Many years ago, I became part of the initial VOLTRON fan community on the Internet. The year was 1996, and I was packing up my things preparing to move from my home in Cheney, Washington, where I had gone to junior high, high school, and my undergraduate college years to try to make it in Los Angeles. At the time, I thought I was just sharing everything I came up with while a fan in the 1980s so that others could entertain the thoughts and perhaps build off of them. In addition, I shared facts about the show as I was aware of them from behind the scenes.
At the time, I thought I was going to be leaving everything behind.
Now twenty-five years later and counting, that has been anything but the case.
Over the years, a lot of what I shared on my site has been expanded in other resources. However, there are two things that I remain most noted for. One is that I sometimes come up cited as one of the first fan fiction writers for VOLTRON on the Internet through my sharing of information about a character I created in the 1980s named Nina, who was involved in a set of stories I sent to World Events Productions along with my sister (who created a White Lion). The other is the Denubian Galaxy Starmap (which apparently should actually be spelled Danubian Galaxy, now that I have gotten to review scripts of the original series, but that was how it sounded to me at 13), where I presented my theories of where planets might be in the Far Universe of the Voltron Lion series; these theories, with a few minor adjustments, became an official starmap that World Events Productions (the IP rights holders) used to create an official version for their VOLTRON: THE THIRD DIMENSION site in collaboration with me. Interestingly enough, the “Denubian Galaxy” spelling also stuck.
Though I hand-drew the map references for myself in the 1980s, I did not have the resources to scan my original drawings and post them in 1996. Therefore, all my notes were described in text format. These were removed when the collaboration went online, so this is a screenshot from my personal archives of old code.
Regarding the creation of Nina and the impact of that on my life creatively and professionally, I have spoken about that in various media throughout the years. Here are some of the quotes I think reinforce the impact of that over time.
I think it would be hard (but not impossible) for me to work on any version of the VOLTRON series – either in the past or anything the future might hold – if Nina weren’t a part of it. Regardless of how the Starmap is laid out, she is the center of the emotional universe.” [emphasis mine]
- In email interview with Greg Tyler, 2021
In my heart Nina will always be in some form. She symbolizes the root of passionate dreams that have become a fantastic reality.”
- From my SHANNON MUIR’S VOLTRON PAGES site, circa 2000
My experiences in both these areas I believe left an impact on myself and how I approach everything I do, in particular regarding caring about a user experience – whether it be watching an animated series or interacting with a website, as my professional experience has run that gamut. Years ago, I made a statement that I think sums that up pretty well, though I think I need to insert with the caveat that you do have to approach me with a reasoned and well thought out argument. I have watched the rise of too many “toxic fandoms” over the years for various media properties that have taken things to the extreme, and this is something I could never encourage. Also, sometimes you are not in the position of power to bring change. I do still believe that everyone needs to be heard if at least approached properly.
As a working professional, I’ll never have this experience again, at least from the fan side. I think, though, if I ever find myself in the producer’s chair on a show and hear the fans cry out, I will listen. After all, I’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”
- Article on Suite101.com (a site where I wrote occasional articles that filed its subjects by the Dewey Decimal System), circa 2000
For technical reasons, I have been unable to access my SHANNON MUIR’S VOLTRON PAGES website page since 2011, and have no idea when it might be taken offline. So, I have decided to provide pages with some of that history here, as a duplication of content. As of September 2025, the original site still operates at (note this is an insecure server link) http://www.duelingmodems.com/~shan/Voltron.htm
Now that I cannot update the site any, and want to give even more tidbits I uncovered when packing up the family house for sale, I have started a Tumblr called Shannon Muir’s Voltron Pages. I will use screenshots to feature the pages as they are now (In case the site ever goes down), talk about some material on the site that already is no longer feature, as well as share new discoveries.
Since the original pages can no longer be edited, I have started a Tumblr on the subject that takes historical screenshots of the pages and fills them in with behind the scenes tidbits and new information, including items uncovered in 2024 when helping pack the family home. You will need a Tumblr account to read this information, but for a taste of what it contains and why it was done this way, you can read this post.
I also recommend you read a detailed article that Greg Tyler, co-host of the LET’S VOLTRON PODCAST, did with me at his lionspilotsandbots.com site on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the starmap.
Speaking of the LET’S VOLTRON PODCAST, they have covered all things VOLTRON for the last decade, and I have appeared on a fair number of their programs. Check out letsvoltron.com and do a search for my name. Episodes 201 and later can also be found on the LET’S VOLTRON YouTube channel.
My role of late is to continue to fill in history gaps, largely for those who became aware of VOLTRON with later iterations and want to know where it all came from. I am more than happy to continue to share my knowledge in the hopes that it will not be lost to time.
There is also a yearly fan convention for VOLTRON called VOLTCON that takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have been fortunate enough to go since 2021, and to be involved in some of their programming. At the VIP gathering in 2023, someone referred to me as the “archivist” for VOLTRON. However, while I am honored to be thought of a steward of information, I must point out archive collections generally consist of unpublished materials. A lot of information I shared early on was definitely published, but not widely circulated beyond a specific audience. My work regarding Nina and the starmap would have been exceptions, until World Events Productions and I collaborated on the more official version. Still, I do appreciate that people felt impact and were influenced by my efforts.
In 2024, I held my first solo panel at VOLTCON called, “VOLTRON HISTORY FROM THE ARCHIVES”. In this presentation, we looked at the production reasons behind creating 20 new Lion Force episodes, trade articles in the press about the process, and a look at copies of the personal submissions of fan writing and art my sister and I made during the time period – this being important because the trade articles emphasized how the submissions of fans influenced the created episodes. As I stated during the presentation, it is unknown how much the influences of our work and others affected those episodes, but there are interesting similarities between a character from our works named Nina and a character named Omnia, though the situations surrounding them are completely different. As I said at VOLTCON, it might mean something or be total coincidence, but all I can say with certainty was that we saw a strong female character that was neither blond nor royalty for one episode that could definitely take care of herself. Whether coincidence or more, it was something a shy unpopular girl needed to see on television and a day that changed my world forever.
You can see a full video of that presentation here, and I strongly encourage you read the description below the video to understand the context. Especially of note was that at the time, our family home that I mentioned earlier on had been put up for sale as my father needed to move elsewhere, and has since sold. It is about 1 hour in duration.
Even with the ups and downs I have seen, I am grateful for every moment.
Here is a collection of recordings that have been made available of various panels I have appeared on at VOLTCON with Marc Morrell and Greg Tyler of the LET’S VOLTRON PODCAST, for whom I am grateful inviting me back on a yearly basis for both their panels and to the organizers of LET’S VOLTRON: