Legendary Defender Review
In my last post I talk about the potential of the new Voltron toy line from Playmates Toys, but I have yet to throw my 2 cents in on the new show Voltron: Legendary Defender. So I decided after i've watched from Beginning to end like 3 time now I'd take a look at it and talk about how this remake is different from past version of the Voltron. So without any more delay LET'S GO VOLTRON FORCE.... they don't really say that in this one but on with the blog.
The show at it's core in really no different than the lion seasons of Voltron Defender of the Universe (DotU). The show is about 5 earth pilots finding 5 robot lions and protecting the universe from an evil alien empire With the legendary robo Voltron. Honestly the only real story difference are the detail of the plot and to avoid spoilers I'm not talking about them however I will talk about some significant changes to characters and others like that. Now when I can't avoid spoilers I will at least war you ahead of time. Now the funny thing about the little differences in the show is they're different but also not different but homages to Beast King GoLion.
Changes
Pilots
The Pilot of the lions called Voltron Force in DotU are now called the Paladins of Voltron to better fit with the mystical background that both DotU and GoLion had. The names of the Paladins have not changed with few minor switches. Keith, Lance , and Hunk mostly stay the same with some minor personality changes and Lion changes for Keith and Lance. In DotU Keith alway piloted the Black Lion now pilots the Red Lion. Lance Now pilots Blue Lion instead of Red. The biggest change in characters are with Pidge and Shiro. Shiro is this series' counterpart for Sven of DotU, However he is not Norwegian and his name actually come straight from his GoLion counterpart. Pidge is the biggest change from the DotU to now. *SPOILER WARNING*
*SPOILER END*
To sum it up the changes made while minor are good and make for better storytelling.
The Universe
This is a place where the shows drastically differ. These changes are an amazing welcome to help set this as not only a reboot of Voltron but even a GoLion reboot. What do you mean a GoLion reboot well the show pull some many influences from GoLion it's kinda amazing. As I mentioned above Shiro's name is the same as his counterpart from GoLion but that's not all they took from GoLion. Let's start with the villains. The Galra Empire the name alone is taken straight from GoLion as the villains they also go by the same name. Another is Commander Sendak his DotU Counterpart is called Yurak and Sadak in GoLion. His name while not the same in similar to GoLion and an interesting homage. But is doesn't stop there are good guy also have some interesting changes the reference GoLion. Allura, Coran, and the Ghost (or in this case digitized memories) of King Alfor are found in the Castle of Lions on Arus like in DotU but are from Altea the planet's name in GoLion. this honestly where the comparing ends like i said above the core plot to save the universe is the same.
Final Thoughts.
The show is a need update to the franchise that we've been waiting for and unlike Voltron Force it will be getting a second season. The show is good and resonates as a more modern story. The Character have more depth to them and drive as the story movie on. My only complaint is the 1st season is very short and goes and ends on a cliffhanger. All in all I would say if you are a fan of Voltron this is a must see, and if you're not but like stuff like Power Rangers, Star Wars, or anything with a Giant Robot then I'd say check it out. If you are interested then head top Netflix and enjoy.
Update 11:00 pm 10/26/16
After putting this out into the world I realized there was something I never addressed at all and that was the animation. The animation is done by Studio Mir whose major claim to fame is The Legend of Korra and was founded by Yoo Jae-Myung who was animation director and kay animator on Avatar: The Last Airbender. So it goes animation if top of the line. Even with that pedigree of animation it does do one thing better than most shows and that is the mix of digital cell animation and CG with the two meshing very well. My final though remains the same I just figured this need to be said
The show at it's core in really no different than the lion seasons of Voltron Defender of the Universe (DotU). The show is about 5 earth pilots finding 5 robot lions and protecting the universe from an evil alien empire With the legendary robo Voltron. Honestly the only real story difference are the detail of the plot and to avoid spoilers I'm not talking about them however I will talk about some significant changes to characters and others like that. Now when I can't avoid spoilers I will at least war you ahead of time. Now the funny thing about the little differences in the show is they're different but also not different but homages to Beast King GoLion.
Changes
Pilots
The Pilot of the lions called Voltron Force in DotU are now called the Paladins of Voltron to better fit with the mystical background that both DotU and GoLion had. The names of the Paladins have not changed with few minor switches. Keith, Lance , and Hunk mostly stay the same with some minor personality changes and Lion changes for Keith and Lance. In DotU Keith alway piloted the Black Lion now pilots the Red Lion. Lance Now pilots Blue Lion instead of Red. The biggest change in characters are with Pidge and Shiro. Shiro is this series' counterpart for Sven of DotU, However he is not Norwegian and his name actually come straight from his GoLion counterpart. Pidge is the biggest change from the DotU to now. *SPOILER WARNING*
*SPOILER END*
To sum it up the changes made while minor are good and make for better storytelling.
The Universe
This is a place where the shows drastically differ. These changes are an amazing welcome to help set this as not only a reboot of Voltron but even a GoLion reboot. What do you mean a GoLion reboot well the show pull some many influences from GoLion it's kinda amazing. As I mentioned above Shiro's name is the same as his counterpart from GoLion but that's not all they took from GoLion. Let's start with the villains. The Galra Empire the name alone is taken straight from GoLion as the villains they also go by the same name. Another is Commander Sendak his DotU Counterpart is called Yurak and Sadak in GoLion. His name while not the same in similar to GoLion and an interesting homage. But is doesn't stop there are good guy also have some interesting changes the reference GoLion. Allura, Coran, and the Ghost (or in this case digitized memories) of King Alfor are found in the Castle of Lions on Arus like in DotU but are from Altea the planet's name in GoLion. this honestly where the comparing ends like i said above the core plot to save the universe is the same.
Final Thoughts.
The show is a need update to the franchise that we've been waiting for and unlike Voltron Force it will be getting a second season. The show is good and resonates as a more modern story. The Character have more depth to them and drive as the story movie on. My only complaint is the 1st season is very short and goes and ends on a cliffhanger. All in all I would say if you are a fan of Voltron this is a must see, and if you're not but like stuff like Power Rangers, Star Wars, or anything with a Giant Robot then I'd say check it out. If you are interested then head top Netflix and enjoy.
Update 11:00 pm 10/26/16
After putting this out into the world I realized there was something I never addressed at all and that was the animation. The animation is done by Studio Mir whose major claim to fame is The Legend of Korra and was founded by Yoo Jae-Myung who was animation director and kay animator on Avatar: The Last Airbender. So it goes animation if top of the line. Even with that pedigree of animation it does do one thing better than most shows and that is the mix of digital cell animation and CG with the two meshing very well. My final though remains the same I just figured this need to be said
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