Voltron, Vol. 5: Defender of the Universe-Black Lion

The final set of Lion Voltron episodes consists entirely of the additional programs produced in a partnership between World Events Productions and Toei Animation after the original GoLion-based shows ran out. Therefore, although the stories are mostly excellent, the picture quality falls far short of the high standard set by the previous DVD volumes. The visuals are often a bit fuzzy and dark, except for the inserted scenes from earlier shows, which are always sharp and bright. The backgrounds are grainy and the characters are not shaded or highlighted. Some colors are nearly black (see the supposedly "Blue" Cat), while others are too pale (like Princess Allura's formerly hot pink spacesuit). Nevertheless, the series remains highly entertaining, and even features a brand new villain by the name of Merla.The 3-DVD Black Lion Collection consists of thirteen episodes, including exciting adventures like these:"Take a Robot to Lunch": A brilliant scientist named Marianne dons her canary-colored cloak and leaves her secret underground laboratory on Caspia to visit the monument on Planet Arus that was once her happy home, until Zarkon attacked. Soon after the orphaned inventor steps out of her pink and silver shuttle, she meets up with her old friend, Coran, and is introduced to the members of the Voltron Force. The brainy beauty informs the group that yet another of her fantastic creations, a highly advanced super-robot, has been stolen by the sinister forces of Doom and is now being used for evil purposes. When the Lion pilots offer to get the robot back, Marianne quickly lets them know, in no uncertain terms, that she does not approve of their violent and destructive methods of dealing with problems."Who's Flying Blue Lion": Prince Lotor makes a pact with the sadistic Largo--the one-eyed Barbarian King of the Rogue Galaxy--allowing the blue-skinned fiend to utilize infinite hordes of green and yellow striped Spider Ships and Shark Fighters to bring the Planetary Alliance to its knees, begging for mercy. Amid his vast army of dark droids, and with the ubiquitous Witch Haggar by his side, Lotor invades Galaxy Garrison, where the Voltron Force is hosting a conference of desperate galaxian leaders. He quickly takes some hostages, including Coran, and orders Allura to marry him...or else! Will the fair Princess be forced to join the loathsome pointy-eared Prince in unholy matrimony?"Enter Merla, Queen of Darkness": When Zarkon convinces the chivalrous Stride--legendary pilot of the saber-toothed Tiger Fighter--that the guardians of Planet Arus are a threat to the galaxy, the undefeated space knight boards his winged cat-ship and zooms off to challenge Commander Keith and the Black Lion in a duel of claws and swords. Shortly thereafter, the malevolent blue-lipped telepath, Merla, and her armada of combat-craving minions land at Castle Doom, where the cold-blooded vamp easily manipulates the foul mind of the King in order to obtain Haggar's best and baddest serpent-faced Robeast. With the green behemoth in her possession, the dastardly Queen heads for Arus with her starfleet, intending to conquer both Stride and the valiant Voltron Force."A Ghost of a Chance": As her pet vulture watches the proceedings from his perch on her left shoulder, the cruel Queen Merla demonstrates her diabolical Cosmotron device on the doubting Cossack, quickly reducing the insolent horn-headed skeptic to a writhing lump of agony. Later, on Planet Arus, a mysterious woman in purple tells the residents of the Valley of Zohar that the "Palm of Venus" dictates that good King Alfor will soon rise from the dead to reclaim his glorious golden shield. When the lovely Allura learns of the rumored return of her beloved late father, she journeys to the eerie Rainbow Cave to see his statue, only to be trapped within the rocky cavern by a massive boulder!"To Sooth the Savage Robeast": Inside her humble home amidst the resplendent flowers and rolling hills of Arus, a heartbroken young beekeeper with tear-streaked cheeks strums her harp and remembers her long lost love, Rowe, who was taken by ultra-droids during one of Zarkon's savage raids. These days, Rowe is breaking rocks beneath the granite towers of Doom, where he feels the sting of the robot guards' whips on a regular basis. Ironically, the weary captive's emancipation finally comes at the clawed hands of the devious Queen Merla. However, Rowe's long-awaited release from enslavement depends upon one condition: Merla will return the prisoner to the arms of his sobbing sweetheart only if he agrees not to interfere while the pale, pink-haired Queen hoodwinks the unsuspecting harpist into delivering a pitcher of poison to Keith at the Castle of Lions."With Friends Like You": The sharp-toothed Count Zane lands on Arus in a stolen Skull Tank after escaping the oppressive forces of Doom, who have recently conquered his brilliant blue home world, Philos. Once every fifty-two years, Philos' peculiar elliptical orbit brings it dangerously close to Planet Arus, and that fateful hour is fast approaching. Zane informs the suspicious Voltron Force that the lovesick Prince Lotor is now on the royal Peak of Dargon building a temple dedicated to the object of his affection, Princess Allura. The amorous tyrant has also constructed a series of anti-lazon missile launchers, which he intends to use to evaporate the stately Castle of Lions as soon as the Philos Comet nears the peaceful Arusian sphere!Volume Five's extras include a video comic book, a montage of unused Season 3 scenes, and a voiceless "lost episode." There's also a "History of WEP" featurette with Ted Koplar. The remaining features serve to promote the upcoming DVD releases of Vehicle Voltron shows and unedited Japanese GoLion shows. You'll want to complete your Lion tin collection first though, `cause as you know, you need all five Lions to form Voltron!

Don't Buy from the seller Goo Green if you want the Tin (actually I don't think any of the sellers sell this with the tin- your only shot is to look into the used area and if the seller specifies that the tin is included.) even though it shown in the photo. Also liner notes were gone. I failed to read the fine print. The episodes themselves are the ones that were made for American TV exclusively - not part of the Beast King Go-Lion series, but still good nonetheless. Looks like I have to find one with the Tin now. Thanks a lot for the false advertising photo.I gave this one another shot and bought from an independent seller - but first I messaged them and asked them if the tin was included - they responded that it was, so I pulled the trigger. I would suggest that if you want the tin to do the same - ask first. Many of us have learned the hard way that you cant assume that the tin will be included.

This is what I wanted & arrived in good time

you just can't ask for more. This show represents what cartoons are about. good against evil. drama and full of action.cartoons today just dont get it. I know the japanese version is alot more violent so american audiences wouldn't let the kids watch but they cut it up just right. I wish they would let the series out a lot faster but i understand it takes a lot of time to restore the show and the sound. OK but get the vehicle voltron out as soon as possible. I remember as a kid i didn't get to see enough of that series.Anyway good job on the DVDs true fans will not be let down.

I was sitting there minding my own business when I began to feel what I thought was a tremor. I couldn't figure out what the deal was, until I went to change to the next disc, after Lotor and "Sven" fall into the newly installed swimming pool, and bam I discover it is the disc. I proceed to put the next disc in and it feels like the King Zarkon robeast is burrowing under my home. I've seen Golion and realize they are all..... well you know, no spoilers. So on top of having dvds making my PS3 vibrate like a back massager, I see what I think to be an error on my part, but wait the VCR is in the other room. The episodes are like a nightmare I have obviously repressed, I don't remember this crap at all. Media Blasters should have saved these for the lost episodes, and kept them lost. A few sheets of toilet paper would have at least warned me or at the least a case made 2/3rds cardboard. The first disc is the only one anyone should watch, then skip straight to the air team box 6 Vehicle Voltron. Be warned!!!

I am very glad that they are bringing the voltron dvds out faster and quicker but the only thing is the pricesome places sell the dvds for $20 now,but hey if you loved voltron as a kid you must own the whole collectionI dont like Power Rangers because in my mind they stole the ideas from voltron,well thats my opinion on thatwell i wish they would show a picture of it also that would hype of the exciment of having this dvd

this was the last volume/collection of this show i cared about. the vehicle voltron series just didn't do it for me. being that i haven't viewed this yet.... i dunno if i even saw any of these when the show was originally on tv. in my area (northeast ohio) they seemed to show the vehicle voltron a whole lot more a year after it was on tv here.

Great show but disc 1 came scratched and damaged.

i got this for my grand children and they loved it. I am now looking for the other Voltron cartoons

classic dvd, reminds me of my childhood days!

The media could not be loaded.  Been looking for this for over a year, picture showed Collection tin, got it in the mail and there was no tin...