What was changed
Voltron: Defender of the Universe had been a hit cartoon and toy line in the mid-1980s, but the franchise had struggled to come back since, and fans had waited years for a worthy revival.
In 2016, Netflix and DreamWorks Animation launched Voltron: Legendary Defender, executive produced by Joaquim Dos Santos and Lauren Montgomery. The first season streamed on Netflix in mid-2016, retelling the story of five teenage pilots and their robot lions.
The revival worked: at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2016, just weeks after the season debuted, Netflix and DreamWorks renewed the show for a second season, and Playmates, named master toy licensee, launched a full toy line in early 2017.
What it achieved
Voltron: Legendary Defender was renewed for a second season weeks after its 2016 debut, and Playmates' toy line launched in early 2017.
Why it worked
Netflix gave the show a global, binge-ready platform.
A proven animation team gave fans confidence in the reboot.
The robot-lion premise was still iconic to nostalgic adults.
A toy license turned viewing into a merchandise business.
What can be applied
A dead franchise can be revived by giving it a modern home and the right creative team: Netflix's global reach and a proven showrunning crew rebuilt Voltron for a new generation.
Aftermath
The second season followed in late 2016, and the Playmates toy line launched in January 2017, putting the revived franchise back on shelves within a year of the Netflix debut.
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