Golion

Golion's anime design

Golion (ゴライオン, Goraion) is the titular robot of the series Beast King Golion.

It was localized into Voltron: Defender of the Universe as Lion Voltron in the first and third portion in the show, and Voltron III in the American toyline. It later went on to become the sole focus of the Voltron franchise.

History

Beast King GoLion

Golion was once a singular entity that sought only to do battle. It would eventually challenge a mighty space goddess who split Golion into five parts as punishment for its hubris. Golion, now as 5 robotic lions, would land upon Planet Altea and became the guardian deity of its people, learning humility.

Five astronauts from Earth brought back Golion to do battle with Galra.

Super Robot Wars W

Golion makes its debut in the Super Robot Wars franchise in the Japan-exclusive DS game Super Robot Wars W where it and its pilots first appear in chapter 7.

Components of Golion

• Black Lion (黒獅子, Kurojishi) - Forms the body and head of Golion. Powered by lightning. Piloted by Kogane Akira.
• Red Lion (赤獅子, Akajishi) - Forms the right arm of Golion. Powered by fire. Piloted by Kurogane Isamu.
• Green Lion (緑獅子, Midorijishi) - Forms the left arm of Golion. Powered by wind. Piloted by Suzuishi Hiroshi.
• Blue Lion (青獅子, Aojishi) - Forms the right leg of Golion. Powered by water. Piloted by Shirogane Takashi, and later Fala after Shirogane's death.
• Yellow Lion (黄獅子, Kijishi) - Forms the left leg of Golion. Powered by sand. Piloted by Seidou Tsuyoshi.

Weapons and Attacks

• King's Sword Jyuouken (十王剣, Jūōken) - Golion forms a sword with its hands, using it to slice and dice beastmen
• Space Cutter (スペースカッター, Supēsu kattā)
• Double Sword (ダブルソード, Daburu sōdo) - Two thin swords that attach together to be thrown as a javelin
• Four Lion Attack/100 Ton Punch (フォーライオンアタック１００タンパンチ, Fōraion atakku 100 tan panchi)
• Needle Pod (ニードルポッド, Nīdorupoddo) - Needles that shoot out of Golion's horns
• Lazer Magnum (レーザーマグナム, Rēzā magunamu) - Lasers fired from the Green Lion's mouth
• Fire Tornado (ファイアトルネード, Faia torunēdo) - Fire shot out from the Red Lion's mouth
• Grand Fire (グランドファイア, Gurando faia) - Fire from the Blue and Yellow Lion's mouths
• Eye Flash (アイフラッシュ, Ai furasshu)
• Cross Beam (クロスビーム, Kurosu bīmu)
• Foot Missile (フットミサイル, Futto misairu)

Concept and Design

Original concept art for Golion where Black, Blue, and Yellow Lion had manes

Golion was designed by toy designer Katsushi Murakami in 1981. Golion was modeled with inspiration from Daltanious where one of the robots, Beralius, was a robotic lion that made up the torso of the combined robot. Early concept art shows that Black Lion, Blue Lion, and Yellow Lion initially had manes much like Beralius, but were later taken out to make the lions look younger.

Additional changes were made to give Golion more of a medieval European aesthetic look by including pseudo-Catholic imagery such as the cross on both the chest piece and sword.

Sketch by Murakami for Golion's head

Diagram to show the transformation

Accessory design for the key that was used in show

Notes and Trivia

• Golion was piloted once by Fala also resulting in having its attacks shouted in her voice
• As the lion portion of Voltron became to be the most popular, additional Voltron designs such as Stealth Voltron and Legendary Defender Voltron are based off of Golion's design
• Go means "five" in Japanese, hence the name Golion meaning "five lions"
• Golion's sword, Jyouken, is actually a pun. In Japanese, it's written as Ten Kings (十王) instead of Beast King (獣王) in the anime's title
• In a special 4koma for Super Robot Wars W, a comic joked about GaoGaiGar fusing with the other limb lions to form "Gaoraion" as both GaoGaiGar and Golion have lion robots for their torsos. This may also be seen as an in-joke reference to Gaoranger, which had a "Gao Lion" that also forms its main robot's torso.