Line #85 ReferencedBy/Voltron


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gotronpng.png]]]]
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7	''Voltron'' has been referenced countless times in various media through the years, thus showing its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff significant impact]] on American or Western pop culture.
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9	[[AC:Advertising]]
10	* [[UsefulNotes/NationalDrinks Sprite]] referenced ''Voltron'' in a series of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkODvs4grqE hip-hop-themed commercials]] in 1998.[[note]]Creator/JackAngel reprised his voice role of King Zarkon for the ad. There was also an animated character, a teenager named Jamal, who calls for the lions' help to fend of the {{Robeast}} in the commercials, and he was voiced by Jazzy Jeff. Instead of his trademark Blazing Sword, Voltron uses his "Blazing Mic".[[/note]] Each of the five lions were piloted by a prominent hip-hop artist or group:
11	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodie_Mob Goodie Mob]] (representing Southern hip-hop) piloted the Blue Lion.
12	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_10 Mack 10]] (representing West-Coast hip-hop) piloted the Yellow Lion.
13	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Joe Fat Joe]] (representing East-Coast hip-hop) piloted the Green Lion.
14	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_(rapper) Common]] (representing Midwest hip-hop) piloted the Red Lion.
15	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrika_Bambaataa Afrika Bambaataa]] (a hip-hop legend and pioneer) rode in the Black Lion with his own pilot.
16	* Voltron appeared in a 2012 [=MetLife=] [[SuperBowlSpecial Super Bowl commercial]] with various other [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover cartoon characters]].
17	* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LF-eiFi8su4 "The Second Coming"]] by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juelz_Santana Juelz Santana]] (used for Nike's "Second Coming" commercial), says "... Together we stand, divided we fall, united we form Voltron and take on all."
18	* Reebok made a line of shoes named [[https://hypebeast.com/2007/3/reebok-voltron-lion-force-pack "The Voltron Pack"]], which features 5 designs of Reebok's famous shoes each with its own action figure that can combine to make a large one.
19	* On a ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_of_Chogokin Soul of Chogokin]]'' [[https://twitter.com/RaihanH98/status/1727952854151725529 toy poster]] for ''Anime/GoLion'', the ''Voltron'' logo is put beside the ''[=GoLion=]'' logo in seeming acknowledgment of how much more popular the ''Voltron'' brand is worldwide compared to ''[=GoLion=]'' in Japan.
20	* There actually exists a [[https://twitter.com/kanekonaomasa/status/1741121533341520133 Voltron Star Shooter film camera]]. And yes, they called it the ''Voltron'' Star Shooter, not the ''[=GoLion=]'' Star Shooter.
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22	[[AC:Comic Books]]
23	* In the comic book series ''ComicBook/GoldDigger'', there are regular appearances by a group of Leprechaun heroes called the "Vaultron Force".[[note]]They pilot five mechanical shoes that combine to form the giant robot "Vaultron" (it's only giant by Leprechaun scale, only being about five feet tall, overall). They are menaced by both a direct parody of Lotor and Haggar, (Oompa Loompas), and their enemies, the Pirate Ninja Leprechauns who have the "Gallion".[[/note]]
24	* In ''ComicStrip/ThePerryBibleFellowship'', characters who look much like the ''Voltron'' characters form a unit called "Guntron" to destroy a giant robot scorpion.[[note]]At the end of the strip, the blue character is missing, since his contribution to Guntron was the blue bullet that destroyed the scorpion. The next bullet in the chamber is green, and now the green character wears a much more worried expression than in the first panel. The other three characters form the gun itself and are safe.[[/note]]
25	* In the comic ''[[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/ursa-minors-2/4000-434141/ Ursa Minors #2]]'', General [[UnfortunateNames Kien Lo Mein]] tries to convince The Bears to hand over the rights to their magical suits in order to employ [[{{Nanomachines}} nanite transformation]] converting the three into a giant Mecha Bear. The Bears politely decline, saying "Look, not that we don't appreciate it, but you're preaching ''Voltron'' to the uninterested."
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27	[[AC:Literature]]
28	* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Blood Rites'', Harry Dresden refers to the merged form of a bunch of flying monkey demons as "Monkey Voltron" (on page 4).
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30	[[AC:Movies & Television]]
31	* Pink Five's Laser Sword[[note]]coincidentally, "Laser Sword" is also what the Philippine English dub version of ''Anime/VoltesV'' called the Tenkuu Ken (Sword of Heaven)[[/note]] is renamed something else in the Philippine English dub of ''Series/ChoudenshiBioman''--the ''Voltron'' Sword. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer No kidding]].
32	* In ''Film/ViceVersa'' (starring Creator/JudgeReinhold and Creator/FredSavage), Judge plays with a large-sized, remote-controlled ''Lion Voltron'' toy.
33	* ''Voltron'' was referenced in the Creator/VH1 anthology series ''[[ILoveTheExties I Love the '80s 3-D]]''.
34	* In the opening scene of ''Film/HotRod'', Dave orders his food under the name "Vultron" because "It's super bad ass."
35	* A huge ''Voltron'' toy is shown as a Christmas present during a 1980s-era flashback on ''Series/{{Lost}}''.
36	* On ''[[Series/XPlay X-Play's]]'' "Salute to Boss Characters in Video Games," Morgan Webb talked about Jo Slade--the fat, lesbian security guard sexual predator from ''VideoGame/DeadRising''--saying, "She's like if weight, gender, and sexual preference stereotypes formed Voltron and tried to Taser you."
37	** The two ''X-Play'' hosts, Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb, said that together they form Voltron: A pathetic, one-armed, one-legged Voltron with no torso.
38	* In the season 3 episode of Series/{{Bones}} titled "Boy in the Time Capsule," psychologist Dr. Sweets talks about childhood icons, and reveals to Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan that he was "very attached to Voltron."
39	* In ''Film/Deadpool2016'', ''Voltron'' is referenced in two scenes.
40	** First one is in an arcade, when Wade wins a limited edition ''Voltron: Defender of the Universe'' ring and tells Vanessa, "FYI, five mini-lion bots come together to form one super lion bot."
41	** The second is towards the end of the film; Wade says "You know, for a second there, it felt like we were three mini-lion robots coming together to form one super robot."
42	* In ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'', the merged Elementals that attack London are likened by Mr. Harrington and Mr. Dell to be something out of ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' or ''Voltron''.
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44	[[AC:Music]]
45	* ''Voltron'' was mentioned in a song by [[OneHitWonder/{{Rap}} Murphy Lee]], Music/{{Nelly}}, and [[Music/SeanCombs P. Diddy]], "Shake Ya Tailfeather" with the line "Come on, you know the 'Tics connect like Voltron."
46	* ''Voltron'' is referred to often by the hip-hop group, Music/WuTangClan.
47	* ''Voltron'' is referenced in the song "Funky Voltron" from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edan_(musician) Edan's]] 2005 album "The Beauty and the Beat."
48	* ''Voltron'' is mentioned in the chorus of a song by the former Christian ska band Music/FiveIronFrenzy, entitled "Wizard Needs Food, Badly." The song examines the differences between the sexes by referencing [[PopCulturalOsmosis popular culture]] of the [[The70s seventies]] and [[The80s eighties]].
49	* In the song "This D.J." by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G Warren G]], the second verse starts with, "Verse two, (uh-huh), now what the fuck I do? Catch the bus to Cal State, or chill with the Voltron crew."
50	* In the song "I Just Don't Give A FUCK" by Music/{{Eminem}}, the second verse contains, "This is a lyrical combat, gentlemen hold your pistols/But I form like Voltron, and blast you with my shoulder missiles."
51	* There is a grindcore band called [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous "Voltron"]] whose songs are based around the series. They have a song--"The End Of Planet Arus"--featured on the extras portion of the U.S. Vol. 3 release of ''Voltron''.
52	** There's also a ska-punk band called [[SignificantNameOverlap "Let's Form Voltron"]].
53	** [[IdenticallyNamedGroup "Letters to Voltron"]] is a Houston band whose name might a play on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_to_Cleo "Letters to Cleo"]], an alternative band.
54	* Ska band, [[https://www.last.fm/music/Dabe+&+His+Good+Buds DHGB (Dabe & His Good Buds)]], make extensive reference of ''Voltron'', most notably in their song "Giant Robots."
55	* ''Voltron'' is mentioned in a song by Music/BustaRhymes, "Everything Remains Raw". Part of the second verse says, "On and on, hey, on and on and on/You won't understand when I form Voltron".
56	* In Music/{{Chamillionaire}}'s "Mixtape Messiah Pt 2" on the track "Let Em Know" he states, "Got everybody staring at the car components. It look like Voltron with the door don't it?"
57	* In [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moldy_Peaches The Moldy Peaches']] song "Nothing Came Out", Kimya Dawson sings, "I want you to watch cartoons with me; ''[[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983 He-Man]]'', ''Voltron'', and ''WesternAnimation/HongKongPhooey''."
58	* "Voltron" is a name of a song recorded by Music/FloRida.
59	* Rapper [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_da_59 Royce da 5'9"]] mentioned ''Voltron'' in the 2009 song "Sound Off", referring to him & his groupmates of rap supergroup [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughterhouse_(group) Slaughterhouse]], with the lyric, "We're an outfit, equivalent to Voltron..."
60	* Filipino band Music/ParokyaNiEdgar released a batch of parody t-shirt designs as recently as 2021, which included 1980s SuperRobot anime shows such as ''Anime/MazingerZ'', ''Anime/{{Daimos}}'', ''Anime/VoltesV'', and ''Voltron''.
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62	[[AC:Video Games]]
63	* In the Platform/NintendoGameCube game ''VideoGame/GotchaForce'', the character Metal Hero is arguably modeled after Voltron, with a helmet resembling that of a lion or tiger, and wielding a "Blazing Sword".[[note]]Also, the motions used by Metal Hero to perform his special attack are identical to the motions used by Voltron to summon the Blazing Sword. ''Voltron'' is also referenced by the Borg Victory King, who utilizes gatlings fired from his legs.[[/note]]
64	* The ''Fleet of Doom'' special featuring [[{{Crossover}} the two Voltrons]] can be considered a prototypical proof of concept for what would eventually become the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' franchise[[note]]where SuperRobots team-up against their foes or are pitted against each other[[/note]]. So the very existence of ''Super Robot Wars'' is kind of a reference to ''Fleet of Doom'' and [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover other movies like it]], in a sense.
65	** Lion Voltron technically appears as a playable unit in the Platform/NintendoDS game ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsW'', under its ''[=GoLion=]'' name.[[note]]''[=GoLion's=]'' story is slightly changed to allow interaction of the ''[=GoLion=]'' cast with the other characters included in the game (i.e., Honerva/Haggar offering her services to Dr. Hell of ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'', King Zarkon's/Daibazaal's empire forming an alliance with the enemies of ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'').[[/note]]
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67	[[AC:Web Animation]]
68	* In the 2006 Halloween cartoon of ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'', the character Strong Bad states, "We'll form into a giant robotic Halloween-Night-finding space panther!"
69	* In an episode of the online Machinima series ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', Pvt. Tucker says, "Women are like Voltron. The more you can hook up, the better it gets."
70	* In ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', they made an episode pitting the ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' against ''[[Recap/DeathBattleS04E04PowerRangersVsVoltron Voltron: Defender of the Universe (Lion Force)]]''.
71	** The ISMAHAWK/Ismahawk Website/YouTube channel--creator of ''WebVideo/NightwingTheSeries''--released a live-action version of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNIyztmU8dk same battle]], but this time it stars various [=YouTube=] stars and celebrities like Wrestling/XavierWoods from the Wrestling/{{WWE}} and Mari Takahashi from WebVideo/{{Smosh}} and WebVideo/SmoshGames.
72	** The Variant Comics channel also released their own fully CGI version of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9-Zx3ZzElM same battle]] as well.
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74	[[AC:Webcomics]]
75	* ''Voltron'' was featured in the satirical web-based cartoon strip ''Webcomic/GetYourWarOn''.
76	* In the webcomic ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', main characters Torg and Riff are accidentally teleported to a parallel universe, where they encounter a team of superheroes similar to ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'', who form a Voltron-like robot named "Gofotron".
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78	[[AC:Western Animation]]
79	* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TazMania'', upon readying a trap for Taz, Bull Gator confirms with his partner Axle that all preparations are in order. Axle responds affirmatively and emphatically "Mega Thrusters are GO!"
80	* In ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', Dexter and his family form a Super Robot to stop a monster from destroying Tokyo—in order to combine vehicles, Dexter uses a key similar to the one used to initiate the combination for ''Voltron''.
81	* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/Sealab2021'', five mice are placed inside the empty bodies of five Sealab crewmembers, who were now robots. The mice are all wearing ''Lion Voltron'' flight suits and shout "GO, MOUSETRON!!" after they are all placed inside.[[note]]They might also reference the Space Mice in ''Voltron'' that also have their own Voltron robot equivalent.[[/note]]
82	* ''Voltron's'' [[CombiningMecha combination]] [[TransformationSequence sequence]] is constantly playing on monitor screens in the TV show ''WesternAnimation/ButtUglyMartians''.
83	* In ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'' (episode 18—"S-Force S.O.S"), a complete parody is done of ''Voltron'', including similar character designs, and differing animal mechs that join together.
84	* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/HomeMovies'', five kids can be seen forming Voltron in the background during the battle between the kids from the Sci-Fi Convention and the kids from the Renaissance Faire.
85	* In the stop-motion sketch comedy series ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'', ''Lion Force Voltron'' is referenced in the episode "You Got Robo-Served". Voltron is forced into a dance competition against a Robeast ([[https://www.ebay.ca/itm/175847704587 Scorpious]] from the Panosh Place toyline).[[note]]After a while, Voltron runs out of moves, therefore losing the battle and having been "served", much to the Robeast's amusement. Out of embarrassment, Voltron simply slices the Robeast in half with the [[FinishingMove Blazing Sword]] in retribution. Both of the songs danced to (the original "Work It Out on the Floor" and its [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong legally necessitated]] replacement) contain references to the cartoon series.[[/note]]
86	** The sketch "Voltron Force Assemble!" parodies the ''Vehicle Force Voltron'' trying to rescue a space station under attack from a Robeast (also Scorpious), but the transformation takes an incredibly long time.[[note]]Upon finally arriving, they are far too late; the surviving commander kills himself, grieved that it wasn't the "real" Voltron, "just that stupid vehicle one".[[/note]]
87	** The sketch "Voltron Boner" sees a "Pink Lion" (piloted by a stereotypically effeminate Paladin) combining with Voltron, forming said body part during a battle with a Robeast (yet again Scorpious).
88	* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' called "Smarty Pants", Timmy Turner mentions King Zarkon's name while playing a "Crash Nebula" game.
89	* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "No Meals on Wheels", Joe Swanson along with other handicapped people come back to Peter Griffin's restaurant and form "Crippletron" in a manner similar to ''Voltron''.
90	* During the episode "Imaginationland" of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', Voltron can been seen clearly in the background as one of the imaginary denizens.
91	* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': ''[[https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers_Animated:_The_AllSpark_Almanac_II AllSpark Almanac II]]'', there is a map of the Milky Way Galaxy featured. One territory is referred to as the Galran Khanganete, a reference to the Galra Empire from ''Beast King [=GoLion=]''. Within said Khanganete are the planets Doom and Arus, which are references to ''Voltron'' instead.
92	* The stop-motion adult animated series ''WesternAnimation/TitanMaximum'', created by Matthew Senreich and Tom Root (co-creator and co-head writer of Robot Chicken), is a parody of ''Voltron''.[[note]]Animated by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios--the same studio behind Robot Chicken--it features five pilots of the titular giant robot trying to save Saturn's moon from the evil ex-blue pilot, Gibson "Gibbs" Gibberson (voiced by Creator/SethGreen). The team consists of red pilot and leader Commander Palmer (voiced by Creator/BreckinMeyer), yellow pilot Jodi Yanarella (voiced by Creator/RachaelLeighCook), black pilot Sasha Caylo (voiced by Creator/EdenEspinosa), blue pilot Willie Palmer (voiced by Dan Milano), and green pilot Leon (the silent monkey janitor). Nine episodes were produced.[[/note]]
93	* In the Creator/CartoonNetwork series ''WesternAnimation/{{Mad}}'', Voltron makes numerous appearances. Some of its most notable appearances include the following:
94	** There's the sketch "MAD’s Guide to Phobias", where the last phobia seen is "Voltronitis"[[note]]described as "the fear that your leg pilot might not show up today"[[/note]]. Voltron is seen confronting a cephalopod-like Robeast, but without the Yellow Lion, falls to the ground and is beaten easily by its enemy.
95	** The ad parody "The 9-Voltron Battery" sees a demanding Voltron advertising a battery supercharged with the powers of nine robot lions, which tend to be quite destructive; using the battery causes whatever device it is in to explode.
96	** The sketch "The Iron Giant Lady" features a parody of both ''Voltron'' and U.K. singer [[Music/{{Adele}} Adele]], known as Voltron Adele, formed by [[SurrealHumor five individual robotic Adeles]].
97	* A recurring in-series cartoon seen in the 2012 incarnation of ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' is "Super Robo Mecha Force Five!" which parodies ''Voltron'', along with other mecha/super robot anime such as ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Anime/VoltesV''. It is seen being watched by the Turtles throughout the second season.[[note]]The team consists of blue pilot/leader Dash Coolstar Captain Dash Coolstar, green pilot Dr. Blip, pink pilot Princess, red pilot Lunk, and yellow pilot/animal sidekick Squeakums. Most notably, Dr. Blip strongly resembles Pidge/Shorty, being a short pilot wearing large spectacles. The team also has a Princess in a pink uniform, and the word "Zarkon" is mentioned at one point.[[/note]]
98	* In the 2017 Creator/DreamWorksAnimation film ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'', the title character illustrates the "old being replaced with the new" line by swapping a stuffed lamb for a ''Voltron: Defender of the Universe'' toy.
99	* The show ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' references ''Voltron'' a couple of times.
100	** At the end of the 2017 episode "Rest and Ricklaxation", Morty tells Jacqueline that she can keep the drones. Rick protests and says she can't, because they form a "[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/refbyvoltron.png little Voltron robot]]" and "They're awesome!" [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkp10xR_9fM The drones then demonstrate Rick's claims]], complete with [[{{BFS}} glowing flame sword]].
101	** The 2021 episode [[https://comicbook.com/anime/news/rick-and-morty-season-5-voltron-episode-behind-the-scenes-video-adult-swim/ "Gotron Jerrysis Rickvangelion"]] features this page's [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gotronpng.png image header]] for ''Voltron'' prominently while also referencing ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' at the same time.
102	* In ''Film/ChipNDaleRescueRangers2022'', Chip and Dale climbed atop a huge ''Voltron'' statue at the convention center they're attending in order to give Bob the Dwarf the slip.
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104	[[AC:Miscellaneous]]
105	* The UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade has a ''Voltron'' [[https://www.alamy.com/the-voltron-balloon-is-inflated-near-the-end-of-the-parade-route-during-the-99th-philadelphia-thanksgiving-day-parade-high-winds-caused-concern-and-balloons-were-unable-to-travel-the-entire-14-mile-route-photo-by-darryl-smithtnssipa-usa-image410656268.html balloon]].
106	* A Gizmodo computer review describes the Itronix [=GoBook=] III laptop as looking "like Voltron's underwear."
107	* In the collectible card game ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the Visions expansion featured robotic Chimera creatures, which added their abilities interchangeably to one another. Though the deck built around the Chimera creatures was never particularly powerful, it was and is still well known as the [[https://www.thegamer.com/magic-the-gathering-mtg-commander-voltron-deck-guide/ "Voltron Deck"]] and the game mechanic from the Chimera as the "Voltron Mechanic."
108	* ''Voltron'' was mentioned in a quote by [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague New York Giants]] Linebacker [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaVar_Arrington LaVar Arrington]] about the potential of the team's defense for the 2006 season: "Voltron still hasn't formed yet... I can only imagine what we will be once we get everybody out there."

Context ReferencedBy / Voltron