Voltron The End

For those who grew up watching Voltron, the prospect of a new Voltron movie is something that gets them going. Indeed, news about the new movie has been circulating for the better part of this year. While the new Voltron movie has been confirmed, nothing specific has been said about it. You know, like the important details such as the release date!

I guess some fans are getting impatient, and they are looking for ways to make themselves useful while waiting. If this fan-made Voltron video is anything to go by, then fans ought to be given a role in making the new film!

Called Voltron: The End, this short film was directed by Alex Albrecht, and it has already gotten the attention of Voltron fans left and right. After watching the short film, one easily understands why. Even for someone who is not such a big Voltron fan, this short film got my interest.

There is no action in the film, but what you see is Lance, the guy who controls Red Lion. He seems to have survived a battle and is hurt. He communicates with the system, which is basically what happens in the film’s entirety. The interesting thing is how he realizes that he is the only one left of the team. Yup, unthinkable as it is, it seems that Voltron has failed.

I’ll let the film do the talking. It is very, very impressive.

I don’t know about you, but if the new Voltron movie is going to be based on this and have the same feel, I have no doubt that I will make a sacrifice, go out of the house and see the movie.

When I was little, my older brother and I used to fantasize about finding a secret compartment in our home that led to an ancient vault holding the Voltron lions, where we and three friends would learn to fly them and become the Voltron Force. It was silly, but exactly the kind of thing that all boys dream about. Plus, it had an undefinable quality about it that exuded cool.

Nicktoons is rebooting the character for a new generation starting June 16th, and here’s a first look at it. Personally, I’m surprised to see very Earth-like cities, streets, and inhabitants in Voltron’s world. Nick says that this new Voltron Force is part of the same continuity as the original series, taking place “several years after the final battle between the Voltron Force and Prince Lotor.” The new show employs the five pilots we know and remember from the old series, along with three cadets-in-training who represent a mentor/protege dynamic.

I’m not sure what to think of this new show… The animation style of the human characters is very simple (too much so?), although the lions themselves appear to be cel-shaded CGI. Hrm.

Will you be watching?

To be honest, I was not that big of a Voltron fan. For one thing, our parents didn’t believe in the crap that was shown on TV. Whatever TV I got was from my cousins, who watched Voltes V instead of Voltron. (Now Voltes V is a whole different story. Does anyone here even know about that cartoon?) Still, Voltron was always the topic in the school playground, and I couldn’t help but absorb some of my classmate’s fascination with the Lions.

If you take a look at these Lions, then I am sure you’ll get an inkling of just how cool the cartoon is – will be, for Voltron Force.

There’s really not much to be said about what they have leaked about the new Voltron, but from what I see, things are looking pretty good. The first Lion is my favorite – maybe also because of its stance, which you can’t deny is majestic. For more Voltron Force updates, visit their Facebook Page.

Voltron fans, what do you think about the redesigned Lions? Do you agree that they kick butt?

When I was a kid, my brother and I used to watch Voltron: Defender of the Universe every day. There was something that oozed cool about it. Maybe it was because it had a bit of anime-inspired sophistication to it; it didn’t talk down to kids the way other cartoons did. Or it could have been those big honkin’ lion robots. Yeah, it was probably the robots.

In conjunction with the upcoming Voltron revival, Voltron Force, which will be airing on Nicktoons in 2012, THQ has secured the rights to create video games based on the property. Despite the enduring popularity of the brand, only one video game has ever been made based on it, and that was just a $.99 iPhone app. THQ hasn’t yet announced any details of what they’re working on — just that their first Voltron game will be released to coincide with the new cartoon. So we’ve got a while to wait on this one.

But I think it’s high time gamers were treated to a full-on, bad-to-the-bone Voltron game with next-gen HD graphics and some killer giant robot fights. So here’s my question to you, gamers: what would your ultimate Voltron game be like?

Would you control one of the robotic lions’ five human pilots in a new take on the vehicle sim? Would it be a squad-based first-person shooter where you play as a robot lion with four robot companions, where you take over control of Voltron when the five robots join together? Would it be an RPG set on the planet Arus? A platformer?

[Image by Jeremy Roberts]

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Another blast from the past is going to be made into a movie.

The hit 80′s cartoon series Voltron is going to get live action treatment in Hollywood. The new movie will receive a moderate budget and will reportedly use more “cost-efficient” technology similar to the ones used in making 300 in order to get more savings.

Max Makowski has been attached as the director of the Voltron movie.

For those who don’t remember it, Voltron was an anime series that tells the story of five survivors of an alien attack who pilots five lion-shaped robots that join together to form a big sword wielding robot.