Voltron is one of the most successful media franchises of the 1980s. The media franchise started with a syndicated animated television series titled Voltron: Defender of the Universe that was based on a team of five space explorers sent on a scout mission that unfortunately found themselves in between a planetary war. Later, they became the five pilots of a giant super robot called Voltron.
Following the success of Voltron: Defenders of the Universe, the franchise produced about three more follow-up series and numerous comic books with their unique storylines. Also, with the success of the cartoon, the GoLion toys came over to America under the Voltron brand.
The Voltron franchise has always intertwined itself with toys. Being an imported animation show originally of Chinese origin, the show was based on an existing line of Mecha toys. After the successful adaptation of the animated television series, American toy companies decided to pick up the GoLion toys.
The history of Voltron toys
In 1984, Matchbox would become the sole licensee of the Voltron’s toy line, with the responsibility of importing the toys into the country and remolding them to pass the United States’ safety regulations for children’s toys and action figures. Matchbox’s most notable toys were the mega figures of Voltron I, Voltron II, and Voltron III, which they produced as a box set of smaller toys that can come together to become the giant Voltron. Matchbox, however, lost the license for the Voltron toy line due to an unfortunate incident while moving their production factory.
Panosh Place became the next toy company responsible for Voltron‘s toy lines after securing the toy lines’ license in 1985. Unlike Matchbox’s mecha toy production, Panosh Place focused its toy line on producing action figures that include characters from Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Panosh Place toy line includes the main Voltron pilots, other protagonists in the story, and a few of the villains. They also created a replica of the heroes’ lair, Castle of Lions, and an all-plastic combining Voltron toy. Panosh Place closure ensured the end of Voltron’s toy lines.
The license for Voltron’s toys once again passed to another toy company. This time, it was LJN that took over the license. Following Matchbox’s focus on mecha toys and Panosh Place’s focus on action figures, LJN was based on featuring motorized toys. Some of the toys came with electronic features and characteristics. LJN also forfeited its license when the company closed.
This marked the end of an era in Voltron’s toy lines and even the franchise. No company released nor produced any new media or toys for over a decade. However, even after a deep slumber, the lions returned time and time again.
Presenting the top ten Voltron Toys
10. LJN’S Motorized Lion Force (Black) (1986)
LJN released the Motorized Black Lion of the Lion Force in 1986 as part of their Voltron: Defender of the Universe toy lines. The action figure comes with a replica of Voltron’s blazing sword, firmly mounted on its back. The action figure also possesses a pull-back action that allows the figure to move forward. It also possesses poseable legs and a tail.
The Black Lion serves as the head and main body of the Voltron. Keith, the leader of the Voltron Force, pilots the Black Lion.
9. Matchbox’s Mighty Lion Robots Set (Blue and Red) (1984)
Mighty Lion Robots set is one of the first Voltron’s boxed set of toys that Matchbox released in 1984 as part of Voltron’s toy line. The box set contains two fearless and fierce Lion robots in the Blue Lion and the Red Lion. The figures feature fully articulated legs and paws. Their heads and tails also have articulation. They possess a snapping jaw and strong die-cast body parts.
While combining to form Voltron, the Blue Lion traditionally becomes the massive right leg of Voltron, and the Red Lion becomes its powerful right hand. Princess Allura eventually became the new pilot of the Blue Lion while Lance flew in the Red Lion.
8. Panosh Place’s Castle of Lions (1985)
Panosh Place released the Castle of Lion play set in 1985 as part of their Voltron toys. The Castle of Lion figure is a replica of the heroes’ lair and the official residential apartment of the Arusian royalties as portrayed in the Voltron: Defender of the Universe animated toy lines.
The Castle of Lion is also the Lion Voltron Force’s headquarters and secret base and the Arusian military’s base of operation, with its main entrance and secret exits.
7. Panosh Place’s Hunk (1985)
Panosh Place released the Hunk action figure in 1985 as part of the basic series of their Voltron’s action figures. The action figure is 4 inches tall with five points of articulation. The Hunk action figure comes with a yellow key and a removable helmet that fits on the action figure’s head.
In the animated series Voltron: Defender of the Universe, Hunk is a big, powerful, and muscular engineer of the Voltron Lion Force who pilots the Yellow Lion. Hunk graduated from the Space Academy and joined the scout team led by Keith to Arus. When the forces of planet Doom captured the team, their trip became truncated.
After their escape, they made their way to the Castle of Lions, where they met Princess Allura. Following his team’s ordeal at the hands of the forces of planet Doom, Hunk became a strong advocate for the Galaxy Alliance to attack planet Doom.
6. Panosh Place’s King Zarkon (1985)
Panosh Place released the King Zarkon action figure in 1985 as part of the basic series of Voltron toys. The action figure is 4 inches with five points of articulation. The action figure comes with a coffin-like box with King Zarkon’s name and emblem on it.
According to the Voltron: Defender of the Universe cartoon, King Zarkon is a horrific and ruthless king of the planet Doom and the Drule Empire. Although he has a senatorial advisory body, making him less of a supreme ruler, no one dares to go against him. Zarkon is also a ruthless conqueror of worlds.
However, he has been failing to conquer Arus due to the presence of Voltron. King Zarkon successfully lured Voltron out and charged his witch, Hagger, to curse him with a spell that divided him into five distinct parts. With the curse in place, Zarkon was able to reign in terror on Arus, killing many of its inhabitants and taking the survivors as slaves. With the Voltron Force, Voltron returned to defend its people again.
5. Panosh Place’s Princess Allura (1985)
Panosh Place released the Princess Allura action figure in 1985 together with other action figures to form the basic series of Voltron toys. This figure is 3 inches, and it consists of 5 points of articulation. Princess Allura’s action figure comes with a blue key and a removable helmet.
From the Voltron: Defender of the Universe, Princess Allura was the brave, beautiful, and kind daughter of the slain King Alfor and the leader of the people of Arus. She also became the pilot of the Blue Lion after Sven became incapacitated and no longer could pilot the Lion.
Allura spent most of her life inside the Castle of Lions. After Zarkon killed her father in a duel, she lived alone in the Castle with Coran before the arrival of Keith and his team, who became the Voltron Lion Force. Now, she and the Voltron Force defend what the remnants of Arus from the mad King Zarkon.
4. Panosh Place’s Keith (1985)
Panosh Place released Keith’s action figure in 1985 as one of many action figures released in the basic series of Voltron action toy lines. The action figure comes with a red key and a removable helmet.
In the Voltron: Defender of the Universe animated series, Keith is the leader of a group of 5 individuals sent on a scout mission by the Galaxy Alliance. Planet Doom’s forces shot down their spaces then subsequently captured the team. Keith and his team escaped and found their way to Castle of Lions, where they became the Voltron Force, a group of Lion pilots that combine to form the mighty Voltron.
Keith, being the leader, pilots the Black Lion, which is the main body of Voltron. The rest of his teammates became pilots of the other Lions (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green), which forms the hands and legs of Voltron. Keith led his team in defense of Arus.
3. Matchbox’s Voltron III (1984)
Matchbox released their Voltron III box set in 1984 as part of its deluxe figure of their Voltron toys. Voltron III is a Lion-based Voltron formed by the coming together of all the Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green Lions. Voltron III is the super robot defender of good that battles again evil in the far Universe.
2. Matchbox’s Voltron II: The Deluxe Gladiator Set (1984)
Matchbox released the Voltron II set in 1984 as a deluxe figure in their Voltron toy line. Voltron II is a Gladiator-based Voltron that forms when the numerous gladiators in the set come together.
Voltron II is the super robot defender of good that battles again evil in the Universe. It also goes by the title the Intrepid Protector of the Universe. However, this version did not appear in any of Voltron’s animated television series.
1. Matchbox’s Voltron I Deluxe Warrior Set (1984)
Matchbox released the Voltron I: The Deluxe Warrior Set in 1984 as a deluxe figure in their Voltron toy line. Voltron I is a vehicle-based Voltron that forms when the numerous vehicles in the pack combine. Once combined, Voltron I is the super robot defender of good that battles again evil in the near Universe. Voltron I comes packed with all the vehicles to put together to form the towering and terrifying Voltron I with its heroic human face.
Conclusion
Even decades after the first Voltron action figure hit store shelves, fans flock to buy up and enjoy the lion robots. Even in the last decade, Dreamwork’s Voltron has inspired a new wave of Voltron toys. So, we have yet to see the end of the franchise.
Did your favorite Voltron toys make it to our list? Let us know which toys were your favorites in the comments.
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About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!