Voltron: Defender of the Universe
| Fandom | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Voltron: Defender of the Universe |
| Abbreviation(s): | DOTU |
| Creator: | Peter Keefe, Henry Cofod |
| Date(s): | Premiered September 10, 1984 |
| Medium: | Cartoon |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Voltron: Defender of the Universe is an animated science fiction television series that aired in 1984 on KPLR television station out of St. Louis, Missouri. It features an ensemble cast of protagonists who pilot five robot lions that combine to form the legendary robot Voltron. Together, they defend Arus and the rest of the universe from King Zarkon's attempts to take over.
It is part of the Voltron franchise.
Canon
Main Protagonists
- Sven - Pilot of the Blue Lion.
- Keith - Pilot of the Black Lion.
- Lance - Pilot of the Red Lion.
- Pidge - Pilot of the Green Lion.
- Hunk - Pilot of the Yellow Lion.
- Princess Allura - Princess of Planet Arus, later pilot of the Blue Lion.
- Coran - Adviser to the princess, and science officer to the late King Alfor.
- Voltron - The legendary robot.
Main Antagonists
- King Zarkon - King of Planet Doom.
- Haggar - Zarkon's witch.
- Lotor - Zarkon's son, crown prince to the Drule Empire on Doom.
Secondary Characters
- Romelle - Princess of Planet Pollux, cousin to Princess Allura.
- Cossack - One of Zarkon's officers, works alongside Lotor in his schemes.
- Merla - Queen of Darkness, one of Zarkon's allies.
- Nanny - Nursemaid and caretaker to Princess Allura.
Fandom
Defender of the Universe received much praise during its run, and firmly planted itself as a cultural cornerstone, with Voltron not only being wildly popular but referenced even years after the conclusion of the initial show. Its fanbase is loyal even over thirty years since its conclusion in 1985. The "old guard" fandom primarily consists of adults over the age of 30, many of whom watched the show as children as it premiered, though with the explosive popularity of Voltron: Legendary Defender, younger fans who got their introduction to the franchise discovered Defender of the Universe after. In the late 1990s the series gained new fans when it aired as part of Cartoon Network's Toonami block.
By comparison to Voltron: Legendary Defender, the fandom for Defender of the Universe is very small, however its communities are tightly-knit. Many fans are active on Twitter, Facebook, and there are multiple Discord servers devoted to the show itself.
In the 1990s, some fans even thought the show Power Rangers was a rip-off of the original Voltron, not knowing that it was adapted from another Japanese franchise called Super Sentai, which predated the original Voltron series by several years.