Description: From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend. The legend of Voltron: Defender of the Universe! A mighty robot. Loved by good, feared by evil. As Voltron's legend grew, peace settled across the galaxy. On planet Earth, a galaxy alliance was formed. Together with the good planets of the solar system, they maintained peace throughout the universe. Until a new horrible menace threatened the galaxy. Voltron was needed once more. This is the story of the super force of space explorers. Specially trained and sent by the Alliance to bring back Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Indeed. Not since Star Wars has there been so much back story behind one "legend." A long time ago, in this galaxy far, far away, a group of scientists on the planet Arus created a robot named Voltron as the ultimate defense system. But bad guy Zarkon had it out for the robot, and after being defeated several times in his futile attempts, he sent his witch Haggar to do his dirty work for him. Disguising herself as a goddess in distress, Haggar put a curse on Voltron that split him into five lion-shaped pieces and forced him into hibernation. Lucky for Voltron, a band of space explorers came along sometime around the 25th century and discovered the five sleeping lions. And none too soon, as Zarkon had already established his reign over the galaxy. Each space explorer piloted one of the lion pieces. The leader of the group was Keith, who helmed the Black Lion and directed the formation of Voltron. Lance, the pilot of the Red Lion, was the sassy one, never missing an opportunity for a sarcastic comment. The Blue Lion pilot was the Norwegian Sven, alhtough he was replaced early in the series by the beautiful Princess Allura and her caretaker, Nanny. The tough guy of the pack, Hunk, piloted the Yellow Lion, while the Green Lion pilot, Pidge, was remarkably agile despite his outward geekiness. When the danger got really heavy (and thankfully, it did in every episode), the five lions would form the feet, legs, arms, torso, and head of Voltron. The assembled mega-robot wielded the mighty Sword of Arus in the defense of his people and planet. A host of other characters made this galaxy a bustling one. There was Koran, the worry-wart diplomat of the Castle of Lions (Voltron's base of operations), and Allura's dead father, King Alfor, who would appear to his daughter in frequent visions. And then there were the evil folk. At Zarkon's side was his right-hand man, the ineffectual Yurak, and Zarkon's son Lotar, who desired only to take his father's place as King of Planet Doom [Planet Galra]. Hagar had her own cronies, including a group of evil monsters known as Robeasts, which were about as effective as a group of Stormtroopers. Voltron: Defender of the Universe came to the U.S. in 1984 and took America's youth by storm. A second series featured an all-new Voltron, this one composed of fifteen space exploration vehicles fighting the alien Drules. Titled Voltron: Defender of the Near Universe, the new show never gained the popularity of the "Lion Force," fading into relative obscurity over the years. In 1998, the original five-lion Voltron returned for the computer-animated Voltron in the Third Dimension.