Beast King GoLion

Did You Know?

• Takashi Shirogane had a younger brother named Ryou who, along with Princess Amue, joined the heroes in the fight against the Galra Empire and also perished in battle.
• Toei Animation Ltd. created and animated a brand new plot arc specifically for the U.S. Voltron series.

Story

The story is set in 1999, when the planet Altea is subdued and enslaved by the Galra Empire. Five space pilots return to Earth from their latest space exploration, only to find the planet annihilated by World War III. They are ambushed, captured, and enslaved by a Galra Ship, then forced to fight for their lives in Emperor Daibazaal's arena. The pilots escape and land on Altea, where they discover the secret of the sentient robot GoLion, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat the Empire. Thousands of years earlier, GoLion was an arrogant robot who, after defeating several Beastmen, tried to challenge the goddess of the universe into battle but failed. The goddess taught him humility by separating him into five lion robots that crash-landed on Altea. Princess Farla recruits the five pilots to reawaken GoLion and fight back against the Empire.

Characters

Akira Kogane, nicknamed Chief, is an even-tempered natural leader who pilots the Black Lion and wears a red uniform. He is a strategic thinker who can quickly assess difficult situations and take decisive action, though he can be rough on his team. Takashi Shirogane, nicknamed Quiet, was the original second-in-command, piloting the Blue Lion in a black uniform. In episode 6, he was wounded during an attack by Honerva and later died from his injuries; Princess Farla replaced him as the Blue Lion's pilot. Isamu Kurogane, nicknamed Moody, is the second-in-command who pilots the Red Lion in a blue uniform. He is tall, wiry, and wily, always joking and teasing others, and is the only one who contests Akira's commands. Tsuyoshi Seidō, nicknamed Hothead, is the quick-tempered strongman who pilots the Yellow Lion in an orange uniform. He has a soft heart, especially for children, and is never late for a meal. Hiroshi Suzuishi, nicknamed Shorty, is the youngest and smallest, piloting the Green Lion in a green uniform. He graduated from the academy at a young age, specializes in science, and is well-trained in martial arts owing to his ninja lineage.

Golion

Golion was separated into five lion robots by a space goddess who wished to teach it humility until it could be reassembled. After being reawakened by the five pilots, Golion gains a soul and is used to protect the universe from Emperor Daibazaal's forces. Golion is 60 meters tall and weighs 772 tons; individually, the lions weigh 154.4 tons each. The Black Lion forms the torso and head, powered by lightning and piloted by Akira. The Red Lion forms the right arm, powered by fire and piloted by Isamu. The Green Lion forms the left arm, powered by wind and piloted by Hiroshi. The Blue Lion forms the right leg, powered by water and piloted by Takashi, later by Farla. The Yellow Lion forms the left leg, powered by earth and piloted by Tsuyoshi. Each lion has a Lion Blade boomerang, dorsal missiles, and shoulder-mounted lasers. Golion's main weapon is the Ten Kings Sword, used to deliver the final blow.

Beastmen

The Galran Empire’s Deathblack Beastmen were once Beast Fighters, representing the peak of Galran technology and dark magic. Honerva deploys them against Golion. Captured slaves are forced into an arena on Planet Galra, where they fight larger, deadlier Beastmen to the death for a cheering crowd. Afterward, the slaves are slaughtered and cooked into slave stew, a gruesome favorite eaten by Beastmen and also fed to surviving slaves to force cannibalism and turn them savage. Any slave who survives a Deathblack fight is transformed into a Beastman by Honerva’s dark magic. The Mechablack Beastmen, introduced in episode 31, replace the Deathblacks. They are built at Planet Galra’s occult science plant, using Beastmen as their brain component, and many are named after Greek letters. In the final episodes, Emperor Daibazaal is unwillingly merged into a Mechablack Beastman.