Streaming services such as Netflix have changed the television landscape. Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to see classic series brought back and updated for modern audiences. We’ve seen this with numerous live-action properties, but now Netflix is moving into revivals of iconic animation. Their latest project is a reboot of Voltron: Defender of the Universe, and the first image of the badass titular robot showcases Netflix’s commitment to getting it right. Check it out below in order to see for yourself.
Netflix has just released the above image (h/t USA Today) of the Voltron: Defender of the Universe revival, titled Voltron: Legendary Defender. The first thing you’ll note about it is that it bears incredibly similarity to the original Voltron robot from the 1980s cartoon, albeit with naturally improved production values. Nostalgia has become one of the most quintessential elements for success in the modern television landscape, and as such the team behind the revival has wisely chosen to keep the overall aesthetic of the highly-anticipated upcoming series incredibly faithful to what fans have come to expect from the giant robot.
The upcoming Voltron reboot represents only the latest in a long line of revivals of classic kids’ properties. Only yesterday we reported on the upcoming reboot of Thunderbirds on Amazon Prime. Now that technology has improved considerably, it seems that members of the Hollywood community have an immense desire to address classic properties such as Voltron, Thunderbirds, or even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in order to make them accessible for modern audiences.
However, while the Legendary Defender series maintains the general aesthetic of the classic cartoon, the team behind the revival has said that they want to ramp up the stakes of the new season. In their efforts to create something that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike, they will make the action incredibly visceral, and generate a palpable sense that Voltron and the team might not make it out of a given situation. Additionally, they wil make the narrative of the season more serialized, in the vain of other successful, mature cartoons such as Young Justice.
If you don’t remember Voltron: Defender of the Universe (you poor thing) check out the clip below to get educated on the badass cartoon:
We will bring you anything and everything related to the upcoming Voltron: Legendary Defender as it becomes available to us. The 13-episode season will premiere on Netflix later this year. Stay tuned for more details.
