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Voltron: Beast King Go Lion Volume 1 | 
| Director: Go-lion
Actor: Go-lion
Studio: ANIME WORKS
Category: DVD
List Price: $34.95
Buy New: $21.99
You Save: $12.96 (37%)
New (35) Used (12) from $15.99
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 13805
Format: Animated, Box Set, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Subtitled
Languages: English (Subtitled), Japanese (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 396 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.6 x 0.7
MPN: AWDVD0818
UPC: 631595081879
EAN: 0631595081879
ASIN: B00151QYJE
Release Date: May 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
From days of long ago... from uncharted regions of the universe... comes a legend... The legend of Golion the original Japanese show that started it all in the world of Voltron. The five pilots may look the same but their names and the events that occur are galaxies apart from the series you think you know. Were people evacuated safely? Do robots die? And what really happened to a certain main character?Revisit the Voltron series as you've never experienced it before and see what really happened in this newly restored and uncut version. System Requirements:Running Time: 396 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ANIME UPC: 631595081879 Manufacturer No: AWDVD0818
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| Customer Reviews:
Not your daddy's Voltron June 17, 2008
M.K. (Norfolk, VA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
From days of long ago. From uncharted regions of the universe....you know the rest. Or do you?....
In this day and age, it's nice to go down memory lane. DVDs has paved the way to relive moments through lots of restoration and remastering. We're also in an age where certain shows and movies are being released unrated, uncut and uncensored. Beast King Golion is one of those examples.
Golion, originally released in the early 1980's, wasn't one of Japan's most popular shows, but it proved to be a smash hit in the United States and internationally when it was redubbed and edited to create the universe of Voltron-Defender of the Universe. Created by the legendary and world-famous Toei Animation Co., the entire mythos of Golion's rise and fall of power is explained a whole lot better in Golion than Voltron.
Some questions are definitely answered with this release:
(1) Do people evacuate safely? Sometimes yes, but mostly no.
(2) Did a certain character heal from his or her wounds? No.
As with some or most anime, graphic violence, senseless murders (to include decapitations), suicides, cannibalism, human treatment (whipping of slaves), religious references and moderate to strong profanity are commonplace. It has its funny moments, especially when the main cast started to argue, laugh and scream in Japanese. The opening and ending theme cues are somewhat catchy. Unlike some animation here in the U.S., a Japanese voice-over narration helps to round it out. When it comes to the forthcoming episode, the narrator sometimes gives the plot away and kills the anticipation and excitement.
Like the previous reviewer said, the only special feature are preview trailers of other forthcoming anime DVDs. If you're looking for special features, they're better with the Voltron box sets.
Hats off to World Events Productions, Toei Animation Co., Anime Works and Media Blasters for finally releasing one of Japan's most underrated anime gems out of the halls of mystery and into the DVD spotlight. If you're a Voltron fan, and if you remember some or all of the episodes, it'll make you look at Voltron in a different light after watching this. Nothing against World Events, and kudos for editing and fitting it for the American and international markets, but the real story is more interesting and detailed in Golion.
In conclusion, if you're a true Voltron fan, don't put off Voltron because of its true origins within Golion. Many people criticize this because like many anime that were localized and played here in the U.S., companies had to follow stricter standards and guidelines from government corporations like the FCC for viewing on American television, especially to a kids audience, which is why the story was the way it was here in America. Having said that, Voltron's (and even Beast King Golion's) fate is forever sealed as one of the many pop culture cornerstones of the 20th century.
 Golion...NOT Voltron! June 21, 2008
Dexter (FL, U.S.A.)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Great box set, most anticipated! Like most people on this side of the world I only knew and grew up with Voltron and not Golion. As a young kid it didn't make a difference, it was all new to me. Same with Robotech. Now is a different story...
Anyway, whoever buys this set thinking this is just Voltron in Japanese should be slapped on the face. If you don't know anything about old Japanese animation and just want to relive childhood memories, do yourself a favor and buy the Voltron box sets. Please don't spoil the rating of a good product because of your ignorant expectations.
This is for the fan of Japanese animation, specifically old/classic anime which is the best as far as I'm concerned.
Golion just like many other anime series of its kind contains violence, LOTS of it, the main storyline usually carries on from episode 1 to the end. The overall approach is more realistic/dramatic inside its own fantastic universe of course. The characters are vulnerable, they have emotions, they can die and they know it so they act accordingly. That's partly what makes these shows so good and enjoyable. The other part is the action and designs along with old school hand drawn animation.
The picture and audio quality are very nice and crisp, they did a fine job. This IS an old show after all so don't go confusing good quality of old animation filmed with OLD equipment with THX top of the line digital technology of today! It's very clean and is as good as it's going to get unless George Lucas picks it up! (Included is the original Japanese audio with optional English subtitles. That's all you get and that's all you need.
Oh yeah... no extras...sorry, it would have been nice to see some toy commercials or promo spots, but who knows what copyright/money mayhem lurks behind all these foreign series...
The only negative thing that I could point out is the cover artwork. I would have honestly preferred an actual original Golion illustration or promotional Japanese artwork of the time as opposed to this modern American comic book look.
A really HUGE THANK YOU to AnimeWorks and WEP for doing this. It was worth the long wait! I wish more series like this would be released for the American audience but unfortunately it wouldn't have that big of a market. I'm talking about Mazinger Z,the original Getter Robo, Jeeg, Daimos, Combattler, Gaiking and so many other amazing series from the 70s and 80s! oh well...
Please don't stop with Golion, DO release Dairugger XV!!!! (<"vehicle Voltron").
1+1+1+1+1 GOLION!! :) June 24, 2008
80's Kid (Florida)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The cartoon I grew up on improved with all of the cutting room floor goodies added back in.
The names are all different, it's more graphic, and now you have to read subtitles, but it's so much fun..the camp value here is off the charts.
Throw in some Japanese cheese, mixed with some 70's disco funk and some 80's synth and you've got yourself a classic anime, with a FUN soundtrack/score.
Basically an unedited flashback from a Japanese perspective.
SUGOI!! :)
 Canibalism in a kids show? June 14, 2008
V. Crisafulli (Lansdale, PA)
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
Golion (1981) is the Japanese TV show that Voltron was made from. As you'll hear from the opening music, Golion is definitely a kids show. However, Japanese kids get way more leeway in what they can watch!
The first episode is vastly different than what appears in Voltron. The Earth is destroyed by nuclear war. They show men, wemon and children being burned alive. The Galra empire forces healthy slaves to eat the dead slaves. There were also many decapitations that didn't make it into Voltron. If I had kids, they would not be allowed to see this show.
After the first episode, the show doesn't differ much from the Voltron we know (aside from the constant peppering of decapitation and canibalism). After the princess pilots the blue lion in episode seven, the show becomes a series of short, disjointed episodes featuring simple characters.
There also aren't many DVD features. There's only Japanese audio, and you can turn the subtitles on and off. There are previews of other shows on the third disk, including a long preview of Vehicle Voltron. There is no commentary, behind the scenes, or liner notes.
Still, I liked watching it. The opening and ending songs are so campy they made me laugh. The episodes seem more silly than anything else. Also, you get 18 episodes with the set, so it will keep you occupied for some time. Campy fun, but not much else.
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