Lion Voltron/Vehicle Voltron connections
As explained elsewhere, VV and LV were
actually two separate, non-related series when they originally ran in
Japan. WEP did some "creative" editing in both series in order to create
a unified series. Below is a listing of some of those elements that
connect LV and VV.
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The most obvious link is Galaxy Garrison (originally only in Dairugger
XV; Earth was destroyed in Golion). Both Voltrons fight for the
Galaxy Alliance, of which planet Arus is a member. Space Marshall Graham,
Commodore Steele, and other GG officials appear in both series when
either VF gets into situations requiring a decision from GG. All GG scenes
in LV were originally taken from D-XV.
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Planet Doom is a part of the larger Drule Empire. Hazar, Nerok, Mongo,
and other Drules make a few appearances near the end of LV Season 1.
They debate over whether they've given Zarkon too much autonomy. In fact,
the Empire was responsible for overthrowing Zarkon and putting Lotor on
the throne in "Lotor the King" (LV ep 51). Also in that ep, Lotor
proclaims himself "King of the Drule Empire." (Somehow I suspect
Emperor Zeppo might take issue with that. :)
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Conversely, planet Doom is mentioned a few times in VV. Hazar talks
about sending the VV force to the slave dungeons on Planet Doom in "Help
not wanted" (VV ep 7, which is on WEP's video "The Explorer
Trilogy",
A.K.A. "A new vehicle world"). And in "A temporary truce" (ep 11) we
learn that Shannon's brother is a prisoner on Doom.
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Pidge, the young pilot of Green Lion, and Chip, who pilots Air Team
vehicle #4, are twin brothers. In the final episode of Season 1 ("Final
Victory", LV ep 52), Pidge writes a letter to Chip to tell him that
they've defeated planet Doom. The VV Force has a brief cameo in the
final scene when Chip reads Pidge's letter. Also, in "Letters from
Home" (ep 35) Chip becomes worried when he doesn't hear from Pidge.
He finally gets a letter at the end of the ep. As Chip reads the
letter, Allura, Pidge, the space mice, and LV himself appear in a
flashback sequence. The letter-reading scenes in this ep were also used
in "Final Victory." Also, in "A very short vacation" (ep 9) as they
scope out planet Nanos for a rest stop, Ginger mentions that Pidge visited the
planet once.
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In "Fleet of Doom", Zarkon and Throk join forces to attack the Alliance.
FoD also shows via flashbacks that the LV and VV forces (except Princess
Allura, of course) all trained together at the Alliance academy.
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The original Lion Votron Force (Keith, Lance, Pidge, Sven, Hunk) apparently
were the VV Air Team before being assigned to Arus. Check "Space
Explorers Captured" (LV ep 1): The team is referred to more than once as
the "Air Unit." Also, Keith and Hunk are both wearing Air Team suits in
their very first appearances! (Yeah, I know; it's really Jeff and Rocky
with Keith's and Hunk's voices dubbed over. The scene was taken from VV
ep 1, "In search of new worlds.")