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The 1980s Voltron series was based on two vaguely-related Japanese anime series (both originally produced by Toei Animation), dubbed and strung together by American TV production and distribution company World Events. The series was not a straight dub, however, as much of the violence of the original Japanese series was removed (among other things).

1 Lion Voltron

The first episodes, usually the best remembered, were based on Hyakuju o Go Lion, and featured a team of five young pilots commanding 5 robot lions, which could be combined to form Voltron. In this era, the Voltron force was in charge of protecting the planet Arus (ruled by Princess Allura) from the evil King Zarkon, his son Lotor, and the witch Hagar, who would create huge Robeasts to terrorise the people of Arus. (This storyline is similar to those of the Toei Super Sentai shows, which formed the basis for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.)

2 Vehicle Voltron

Later episodes were based on Kiko Kantai Dairugger XV, and changed the storyline considerably. In this iteration of Voltron, the Galaxy Alliance's home planets have been overcrowded, and a fleet of Explorers have been sent to look for new planets to colonise. Along the way, they attract the attention of the evil Drule, who proceed to interfere with the explorers and the colonists. Since the Voltron of Planet Arus was too far away to help the explorers, a new Voltron is constructed using three teams (Land, Sea and Air) composed of 5 vehicles each, to battle the Drule threat.

There were plans for yet another Voltron, which would have been based on the series Albegas. This one would have been three smaller humanoid robots that combined to form one larger robot. Due to the strong popularity of the Lion Voltron and the unenthusiastic response to the Vehicle Voltron, World Events ultimately decided against another alternate Voltron. It did see a limited toy release as Voltron II (Voltron I being the Vehichle Voltron and Voltron III being the Lion version).