Voltron: Legendary Defender

Cast and characters

Josh Keaton voices Lieutenant/Commander Takashi 'Shiro' Shirogane, the Black Paladin and pilot of the Black Lion. Captured by the Galra Empire a year before the series, he was given a weaponized prosthetic right arm. A natural, decisive leader, Shiro is calm and always in control. At the end of season two, he reclaims his personal bayard weapon from Zarkon but mysteriously vanishes.

In season three, he wakes on a Galran battleship, escapes, and is found by the other Paladins, but the Black Lion no longer accepts him. He provides guidance from the Castle of Lions until reestablishing his bond in season four. In season five, he is revealed as an unwitting mole of Haggar; Keith discovers the Shiro with them is a clone, while the true Shiro died during the fight at the end of season two, his soul inside the Black Lion. Allura revives him by transferring his soul to the clone's body.

In season seven, he becomes captain of the Atlas battleship during the fight against Sendak. In season eight, he aids in the final battle against Honerva after Voltron merges with the Atlas. At the end of season eight, he marries Curtis, a fellow Atlas crewmember. Kimberly Brooks voices Princess Allura, the Crown Princess of Altea and daughter of King Alfor.

She pilots the Castle of Lions and grants the new Defenders their titles. In season three, she becomes the new pilot of the Blue Lion. Her abilities include chameleon-like blending and magical quintessence abilities. She has a telepathic bond with Altean mice.

During season eight, she and Lance engage in a romantic relationship. At the end of season eight, she and Honerva give their lives to restore all realities. Steven Yeun voices Keith, the Red Paladin and pilot of the Red Lion. A former Galaxy Garrison cadet who was expelled, Keith is an orphan.

In season two, he discovers he has Galra blood from his maternal side, revealed by a knife linking him to the Blade of Marmora. Due to Shiro's absence, Keith takes over as head of Voltron as the new Black Lion pilot in season three. He steps down in season four to work with the Blade of Marmora. At the end of season five, he is reunited with his Galra mother, Krolia.

He rejoins the Paladins at the end of season six, reassuming command of the Black Lion. At the end of season eight, he dissolves the Galra Empire and transitions the Blades of Marmora into a humanitarian organization. Jeremy Shada voices Lance, the Blue Paladin and pilot of the Blue Lion. Initially cocky, he nicknames himself the 'sharpshooter' and 'ladies' man'—the first nickname stuck.

He maintains a one-sided rivalry with Keith. Lance later becomes the new pilot of the Red Lion from season three onward. He nearly died at the start of season six but was saved by Allura's Altean life-giving magic. He and Allura begin a romance at the beginning of season eight.

After the final battle, Lance gains Altean markings and returns to live on his family's farm, spreading Allura's message of peace. Bex Taylor-Klaus voices Katie 'Pidge Gunderson' Holt, the Green Paladin and pilot of the Green Lion. She disguised herself as a boy to enter Galaxy Garrison academy to find her missing father and brother. A technical genius, she creates modifications for the Green Lion like a cloaking device.

She rescues her brother and later her father. After the final battle in season eight, she and her family help establish and lead the next generation of Legendary Defenders. Tyler Labine voices Hunk, the Yellow Paladin and pilot of the Yellow Lion. He was the engineer of his team at Galaxy Garrison.

A gentle giant with a large appetite, Hunk is the heart of the team. In season one, he meets a Balmeran named Shay. His position as Yellow Paladin doesn't change throughout the show. In season three, he helps Allura gain confidence as the Blue Paladin.

In season seven, Keith helps Hunk attempt to save his family from Sendak's slave camps; Hunk succeeds when he and his fellow Paladins liberate Earth from Galran rule.

Reception

Voltron: Legendary Defender received critical acclaim, highlighting the series' writing and visuals. Its success has spawned several comics, action figures, and other toys from Playmates Toys.

Comics

The series' success has spawned several comics.