Jeremy Corray of World Events Productions: An Exclusive Interview

Hi Jeremy, Let's take a moment to learn a bit about yourself and the path that lead you to becoming a full-time Voltron aficionado.

My name is Jeremy Corray and I am the Creative Director at World Events Productions. I started as a video producer / Creative Director for another section of WEP's parent company, VEIL Interactive under Koplar Communications and quickly became the "resident geek" when it came to all things Voltron. The Managing Director of WEP Tiffany Ilardi realized I was a huge Voltron fan and began to come to me with questions like "is this cool?", "what will fans think?" and soon let me head up the redesign of Voltron.com as well as it's web store where I designed DVDs for the other WEP shows that I thought should be available to fans like Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, Denver the Last Dinosaur and Vytor The Starfire Champion. I was so involved in the process between the website and development of a new animated series and comic book that eventually I had to put something on the business card so the title was approved by Capt. Voltron himself Ted Koplar and off I went.

With the release of the first Vehicle Voltron DVD set (Volume 6) on the horizon, will the endless debate as to which version of Voltron is superior finally be settled? Do you have a preference and if so, why?

Well, the corporate side of me will tell you that both Voltron's have their merit and that fans that were initially turned off by the number of characters and darker edge of Vehicle Voltron should take a chance on the DVD and discover a sci-fi epic in there with familiar voices and themes. But of course, the fan in me that was on the other side of the TV in 1984 which fell in love like everyone else with the Lions and the Space Explorers. We could also get into Voltron: the Third Dimension if you'd like...

Speaking of all the different Voltrons, what can fans of Vehicle Voltron expect both in this upcoming volume (Dec 24) and the 7th DVD collection to follow in early January?

I think fans will get a chance to take another look at a sc-fi epic of Vehicle Voltron and rediscover a classic anime that may be a bit in the shadow if it's "big brother" in Lion Force but deserves a 2nd look. As always Sean, Meredith and the rest of the group at Media Blasters are doing an amazing job with the packaging and restoring of the image. They are hardcore fans themselves so nothing gets by them that they wouldn't want to see. Extras include some scenes from the pilot episode as well as some selects from "Fleet of Doom" the Voltron movie team up special. We also included an original featurette featuring the fans debating the merits of Vehicle VS Lion Voltron so there is a lot in there.

If you had your choice of Lions to pilot, which one and why?

I'm kind of a Black Lion man and that goes back to '84 when I named my BMX Bike Black Lion. Still looking for those mega thrusters on the handle bars though... What went into bringing the Voltron series to DVD? Were there any unforeseen difficulties along the way? Well, yes but that is a whole other interview for Sean Molyneaux at Media Blasters who at times found himself a pop-culture archaeologist. World Events has changed managers many times in the past so searching through the vault or finding information like original air dates and such can be difficult. Add to that the crazy broadcast schedule and it was a challenge. One thing that is talked about on the first volume is having to actually bake some of the sound masters to separate the 24 tracks in order to create the 5.1 mix. Voltron was the first animated series to broadcast in stereo so a lot of this stuff was learned on the fly.

Have you had a chance to watch any of the original Dairugger XV (source material for Vehicle Voltron)?

Not as much as I'd like to but yeah. I prefer watching the "Gladiator Voltron" in Albegas and imagining the Voltron that never was. In fact one of our fans made an excellent fan film on our website that edits Albegas into the opening of Voltron so you could imagine coming home from school to that in an alternative universe...

Let's park your Black Lion and get back to Vehicle Voltron: If given your choice of teams with which to be a member, Land, Sea, or Air?

I had the Air Team toy so I am partial to that. Love the red jet. Got a lot of basement miles out of that toy.

Would you consider yourself an anime buff? Any favorite series?

I'd say I have a bachelor degree but not an MBA in Anime I am more casual fan as I enjoy the live action stuff that is coming our of S. Korea and Japan. But yeah, own all the classics from Akira to Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D, Project A-Ko, Blood, Metropolis, and a bunch of stuff on Laserdisc. Like I said though, the live action stuff like Machine Girl, OldBoy, Battle Royale, and more has really captured my attention. Good to mix it up, I think.

Many fans of the Voltron franchise have longed to have seen the rare Albegas (Gladiator Voltron) come to the States. Any thoughts on the potential there? In your opinion could the show have States-side success today if released on DVD?

Believe me I have been pushing hard for that as well but it gets complicated with rights issues and it is such a niche "playground legend" type show so for now clips on Youtube and Voltron.com will have to do. Never say never though...

Were you around back in the 1980s when the Voltron phenomenon swept the nation? Did you have any of Matchbox's ultra-cool Voltron toys?

Yeah I was right there with the rest of the world drooling at Children's Palace over the awesome die-cast Voltrons. The great thing about Voltron is the message of the show in teamwork really came through on the playground as not everyone could afford all 5 lions (except for those whose parents recently divorced and who got double Christmas! ;) so you really had to make friends with perhaps someone you normally wouldn't in order to form Voltron and wow what an idol that was! Voltron brought countless friends together so that's nice to know.

WEP has been known for its willingness to communicate with its fans. What is the most common of the fan requests?

Thanks for saying that as that is my #1 priority as WEP is a growing company and it is really Tiffany, Ted and I holding down the fort. People think sometime WEP is this corporate entity when really it is far from it. Understand the founder Ted Koplar has his hands in so many other businesses from real estate, to restaurants to his interactive media company VEIL that Tiffany literally went in after Voltron 3-D and kind of picked up the pieces and set things in motion to get Voltron back out there. So we have to thank her in keeping Voltron alive. In redesigning the new Voltron.com I wanted to make sure we would be able to update fans on Voltron news the minute I hear about it as well hence our KNOW section. Yes, we hear from fans all the time and now that the #1 question of "Is Vehicle Voltron ever coming out on DVD" I'd say everything now is directed at the live action movie possibilities which believe me things are in the works but it is all a process and getting a giant robot to the screen is no small task. What projects can WEP fans look forward to in the months to come? With Voltron's 25th Anniversary next year I am crossing my fingers that the first of the year will literally bring the biggest announcement since Voltron hit the airwaves in 1984. Things are in motion, talks are happening and I know it seems like an eternity but trust me when I tell you Voltron is coming back and bigger then ever! Where should we send fans looking for more information on Voltron or WEP? I am about ready to give Voltron.com an overhaul for the big guy's 25th Anniversary and in anticipation of all these new exciting events so Voltron.com will be the official and one-stop-shop for all Voltron news.

Finally, if you could take either out to dinner, Princess Allura or Saber Rider's April Eagle?

April seems fun to date but the Princess will always have my heart. I can honestly remember sitting in a creek talking with my friend Danny Thompson about who was the "hottest cartoon babe" and between Scarlet of GiJoe, Teela of He-man and Jessica Rabbit were in there as well. But none of them could compete with the Princess for grace, beauty and pulling up her boot straps and joining the guys on a Robeast hunt. I mean what else could you ask for in a Princess?!

Well said, Jeremy. Thanks for your time and best of luck to both you and WEP. I have Volumes 6 & 7 on preorder as we speak and in your quest to bring Gladiator Voltron to DVD, let me add to the cause by promising at least one copy can be spoken for. In fact I'm willing to buy two copies if it'll help! :)