History YMMV / GoLion

* TheyCopiedItSoItSucks: Both ''Anime/{{Voltron}}'' and ''Anime/GoLion'' are accused of ripping off ''Anime/FutureRobotDaltanious'', which came 3 years earlier. Both are about lion-themed {{Super Robot}}s that are {{Icon Of Rebellion}}s against fascist alien empires and use [[CoolSword Flaming Swords]]. Fans of Japanese mecha anime make this accusation in particular and write off ''[=GoLion=]'' as an anime that copies what most mecha anime before it did so.

* FairForItsDay: In the 1980's, it was rare for a female character to have an active role as a main character in a shonen, especially if she wasn't a love interest for TheHero. Not only did Fala have a platonic relationship with Akira, but she also had no set pairings with any of the other men. As a main character, she was one of the pilots for Golion, learned Judo, used swords and guns and even had the chance to save the day every now and then. Despite being an occasional FauxActionGirl, for ''[=GoLion=]'''s time, she would have been considered quite the badass.

** [[TheEvilPrince Prince Sincline]], Daibazaal's [[OverlordJr son]] and eventual leader of the Galran armies, is [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introduced]] presenting his father with the severed heads of the leaders of worlds he had conquered. Sincline spearheads the invasion against the planet Altea. His [[StalkerWithACrush fascination with Princess Fala]] carries over to abducting her cousin, Princess Amue, who resembles her greatly, and abusing her. Sincline is notorious for his rage at subordinates, and failure is usually met with swift and painful death. With no loyalty to his father, Sincline [[TheStarscream tries to assassinate him]]. Sincline eventually sabotages his father and lets Daibazaal die before hemming in [=GoLion=] with innocent prisoners in exploding capsules. When Galra is besieged, the new King Sincline slaughters his own subordinates who wish to surrender and has no compunction trying to kill Princess Amue. When his grandmother and adviser, Old Witch Honerva, opposes him in grief over her son Daibazaal's death, Sincline viciously kills her. He later takes a hostage to ensure his escape from Galra and tries to kill the heroes via bombardment.

** [[BigBad Emperor Daibazaal]], the ruler of the Galran Empire, is a despotic [[GalacticConqueror conqueror]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]], and murderer. Seeking to expand his grasp across the Galaxy, Daibazaal conquers planets that will submit and destroys those that will not. The slaves taken are condemned to fight in gladiator arenas, or fed to the monsters on planet Galra for his amusement. Daibazaal has no hesitation at taking attractive slave women as [[SexSlave concubines]]. One that he once favored once begged him to give better treatment to the slaves, for which he strangled her to death. Daibazaal and his son Sincline have a mutual loathing of one another and Daibazaal has no compunction trying to get him killed. Brutal, nasty, smug and cruel, Daibazaal is an example of an EvilOverlord at his worst.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, ''[=GoLion=]'' is almost forgotten there. This is because when ''[=GoLion=]'' premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on the airwaves (as well as it was the time that the RealRobotGenre pioneered by ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' was on the rise), while in America it was one of the few shows of its kind alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' and the oft-forgotten ''[[Anime/MazingerZ Tranzor Z]]''. (and it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which, aside from a GagDub of ''[[Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman Dynaman]]'' on ''[[Creator/USANetwork Night Flight]]'', America didn't get until the early 90s). The Japanese dub of ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' even uses the American ''Voltron'' names rather than the original ''[=GoLion=]'' names.

** [[BigBad Emperor Daibazaal]], the ruler of the Galran Empire, is a despotic [[GalacticConqueror conqueror]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] and murderer. Seeking to expand his grasp across the Galaxy, Daibazaal conquers planets that will submit and destroys those that will not. The slaves taken are condemned to fight in gladiator arenas, or fed to the monsters on planet Galra for his amusement. Daibazaal has no hesitation at taking attractive slave women as [[SexSlave concubines]]. One that he once favored once begged him to give better treatment to the slaves, for which he strangled her to death. Daibazaal and his son Sincline have a mutual loathing of one another and Daibazaal has no compunction trying to get him killed. Brutal, nasty, smug and cruel, Daibazaal is an example of an EvilOverlord at his worst.

** [[TheEvilPrince Prince Sincline]], Daibazaal's [[OverlordJr son]] and eventual leader of the Galran armies, is [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introduced]] presenting his father with the severed heads of the leaders of worlds he had conquered. Sincline spearheads the invasion against the planet Altea, guarded by the robot [=GoLion=] and its five pilots. Initially honorable and chivalrous, Sincline reveals his true colors when he cheats in single combat and develops a [[StalkerWithACrush fascination with Princess Fala]], one of the pilots. His obsession carries over to abducting her cousin, Princess Amue, who resembles her greatly and abusing--[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil possibly raping]]--her. Sincline is notorious for his rage at [[BadBoss subordinates]] and failure is usually met with [[YouHaveFailedMe swift and painful death]]. With no loyalty to his father, Sincline [[TheStarscream tries to assassinate him]], before pulling a successful coup where he forces Daibazaal to fight the heroes with the promise he'll be restored to the throne if he wins. Naturally, Sincline sabotages his father and lets Daibazaal die before hemming in [=GoLion=] with innocent prisoners in exploding capsules. When Galra is besieged, the new King Sincline slaughters his own subordinates who wish to surrender and has no compunction trying to kill Princess Amue. When his grandmother, Daibazaal's mother and adviser Witch Honerva opposes him in grief over Daibazaal's death, Sincline viciously kills her. He later takes a hostage to ensure his escape from Galra and tries to kill the heroes via bombardment, declaring that as long as he lives, Galra will never die.

* EnsembleDarkHorse: Shirogane was surprisingly popular despite his short run. So much that future installments made sure he wouldn't be killed off or would work around that detail.

* TooCoolToLive: Shirogane is a total badass who is competent and level-headed, he doesn't makes it out alive. [[spoiler:His brother doesn't either.]]

* UglyCute: Jaga, the devil cat owned by Honerva, is cute despite its demonic qualities.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, ''[=GoLion=]'' is almost forgotten there. This is because when ''[=GoLion=]'' premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on the airwaves, while in America it was one of the few shows of its kind alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' and the oft-forgotten ''[[Anime/MazingerZ Tranzor Z]]''. (and it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which, aside from a GagDub of ''[[Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman Dynaman]]'' on ''[[Creator/USANetwork Night Flight]]'', America didn't get until the early 90s). The Japanese dub of ''WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender'' even uses the American ''Voltron'' names rather than the original ''[=GoLion=]'' names.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The [[Creator/MediaBlasters Anime Works]] North American DVD releases are long out print, with only Volume 2 remaining affordable from third-party retailers. The US [=iTunes=] digital downloads aren't available for sale anymore either.

* EnsembleDarkHorse: Shirogane was surprisingly popular despite his short run.
%%* EvilIsCool: Prince Sincline.

** Shirogane's death. Then of course [[spoiler: his brother's death]].

* TooCoolToLive: Shirogane. [[spoiler:His brother as well.]]

** Fala is friends with the mice. In the USA, it didn't bat an eye even in 1950, look at Cinderella. But Japan has [[NoWomansLand ''very'' gender roles-]] so it is progressive to show a female be friendly with a critter since it was expected that girls should be automatically afraid of any rodent.

** Fala is friends with the mice. In the USA, this would not have been remotely remarkable. But Japan has stricter gender roles- so it is progressive to show a female be friendly with a critter that at the time it was still expected in many places for females to be automatically afraid of.

* EarWorm: GO! GO! GOLION!

* EvilIsCool / EvilIsSexy: Prince Sincline.

** [[TheEvilPrince Prince Sincline]], Daibazaal's [[OverlordJr son]] and eventual leader of the Galran armies, is introduced presenting his father with the severed heads of the leaders of worlds he had conquered. Sincline spearheads the invasion against the planet Altea, guarded by the robot [=GoLion=] and its five pilots. Initially honorable and chivalrous, Sincline reveals his true colors when he cheats in single combat and develops a [[StalkerWithACrush fascination with Princess Fala]], one of the pilots. His obsession carries over to abducting her cousin, Princess Amue, who resembles her greatly and abusing--[[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil possibly raping]]--her. Sincline is notorious for his rage at [[BadBoss subordinates]] and failure is usually met with [[YouHaveFailedMe swift and painful death]]. With no loyalty to his father, Sincline [[TheStarscream tries to assassinate him]], before pulling a successful coup where he forces Daibazaal to fight the heroes with the promise he'll be restored to the throne if he wins. Naturally, Sincline sabotages his father and lets Daibazaal die before hemming in [=GoLion=] with innocent prisoners in exploding capsules. When Galra is besieged, the [[DragonAscendant new King Sincline]] slaughters his own subordinates who wish to surrender and has no compunction trying to kill Princess Amue. When his grandmother, Daibazaal's mother and adviser Witch Honerva opposes him in grief over Daibazaal's death, Sincline viciously kills her. He later takes a hostage to ensure his escape from Galra and tries to kill the heroes with a bombardment, declaring that as long as he lives, Galra will never die.

** [[TheEmperor Emperor]] [[BigBad Daibazaal]], the ruler of the Galran Empire, is a despotic [[GalacticConqueror conqueror]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaver]] and murderer. Seeking to expand his grasp across the Galaxy, Daibazaal conquers planets that will submit and destroys those that will not. The slaves taken are condemned to fight in gladiator arenas, or fed to the monsters on planet Galra for his amusement. Daibazaal has no hesitation at taking attractive slave women as [[SexSlave concubines]]. One that he once favored once begged him to give better treatment to the slaves, for which he strangled her to death. Daibazaal and his son Sincline have a mutual loathing of one another and Daibazaal has no compunction trying to get him killed. Brutal, nasty, smug and cruel, Daibazaal is an example of an EvilOverlord at his worst.
** [[TheEvilPrince Prince Sincline]], Daibazaal's [[OverlordJR son]], and [[TheDragon eventual leader of the Galran armies]] is [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introduced]] [[DecapitationPresentation presenting his father with the severed heads]] of the leaders of worlds he had conquered. Sincline spearheads the invasion against the planet Altea, guarded by the robot [=GoLion=] and its five pilots. Initially honorable and chivalrous, Sincline reveals his true colors when he cheats in single combat and develops a [[StalkerWithACrush fascination with Princess Fala]], one of the pilots. His obsession carries over to abducting her cousin, Princess Amue, who resembles her greatly and abusing ([[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil possibly raping]]) her. Sincline is notorious for his rage at [[BadBoss subordinates]] and failure is usually met with [[YouHaveFailedMe swift and painful death]]. With [[TheStarscream no loyalty to his father]], Sincline [[{{Patricide}} tries to assassinate him]], before pulling a successful coup where he forces Daibazaal to fight the heroes with the promise he'll be restored to the throne if he wins. Naturally, Sincline sabotages his father and lets Daibazaal die before hemming in [=GoLion=] with innocent prisoners in exploding capsules. When Galra is besieged, the [[DragonAscendant new King Sincline]] [[BadBoss slaughters his own subordinates]] who wish to surrender and has no compunction trying to kill Princess Amue. When his grandmother, Daibazaal's mother and adviser Witch Honerva opposes him in grief over Daibazaal's death, Sincline viciously kills her. He later takes a hostage to ensure his escape from Galra and tries to kill the heroes with a bombardment.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, ''[=GoLion=]'' is almost forgotten there. This is because when ''[=GoLion=]'' premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on the airwaves, while in America it was one of the few shows of its kind alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' and the oft-forgotten ''[[Anime/MazingerZ Tranzor Z]]''. (and it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which, aside from a GagDub of ''[[Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman Dynaman]]'' on ''[[Creator/USANetwork Night Flight]]'', America didn't get until the early 90s).

* FairForItsDay: In the 1980's, it was rare for a female character to have an active role as a main character in a shonen, especially if she wasn't a love interest for TheHero. Not only did Fala have a platonic relationship with Akira, but she also had no set pairings with any of the other men. As a main character, she was one of the pilots for Golion, learned Judo, used swords and guns and even had the chance to save the day every now and then. Despite being an occasional FauxActionGirl, for Golion's time, she would have been considered quite the badass.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, ''[=GoLion=]'' is almost forgotten there. This is because when ''[=GoLion=]'' premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on the airwaves, while in America it was one of the few shows of its kind alongside Transformers and the oft-forgotten Tranzor Z. (and it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which, aside from a Gag Dub of ''[[Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman Dynaman]]'' on ''[[Creator/USANetwork Night Flight]]'', America didn't get until the early 90s).

* TooCoolToLive: Shirogane. [[spoiler: His brother as well.]]

* FanPreferredCouple: [[BigBad Sincline]]/[[BadassPrincess Fala]] is a very popular pairing, in Japan, it is more popular than the implied relationship between Fala and Kogane.

** The destruction of [[spoiler: Earth]]

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, ''[=GoLion=]'' is almost forgotten there. This is because when ''[=GoLion=]'' premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on the airwaves, while in America it was one of the few shows of its kind alongside Transformers and the oft-forgotten Tranzor Z. (and it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which, aside from a Gag Dub of ''[[Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman Dynaman]]'' on ''[[USANetwork Night Flight]]'', America didn't get until the early 90s).

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, [=GoLion=] is almost forgotten there. This is because when [=GoLion=] premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on the airwaves, while in America it was one of the few shows of its kind alongside Transformers and the oft-forgotten Tranzor Z. (and it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which, aside from a Gag Dub of [[Series/KagakuSentaiDynaman Dynaman]] on [[USANetwork Night Flight]], America didn't get until the early 90s).
* HilariousInHindsight: Anime/GoLion wouldn't be the last time Creator/MasakoNozawa defeated Creator/RyuseiNakao. [[Anime/DragonBallZ The only difference is the alignment of their]] [[Characters/DragonBallSonGoku respective]] [[Characters/DragonBallFrieza roles.]]