Parents' Guide to

Voltron: Legendary Defender

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

DreamWorks updates '80s toon in tense but fantastic form.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2016
Voltron: Legendary Defender Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 10+

Based on 21 parent reviews

Happierdoggo
Happierdoggo Adult
March 8, 2020
age 8+

Very good for kids.

Not only is it filled with positive influences it also let's kids know that it is okay to like who you like. (As we see at the end of season 8 with Shiro.) I find that it shows kids you can be who they are and not have to his forever because they will find friends and family that support them. Also with Pidge (the green paliden) ,who is voiced by a nonbinary amazing person, shows that family is important by not stoping and doing anything to save her family. Over all I believe that this is a good show and is amazing for the age rating it has.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
msscott3
msscott3 Adult
October 25, 2018
age 10+

Good, but some not-so-great messages

This show started great, but then I started to notice a few problems. There are so many moments where very serious or hurtful issues are used a jokes. There is also nearly an entire episode dedicated to calling a character with insecurities "dumb" or "stupid" in a very hurtful manner. I'm okay if it's a quick comment for laughs, but this was ridiculous and in the end no one supported or helped the character. Not sure that's a good message to teach my children!

This title has:

Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER is set in a future in which a malevolent force named Emperor Zarkan (voiced by Neil Kaplan) has spent 10,000 years extending his dominance over one planet after another and taking prisoners along the way. When three ne'er-do-well students at a pilot-training facility witness a mysterious event and uncover an even more mysterious lion-shaped spacecraft, they're suddenly drawn into an epic battle against evil. Lance (Jeremy Shada), Hunk (Tyler Labine), and Pidge (Bex Taylor-Klaus) are hardly hero material on their own, but alongside the newly liberated Shiro (Josh Keaton) and brooding Keith (Steven Yeun), they must find their inner strength, locate the four remaining lions, and reassemble Voltron, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Zarkan and save the galaxy.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (21):
Kids say (89):

This exceptional series gives a DreamWorks makeover to an '80s fan favorite, and the result deserves to draw big crowds. The characters are endearingly imperfect, each arriving on the scene with his unique baggage and quirks but devoted to a common cause that unites them and makes you want to root for them. Pidge's self-consciousness, Hunk's body issues (the moment when he measures his girth against his new "hero" suit is especially quaint), Keith's troubled past -- they're all part of what makes them believable and appealing and what injects some levity into the exchanges between good and evil.

And those exchanges? They're pretty tense. As with most cartoons, you feel fairly confident throughout Voltron: Legendary Defender that the good guys will win the day, but you're never quite sure. The baddies are really bad, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want, whereas the good guys' vulnerability is that they're always concerned for each other. And with the violence that's involved, it's hard to say that this is a great pick for kids, but if yours can handle this kind of tense content, there's a lot to like in how these unlikely heroes conduct themselves.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Voltron: Legendary Defender's characters. Are all the good guys likable? What traits do you find unappealing? Is this reflective of the real world? Are people a combination of good and less-good qualities? Does that make relationships and teamwork difficult?

  • Many of the heroes are inspired by their backgrounds to fight for peace. What experiences in your life continue to guide you today? Which people have played important roles in who you've become?

  • Is it OK that violence plays a role in these heroes' success? Are there times when physical violence is the only way to resolve conflict, or can we always expect that there's another option?

  • How do the characters in Voltron: Legendary Defender demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate