you spell it) a lot better as bad guys than Planet Doom.

When I re-watched all of the Voltron shows as an adult, I actually liked the Vehicle ones better! As a kid, that would have never happened.

So logged into my Netflix to find the first eleven episodes are available and was like "why not?" I was a bit iffy on the dialogue and characters up until the lion bot busted out and then I was like "sold"

The first meeting with Allura is hilarious.

I am stuck at work and cannot watch!

I was working really late last night/into the morning and I logged onto Netflix at around 4AM ... just to see if it was available. I saw the first episode clocked in at 1+ hour (I guess it is like an OVA or something?) but I was a responsible adult and went to bed ....

Well - I know what I'm doing tonight!

They rolled the first 3 episodes into one (add in the other 10 and you have a standard 13 episode season)

It's excellent. Reminds me a lot of TLA and Korra. Still not all the way though the 1st hour long bit but enjoying myself so far.

BTW, how do all the alien species know what Lions are?

Watched through ep. 6 so far - utterly exceeds my expectations in every way. I wouldn't have dared to hope it would be as good as it is.

 Overlord Thraka wrote:
BTW, how do all the alien species know what Lions are?

Lion's are like English. Everyone in the universe understands it

I've completely watch the first season and I very much enjoyed it. The first episode was indeed a little shaky, and there's a few bits here and there where it was obvious the show was feeling itself out, but I think by epside 5 it had clear footing and I enjoyed the whole thing. Excited for season 2. I hope it doesn't take forever for it to come out.

I have one overriding response to Season One - MOAR MOAR MOAR! Stereotypical? Yes of course - but also justified in this case. Thirteen 23-minute episodes is simply too few for a show that is this good. Dreamworks really mastered the multi-generational concept. The idea is, you reboot a property that adults enjoyed as children so that they will market it to their own children. This is tricky because it has to appeal to the children as well as the parents over time (as opposed to just throwing in a few jokes aimed at older kids and adults, like you see with movies). Voltron Force really screwed this up by skewing way too young. Some might even judge that it talked down to kids a bit. Legendary Defender definitely has the Saturday Morning Cartoon beats - like the "forming Voltron" reel - but there are also character arcs and story continuity.

Couple of huuuuuuge twists:andand of course

http://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/2016/04/lion-forge-announces-voltron-legendary-defender-comic-series.html

5-issue comic run coming in July ...

I have started watching this with my kid. I am around episode 6 or so.

I absolutely loved the first time they use the Blazing sword against the Gladiator Ro-beast.

Also, a good mix of kid's humor and story telling.

Yes - Keith's "Shinji moment" was awesome!

There is speculation - and I agree with it - thst we have not even seen Blazing Sword yet. That is, the sword we saw is just one of the 'lesser' weapons like the shoulder cannon deal.

Watched it, enjoyed it, had good characters and was quite entertaining, but the plot is so much Swiss cheese.

It feels like it is arc-driven but I think it retains the formulaic approach deep down. Honestly, the plot as such is not very important. By contrast, the story is quite strong because it is told through strong characters (or at least potentially strong characters in some cases), which is ultimately what makes this kids' show feel like something more.

My one critique so far is that I have a fever that can only be quenched with more Ro-Beast!

Agree that there are some poor plot devices and jumps that stretch my ability to suspend belief.

One thing that I have enjoyed is the villains are not chumps. Emperor Zarkon, Witch Haggar, and the Druids are definite bad a****.

Speaking of which very interesting twist/reveal in the season finale.

Definately looking forward to season 2 (assuming there is one )

Sendak was also pretty badass. And the Robeasts are no joke, either. (They didn't really defeat the second one.)

I think we should be looking for the other half of season 1, honestly.

Season 2 coming in "late 2016."

http://io9.gizmodo.com/voltron-legendary-defender-returns-for-season-two-late-1784071262

Good. They can't leave us on that Cliffhanger for a whole year. No one is that monstrous.