Tag: Golion

Golion DX Godaikin – 1984

December 3, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy, Voltron 1 Comment

I bought the Popy Golion DX  GB-36 in Hong Kong in 1985 for 24 dollars. On that trip, we went to Japan and Hong Kong.  I went back to Hong Kong in 2011 and I saw nowhere near the amount of toys I recall as a child. I mean, I remember I would go to the malls and there’d be toyshops everywhere and that these toys were relatively in my price range.  Fast forward to 2011 and I only saw about 2 toystores and I went to a bunch of malls.  I guess the robot toys of my youth are an adult hobby these days…

Here’s Golion aka Voltron and the cartoon image.  He’s got a massive sword which I understand was not included in the Matchbox version, but was in the Bandai Godaikin release.

Golion DX Godaikin Bandai 1981 GB-36 aka Voltron III 1984 from anime Beast King GoLion(百獣王ゴライオン) 1981-1982 aka Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo,Voltron: Defender of the Universe

Golion DX Godaikin Bandai 1981 GB-36 aka Voltron III 1984 from anime Beast King GoLion(百獣王ゴライオン) 1981-1982

Still from Beast King GoLion 1981-1982 or Voltron: Defender of the Universe 1984-1985 aka Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo

Still from Beast King GoLion 1981-1982 or Voltron: Defender of the Universe 1984-1985



Voltron III Matchbox Defender of the Universe Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 aka Golion GB-35 ST Popy 1981

October 6, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy, Voltron No Comments

Popy gave these to us first as Golion GB-35 in 1981. This is the iconic robot from the 80’s. I don’t have anything bad to say about this robot. Golion has a great design and is a great ST version with the sword and shield.

I have the Voltron version. I wish the Voltron versions had a sword. The DX and ST Voltron from Matchbox and do not have the sword or any of the Golion accessories and I have both. Guess I know what I will do if I ever get a 3D printer. I did not realize this one had never been opened. The tape and tie to hold it to the styrofoam are still there. Guess it’s opened once now, but as mint as it will ever be. Seems like the legs and the chest are die cast metal(only the head and arms are plastic) so it’s a pretty heavy robot likely making this one from its Chogokin line or roughly translated Super Alloy. If you notice, I mention that a lot. I am a fan of the old toys they made with metal. They seem more sturdy and substantial, like American cars from the 70’s. My little cousin clocked me in the head with an old metal Tonka truck I had and that one time, I wish it was plastic.

Voltron III Defender of the Universe Miniature Lion Space Robot Matchbox aka Golion styrofoam GB-35 ST Popy 1981 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron III, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo,百獣王ゴライオン

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

The American version of the cartoon for this robot was pretty lame, but I can only say I liked a few robot anime. Getta Robo, Dangard Ace, Gaiking, especially Macross and Gundam. Not the American versions. Hate Matchbox for depriving us of swords for Voltron, bastards.

Anyway checked out a couple of the original Japanese Golion episodes and it was a much better. Seems like they made a lot of changes to the plot and removed the violence.

Voltron III Matchbox Defender of the Universe Miniature Lion Space Robot Lion Instructions Super Alloy or Chogokin from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron III, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo,百獣王ゴライオン Super Alloy

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 Lion Instructions Super Alloy or Chogokin

Voltron III Matchbox Defender of the Universe Miniature Lion Space Robot aka Golion back box cover GB-35 ST Popy 1981 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron III, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo,百獣王ゴライオン

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

Voltron III Matchbox Defender of the Universe Miniature Lion Space Robot aka Golion top box cover GB-35 ST Popy 1981 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron III, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo,百獣王ゴライオン

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

 

Voltron III Matchbox Defender of the Universe Miniature Lion Space Robot aka Golion front box cover GB-35 ST Popy 1981 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron III, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo,百獣王ゴライオン

Voltron III Matchbox Miniature Lion Space Robot 1984 from cartoon Voltron Defender of the Universe 1984-1985

I heard the anime for GoLion was edited for violence, so I am definitely watching the Japanese version. Enjoy!


Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set aka Golion Godaikin DX GB-36

September 24, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy, Voltron No Comments

Voltron is one of the robots that started it all for me. Where we fell in love with our big metal robots. The Golion DX as a Godaikin is the one my cousin Dave had. It came with a huge amount of accessories, like most DX Popy robots. Damn Matchbox for not providing Voltron with his sword. Voltron was all about his sword in the cartoon. Man, that is one terrible cartoon, ain’t it? And the dubs are terrible too. I wish I could unwatch those. Maybe if I watch them in Japanese they will be better. Hmmmm…

 

Matchbox Voltron III Defender of the Universe The Deluxe Lion Set side cover other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo, 百獣王ゴライオン

Matchbox Voltron III Defender of the Universe The Deluxe Lion Set

Anyway I have a lotta love for this robot. This robot has 5 lions that tranform into one of the best robots out there. Even the lions forms are excellent. I will have to pop him into robot form later for this post. This robot has been very popular over the years, so there have been a lot of releases. Lets see, Popy, Bandai America, Matchbox, Trendmasters, and now Toynami. I figure they will release it again within the next few years, so maybe I can try picking up a new one with all the accessories or even the Lionbot set made from the original molds(but vastly inferior paint applications!).

 

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set back box cover from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo, 百獣王ゴライオン

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985

 

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set styrofoam insert from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo, 百獣王ゴライオン

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985.

See that styrofoam? Not a single accessory! The Popy and Godaikin versions had the full arsenal of missile launchers, daggers and a huge sword! I picked up Voltron III as an adult and I was really disappointed in the castrated Matchbox Voltron.

 

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set front box cover from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985 other names Beast King GoLion, Hundred-Beast King Go Lion, Hyakujū Ō Golion, King of Beasts Golion, Lion Force Voltron, Voltron of the Far Universe, Voltron, difensore dell'universo, Voltron, el defensor del universo, 百獣王ゴライオン

Matchbox Voltron III The Deluxe Lion Set from the anime Voltron: Defender of the Universe tv show from 1984-1985

 

I gotta admit there is a bit more violence in the Beast King GoLion, than in Voltron. The story works a little better and I am actually enjoying the first episode. Checkout the anime tv show from 1981-1982.