When DreamWorks announced they were reviving Voltron, the collective internet held its breath. Remakes are risky. But the secret sauce that turned Voltron: Legendary Defender into a multi-season powerhouse wasn't just the flashy animation—it was the chemistry. The voice actors in Voltron did something rare: they took archetypes from a cheesy 80s cartoon and turned them into people you’d actually want to grab a space-burger with.
Honestly, the cast list looks like a "who’s who" of voice-over royalty and rising stars. You’ve got Steven Yeun, fresh off The Walking Dead, playing a brooding pilot? Check. Jeremy Shada, the voice of Finn from Adventure Time, playing a flirtatious goofball? Absolutely. It was a weird, eclectic mix that somehow worked perfectly.
The Paladins: Bringing the Lions to Life
Josh Keaton led the pack as Takashi "Shiro" Shirogane. If you grew up playing World of Warcraft or watching The Spectacular Spider-Man, you’ve heard Josh before. He’s basically the gold standard for "stoic leader with a heart of gold." In interviews, Josh has mentioned that he really tried to lean into Shiro’s trauma. He wasn't just a pilot; he was a survivor. That nuance is why fans stayed so attached to Shiro, even when the plot got... complicated.
Then there’s Steven Yeun as Keith. This was a massive win for the show. Before he was an Oscar nominee, Yeun brought this specific, quiet intensity to Keith. He played the "lone wolf" without making him annoying, which is a tough needle to thread.
Wait, who else was in the cockpit?
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- Jeremy Shada (Lance): He brought a manic, lovable energy to the Blue Lion. Shada has joked that Lance is a lot more "flirty" than he is in real life, but the vulnerability he gave the character in later seasons was all him.
- Bex Taylor-Klaus (Pidge): One of the most inspired casting choices. Bex, who identifies as non-binary, brought a unique grit to Pidge. The reveal that Pidge was actually Katie Holt looking for her family was a pivotal moment for the show’s emotional stakes.
- Tyler Labine (Hunk): Known for Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Labine gave Hunk a "gentle giant" vibe that wasn't just about comic relief. He made Hunk the emotional glue of the team.
The Altean Connection: Brooks and Darby
If the Paladins were the heart, Princess Allura and Coran were the soul. Kimberly Brooks voiced Allura, and her performance was a masterclass in growth. She started as a regal, somewhat distant figure and ended as a warrior who sacrificed everything. Brooks is a veteran in the industry—you might recognize her as Ashley Williams from Mass Effect or Jasper from Steven Universe. She’s got range for days.
And then there’s Rhys Darby.
If you haven't seen Flight of the Conchords or Our Flag Means Death, you’re missing out. Darby voiced Coran, the "gorgeous man" himself. He brought a chaotic, improvisational energy to the role that the writers eventually started writing around. According to story editor Josh Hamilton, they specifically wanted Darby’s voice because they knew he’d turn a "boring advisor" role into a fan favorite. He even got his own kids to voice the younger versions of Coran in that one episode where he goes through a de-aging wormhole.
The Villains: Why We Loved to Hate Them
A hero is only as good as their villain, and Voltron had some heavy hitters. Neil Kaplan voiced Emperor Zarkon with a deep, rumbling menace that felt genuinely terrifying. But the real standout for many was A.J. LoCascio as Prince Lotor.
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Lotor was smooth, manipulative, and incredibly charming—a far cry from his father’s brute force. LoCascio played that "is he a good guy or a bad guy?" line perfectly for seasons. And we can't forget Cree Summer as Witch Haggar. Cree is a legend—she’s been in everything from Rugrats to Danny Phantom. She gave Haggar a raspy, haunting quality that grounded the magical side of the series.
Comparison: 1984 vs. 2016
It's kinda wild to look back at the original Voltron: Defender of the Universe from the 80s. Peter Cullen (the voice of Optimus Prime!) actually voiced the original Coran and King Alfor. Back then, the voice acting was a bit more... theatrical. Loud.
In the 2016 reboot, the voice actors in Voltron were encouraged to record together in the same room whenever possible. This is a "luxury" in the voice acting world. Most of the time, actors are isolated in booths in different cities. By putting the Paladins in one room, director Andrea Romano allowed them to riff off each other. That’s why the banter between Lance and Keith feels so natural—they were actually looking at each other while they said those lines.
Why This Specific Cast Mattered
Representation wasn't just a buzzword for this show; it was baked into the casting. Kimberly Brooks mentioned in an interview with Pop Culture Uncovered that seeing Allura as a woman of color was a huge moment for her. It shifted the perspective of what a "space princess" could look like.
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Similarly, Bex Taylor-Klaus’s portrayal of Pidge resonated deeply with the LGBTQ+ community. The show didn't just cast big names for the sake of marketing; they cast people who could handle the heavy emotional lifting of a show that dealt with war, loss, and identity.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring VAs
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of these actors, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Check out the "Voltron Vlogs" on YouTube. These are short, in-character videos where the actors get to expand on their roles. Steven Yeun’s Keith vlog is particularly great for understanding his "walls up" mentality.
- Listen to the "Let's Voltron" podcast. They have extensive interviews with voice director Andrea Romano. If you want to know how the "sausage is made" in voice acting, those episodes are gold.
- Follow the cast on social media. Many of them, like Josh Keaton and Bex Taylor-Klaus, are very active in the fan community and often share behind-the-scenes stories even years after the show ended.
- Watch their other work. To see the range of these voice actors in Voltron, compare Tyler Labine in New Amsterdam to his work as Hunk. It’s a total 180.
The legacy of the Voltron cast isn't just that they finished eight seasons. It's that they created a family dynamic that felt real enough to inspire a massive, dedicated fanbase. Whether it was Shiro's leadership or Coran's "slippery nippers," the voices behind the masks were the real reason we kept coming back to the Castle of Lions.
To truly appreciate the craft, go back and watch the Season 2 premiere, "Across the Universe." Pay attention to the way the voices change as the characters are separated. The subtle shifts in tone tell you more about their fear and resolve than the dialogue ever could. That is the mark of a truly elite voice cast.