Anime Refrences
Anime Refrences
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VLD is chalked full of anime refrences/homages this page is a work in progress
I feel the need to make a clear distinction that this page isn't focused on refrences to Beast King Golion or Dairugger XV present in Legendary Defender. Alot of refrences to Beast King Golion are the readoption of character names or terms for example Sendak(Golion) > Yurak(Dotu) > Sendak(VLD).
The refrences covered on this page are more visual/easter eggs to other franchises unrelated to Voltron.
If you Know any anime refrences in VLD that I haven't recognised and can provide "evidence" than please tell me
If their was an anime to claim the title of most refrenced in VLD it would be SDF Macross.
S1 Ep1 features three background characters resembling Hikaru ichijo, Max and Millia Farina Jenius who are seen entering the simulator after the Garrison Trio.
Their is an old Amino thread discussing Hikaru and his haircut on the VLD Amino.
"Why does Lance always be mean to Keith about his hair HE AINT THE ONLY MULLET IN TOWN."
Roy Fokker appears as a background character in the same scene as well as in the window of the teacher's lounge when Hunk and Lance sneak out after curfew.
Roy's more well known appearance in fandom would be in a sequence of leaked images from an early version of Season 8's ending. In the final version of the leaked scene Roy would be removed. Roy's inclusion in these leaks was a main peice of evidence used by fans who were convined the leaked images were fake, After all he isn't a Voltron character so why would he be so prominent.
Can't believe he cheated on Claudia T_T
Also while unconfirmed Shiro's role as Keith's mentor and surrogate big brother may have been inspired by Hikaru and Roy's relationship as Roy is not only Hikaru's cool adopted older brother but his position as a skilled ace pilot and member of the military is one of the reasons Hikaru decideds to become a soilder to follow in his mentors footsteps.
"Shiro was our original leader. He is my best friend and like a brother to me" -Keith Voltron Coalition Handbook pg 16
The design of the IGF-Atlas being a battle crusier that transformers into a giant humanoid Robot is also a pretty obvious homage to SDF Macross's titular mecha with them both being a similar scale and having a Captain and Bridge Crew who act as support for our main protagonists and their smaller mechs while in it's ship form only transforming as a last resort.
Just like the Macross the Atlas is also a home for our characters during a time of war.
Lance and Alllura's date in S8 Ep1 has a scene similar to the "date" with Hikaru and Lin Minmay in Ep 6 .Both dates have similar shots and they both even have a small robot taking a similarly composed photo of the two of them.
S8 Ep 8 features a large toy of the Valkyrie behind the prize counter with a Voltron esk colour scheme.
Speaking of the Valkyrie the MFE Ares fighter's design resembles the former in fighter mode, both are also named after mythological figures and share similar origins in both shows being created from combining Human and advanced Alien technology. According to an unverifable claim online the MFE's would have been able to transform into a humanoid robot just like the Valkyrie but due to budget constraits this idea was scrapped.
In S1 Ep4 Lance does the Kamen Rider kick
In S4 Ep4 the paladins strike multiple poses referencing Super Sentai heres a more detailed post about this entry.
S1 Ep 9 In Crystal Venom Lance says this
CORAN: "As the memories are extracted, they're written bit by bit on individual molecules of the micro-storage strands."
LANCE: "When I go, I want all the stuff in my brain stored in a giant ship."
While a potential stretch Lance specifying he wants his brain stored in a giant ship could be a reference to the end of Toshiro's character arc in the Captain Harlock series. Upon Toshiro's death he uploads his mind into the Arcadia's Super computer so that he can continue to go on adventures with his friend Harlock despite being gone.
Also While the existence of Space Pirates in fiction pre-dates Captain Harlock there prominence in VLD could have potentially been influenced by Captain Harlock, Ezor's flared out Shirt Collar and Eyepatch in S8 are reminiscent of Harlock, however Space Pirates have been seen in Voltron media since V3D.
I'll admit this entry is a bit of a stretch.
Speaking of Space Pirates!!! In S2 Ep 7 Coran disquises the Paladins as fearsome Space Pirates, with Keith wearing some Super Sayan looking shoulder pads and Pidge sporting some Kamina Sunglasses.
In S2 Ep 3 Prorok is turned into a Robeast that has similar proportions to Lagann.
Throughout VLD we gets scenes of the Paladins using their bayards while formed as Voltron reminiscent of similar dramatic scenes from Gurren Lagann utilising the same techniques.
Allura's design might be inspired by Nia Teppelin having similar eyes, earrings and hair shape.
The Weblem's design S2 Ep9 is a refrence to the Ohmu from film Nausicaa Valley of the Wind. Both are large creatures with multiple eyes and there body produces sought after materials, The Weblem produces scultrite and the Ohmu's exoskeleton are both extremley valuable. Both creatures also play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem of both settings. Finally Certain shots of the Weblum utilise similar animation techniques to the Ohmu.
"The idea of making the pieces of the Ohmu move seperately with something like paper cutout animation was our solution for depicting it's scale and weight."
Matt's reaction to meeting Allura in S4 Ep 3 is a refrence to the sudden art style shifts in the anime Golden Boy.
Matt's dialogue in this scene while debatably out of character for him is very in character for Golden Boy's protagonist Kintaro who normally makes dramatic gestures upon meeting an attractive woman.
Pidge is seen doing a pose normally associated with Gendo Ikari from Evangelion in S1 Ep 10.
Pidge also sometimes does the "Anime Glasses" thing were the lens are pure white however this seems to be more of a trope than a reference to a singular anime like with this example.
The Komar Robeast uses two swords with purple laser blades similar to the Beam Saber from Gundam and just like the RX-78 Gundam are stored on the mechs back.
The Komar's cockpit is inserted into the mech's head with the pilot is placed into a tube similar to an Evangelion's entry plug. The aeshtetics of the pilots suit and the view inside of the mecha are very Evangelion esk.
Finally While not seen in the show itself these two pieces of artwork done by VLD Episode Director and Storyboard Artist Steven Ahn. I've seen these two pieces shared around the fandom with some people unaware they are referencing pre existing media so it felt important to include.
This artwork shows the paladins dressed up as characters from the 1991 GAINAX Anime Nadia Secret of Blue Water. Since a certain Black Paladin is absent.
Who would Shiro be? I'm tempted to say Captain Nemo.
Lupin III and the Castle of Caliostro is one of my favrioute films of all time so I'm a really big fan of this drawing. The choice to have Lance as Lupin and Keith as Jigen makes sense. Though since Jigen is a sharpshooter maybe he should be Lance instead. Allura as Goemon, I love it so much.
Lance, Keith and Allura dressed as the Lupin Gang. What will they steal!
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