The newest entry into Netflix original content comes on June 10 with the release of Voltron: Legendary Defender. The original series Voltron: Defender Of The Universe debuted in 1984 and ran until 1986. A huge success, it spawned two follow-up animated series, comic books, and some tv specials.
This series seems to mix humor with a more serious tone than the original animated series. In the midst of a galactic civil war, 5 young pilots from Earth are dropped right into the middle of it, facing the invading Drule Empire, and the discovery of the greatest weapon in the universe, known as Voltron. A question that many fans have is the role of Princess Allura. In the original series, Allura would become the pilot of the Blue Lion when original pilot Sven was severely injured and then captured by Zarkon’s forces.
Dreamworks and Netflix have compiled an impressive voice cast for the new series which includes Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Arrow), Tyler Labine (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil), and Rhys Darby.
photo: Netflix / Dreamworks Animation
While this is not the first animated entry from DreamWorks Animation and Netflix, it can likely be its first big success, and can add to the growing selection of original content.
Can a 20 year old property recapture the magic of the orginal series that other subsequent series failed to? The second Voltron series, Voltron: The Third Dimension, and Voltron Force, which aired on Nicktoons, were all met with middling response and only aired a single season.
Voltron: Legendary Defender will debut on June 10 with 13 episodes and exclusively on Netflix.
