In 2016, Netflix reimagined the classic mecha anime Voltron with Voltron: Legendary Defender. Over the course of eight seasons and 76 episodes, the anime followed a diverse group of characters as they sought to save the universe from the Galra Empire - or at least, the members of it that sought to control everything around them.
In that group of characters is Lance McClain: originally the pilot of the blue lion who eventually rose in the ranks to become the pilot of the red lion and second in command. He moved from comic relief to dramatic hero in that time as well, and fans could use a little more information about him. So without further ado, here are the ten biggest questions about Voltron: Legendary Defender's Lance, finally answered.
10 Where Is Lance Originally From?
Fans with an ear for hints in their dialogue will know that Lance’s hometown got an early mention in the series, though it didn’t get mentioned often. Lance was originally from Varadero, though that’s not where most of his family ended up in the series.
By the time season seven rolled around, Lance’s family was embedded in the Garrison’s base on Earth since he had family members fighting the Galra. Varadero is in Cuba. It is, fittingly for the pilot of the blue lion early in the series, called Playa Azul, which translates to “blue beach.” The beach is actually an incredibly popular tourist spot in the real world, though it’s not entirely clear if it was in the animated series as well.
9 What Kinds Of Weapons Does His Bayard Most Often Become?
The Voltron paladins had a nifty weapon in their bayards. Bayards could transform into a variety of objects to be used in the field. Most of the paladins had a weapon (or two) of choice. While Lance eventually learned how to use an Altean broadsword from his bayard, it most often transformed into different types of guns.
That’s likely a result of Lance being a sharpshooter. He often reminded the team of his ability, and Shiro even started calling him the “team’s sharpshooter” after he heard Lance say it a few times. Good aim must have run in the family because his sister Veronica was also an incredibly good shot.
8 How Did He Earn His Fighter Pilot Promotion At The Garrison?
Lance started his time with the Garrison as a trainee like anyone else. He became a cargo pilot, responsible for deliveries. By the time he found the blue lion of Voltron, however, he was promoted to fighter pilot.
Lance earned the promotion because Keith was expelled from the Garrison, leaving a fighter pilot position open. In order for him to make the move, however, he had to have been the top ranked cargo pilot at the base. That means his sharp shooting skills were matched by his piloting skills.
7 What Is Lance’s Favorite Food?
Once fans know that Lance and his family are from Cuba, it’s easy to think that a traditional Cuban dish might be his favorite. That’s not the case.
When The Paladin Handbook released, it included a lot of details about the paladins that hadn’t necessarily made it into the animated series yet. One of those details was Lance’s favorite food. It happened to be garlic knots. You can find that most often at Italian restaurants.
6 In What Arena Does He Excel More Than His Teammates?
Each of the paladins had their own areas of expertise. We already know that Lance had skills when it comes to shooting and flying. Keith and Shiro were both actually better pilots than Lance. There’s another area where Lance excelled and his teammates struggled. That’s underwater.
There are a few times in the series where some of the paladins find themselves submerged. Lance in particular seemed to adapt to the water the easiest. While that could have something to do with his connection to the blue lion, which also had a connection to water, fans speculate it might have more to do with his life on Earth. Lance grew up in a beach city, so he would have been close to the water his whole life. It’s entirely possible that Lance spent a whole lot of time swimming as he grew up, giving him an edge in that area.
5 How Old Is Lance During The Run Of The Series?
Lance’s age was actually up for debate for a while. Voice actor Jeremy Shada said that the character started the series at 16 in an interview, but The Paladin Handbook didn’t confirm that. Instead, it said he started the series at 17.
A year passed after Shiro was taken, making him 18 when the team thought they got Shiro back. Though there were a lot of strange time dilation incidents and rips in reality throughout the show, the paladins only spent about two years in space, making him close to 20 when the series ended, even though from the perspective of those back on Earth, he should have been older.
4 What Is Lance’s Zodiac Sign?
Lance’s actual birthday wasn’t revealed during the series. Instead, podcasts and books after the fact revealed his birthday as July 28. In Western Astrology, July 28 is less than a week into the Leo cycle.
You don’t have to be interested in astrology to find it interesting that one of the paladins most connected to the Voltron lions is born under the sign of the lion. For those who do place stock in astrology, it can be noted that most Leos, like Lance, tend to be confident, generous, and incredibly passionate.
3 How Was His Character Different In The Comics?
In 2011, Devil’s Due comics released their own version of the Voltron story. The short series didn’t see Lance as a teenager in a military school. Instead, he was in his twenties and had a very different history.
For the comic book series, Lance was reimagined as a bit of a criminal. He was a drag racer and an adrenaline junkie who won flying lessons. Those lessons changed his life, but he still ended up back in jail. This version of Lance was actually recruited in the middle of serving a five year sentence to help search for Voltron on another planet.
2 Why Does His Voice Sound Familiar?
For animation fans, Lance’s voice will definitely sound familiar. His voice actor, Jeremy Shada, has been doing voice over work since he was a child. Animation fans will most likely recognize Shada’s voice from Adventure Time.
Notably, he provided the voice of Finn for eight years. In addition to that, he’s also done voice work in video games like Tell Tale’s Guardians Of The Galaxy and Code Name: STEAM.
1 Who On The Creative Team Admitted Lance Was Their Favorite?
Those who work behind the scenes on television might not want to admit their favorite characters so they don’t alienate any cast members. Some of the team behind Voltron, however, did admit how much they loved Lance.
Tim Hedrick, the lead writer, story editor, and voice director for the series admitted that Lance was his favorite character to write for - though his choice did change while working on the show since sometimes, he preferred Hunk. Likewise, Joaquim Dos Santos, executive producer and writer/director for the series, called Lance his “personal favorite” while working on the series.