We go deep with the creators of the new Voltron series to find out what inspired them.
Its not just classic Voltron and GoLion!
Voltron: Legendary Defendersucceeds where most reboots fail because it isnt a slave to the source material.
Even the last batch of originalVoltronepisodes that were specifically commissioned for America were hamstrung by what had come before.
So making an original series should remove the problems, right?
The problem was they heavily drew on the mythology and tone established in the AmericanVoltron.
While both series have their fans, they failed to really connect with a mass audience.
They were too devoted to the patchwork series that had come before.
We remembered the visuals and remembered big pillars and story arcs.
When we went back there wasnt a ton there because they had to edit it all crazy style.
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However, when they went back and watchedBeast King GoLion?
We have a go at pull those kind of stakes out of that and maintain that.
What aboutVehicleVoltronor its Japanese counterpartArmored Fleet Dairugger XV?
For those not in the know, the footage of Galaxy Garrison in the originalVoltroncame fromDairugger.
Dos Santos does admit that, in revisitingVehicle Voltron, he did find some merit in it.
Theres this big fleet in space aspect to it.
All the things I love, answers Montgomery.
She points to to theepic 80s science fiction animated seriesRobotechas a huge influence onVoltron.
A lot of our Galaxy Garrison influences are veryRobotechbased.
Going out into space and having these incredible space battles.
A lot of that is stuff we watched and loved inRobotech.
Dos Santos adds thatRobotechwas his first introduction to depth of character in an animated series.
Dos Santos is also quick to praise howRobotechhandled death, People died and stayed dead.
That was really important.
It sounds cheesy, almost hokey now, but that was a life lesson for me as a kid.
That was something I had to absorb and deal with and come to terms with.
A tribute toRobotechcan be spotted during the opening episode ofVoltron: Legendar Defender.
How did they pull this off?
The two also reference many non-anime series as well, Montgomery comparing the Enterprise fromStar Trekto the Castle Ship.
Dos Santos tries to mimic the unabashedly over the top types of aliensStar Warshad.
Dos Santos also points to the reimaginedBattlestar Galacticaas a template they used for updatingVoltron.
Its no longer just a fond nostalgia trip from the 80s.
Check out some of the series the Dos Santos and Montgomery mentioned.
Theyll help you understand whyVoltron: Legendary Defenderis the best series on TV.
Huge thanks toDani De WaldandPixelated Geekfor contributing to this article.
