Voltron: Lion Force
Scary villains don't overshadow '80s 'toon's decent story.
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
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.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Voltron: Lion Force is an '80s cartoon that features a fair amount of violent clashes, explosions, crashes, and laser blasts. Even so, no injuries are shown, and the heroes always manage to escape even the greatest peril. Menacing villains and beasts may be too frightening for very young kids, so this one's better for older grade-schoolers who can follow the progressive story line. One look at the show's dated animation gives away its age, but, if kids aren't bothered by that, they will find a decent good-versus-evil plot with some intriguing characters.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
For years peace has reigned over the universe, but the cruel King Zarkon (voiced by Jack Angel) is out to conquer Planet Arus on his way to galactic domination. Overwhelmed by the strength of Zarkon's armies and terrifying Robobeasts, the Galaxy Alliance dispatches five brave space pilots to locate Voltron, a legendary robot and defender of the universe who was cursed years ago by Zarkon's crony, Haggar (B.J. Ward). The explorers set out to locate the five lion-shaped components of Voltron in the hopes that, with its help, they can restore peace to the galaxy.
Is It Any Good?
If Star Wars and Transformers teamed up, the result would be something like VOLTRON: LION FORCE. The fate of galactic peace rests on the shoulders of an underdog team with an admirable never-say-die attitude, and their only hope is to reassemble a robot whose collective power dwarfs that of the sum of its parts. Though good and evil have taken many forms in action cartoons over the years, there's some originality to this one that kids may like, despite the fact that its style shows its considerable age.
But what the show's primitive animation style does to lessen the impact of the story's violence is offset by a cast of some pretty frightening villains of various shapes, so that's something to consider if your youngster wants to check it out. For older kids, though, the story's complexity works to its favor, and the fact that it evolves from one episode to the next encourages kids' attention spans more than do shows that start new plots with each episode.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the visual and content differences between vintage cartoons and those of today. Kids: Did anything in this show strike you as unusual based on how it compares to your modern favorites? Is the violence any different? Is it scarier in any way?
Is this cartoon attempting to teach you anything? What messages can you take away about teamwork and perseverance? Does entertainment always have to be educational?
How do older shows like this one stack up against more modern offerings? Is there still a market for them? How does the Internet help their cause?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 10, 1984
- Cast: Jack Angel, B.J. Ward, Michael Bell
- Network: Online
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Robots, Space and Aliens
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
Our Editors Recommend
-
Transformers Prime
Action, violence don't overshadow worthy messages for kids.
-
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
'80s classic still holds strong messages for today's kids.
-
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
Popular 1980s cartoon fun, but glorifies battle, toys.
For kids who love cartoons
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