The first is the one we all know as the “lion Voltron”, which was known as “GoLion” in Japan. (”GoLion” is Japanese for “five lions”, get it?) The second was a completely different series (though both were produced by Bandai and Toei) called “Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV”, which is Japanese for…well, who the hell knows. It’s referred to as “vehicle Voltron” and I had two of the pieces as a kid (the little red jet that affixed itself to Voltron’s chest and one of the shoulders). Unlike the “lion Voltron”, the “vehicle Voltron” was comprised of *fifteen pieces*, ensuring two things:
1) major profit, in the form of fat sacks of cash money, for the toymakers
2) that only the rich kids ever got a complete set

Neither series was ever called “Voltron” in Japan. The names were changed in the US, probably because someone had come up with the name while as high as a freaking kite. (”Dude, I’m gonna call my van ‘Voltron’! I’ll get a vanity license plate and paint it on the side in foot-high letters!”)

I also definitely remember one kid showing me–I must have been six or seven at the time–that there were in fact *six* different robot toys called “Voltron”. I can’t find any information on any of the other Voltrons, so most probably never got off of the ground. My guess is that World Events, who brought the series to the West, probably planned to bring over every giant-robot anime in the world, call it “Voltron XXIII” and spend their days doing lines of cocaine off the ass of high-priced hookers.

You keep making the episodes; I’ll keep listening. Oh, and I loved the phrase, “Keep watching, listeners!” You ought to seriously consider making that the sign-off each week.

PS - Yes, Van; I *am* the Rob from Shodown.

bada-bam!

Yeah, whatever. Good show, guys!