80s cartoon Voltron gets its own Lego set following fan proposal

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The 80s children’s cartoon “Voltron: Defender of the Universe” will soon be immortalized in the form of dinky colored bricks by Lego.

Philippine-born software architect and Voltron enthusiast Leandro Tayag had the idea to produce a Lego set based on his favorite cartoon. The Danish construction toy company allows members of the public to submit proposals through its Lego Ideas program and promises to turn their brick-based dreams into reality if they get enough votes from other Lego fans.

Lego recently announced it had approved Tayag’s proposal, along with those of other winners.

Software architect Leandro Tayag, designer of the Voltron Lego bricks /Lego Ideas

Tayag submitted the designs in April last year and had received approximately 10,000 supporters within three weeks of the submission, according to Lego. The design contains more than 2,100 pieces.

Voltron is about five young pilots commanding five robot lions which can be combined to form the giant robot Voltron, and a Voltron which can be taken apart into its constituent big-cat parts just like in the show.

Note that the design is based on the original television series, not the Netflix reboot, which redesigned the lions.

Prototypes of Voltron Lego bricks /Lego Ideas

Tayag started the project in 2014 and picked it up in March last year after putting it on hold for some time. He said it was fun but also hard work.

“The challenging part was getting the details right,” the 42-year-old told Lego. “I can’t remember how many times I redesigned the lion heads trying to make them look as close as possible to how they were in the anime or cartoon.

“The lion legs were also a pain since I had to make sure they are able to fold nicely when combined as Voltron as well as look good enough in their lion forms.”

Voltron robot lions in Lego form /Lego Ideas

The final price and availability of the set have not yet been announced. Lego said more details would be released next year.