# GoLion (Voltron) Eyecatch Cel with Background

> Rinkya Certified Japanese Animation. Serial: RKJ15778. RKJ · Rinkya Kantei-jo 鑑定所 · the Rinkya authentication lab

- **Certification Date**: September 8, 2026
- **Last Updated**: October 10, 2026
- RKJ AUTHENTIC · Fingerprint on file
- Record: https://www.rinkya.com/authentic/record/RKJ15778
- ![GoLion (Voltron) Eyecatch Cel with Background, RKJ15778](https://authentic.rinkya.com/img/ZGlzcGxheS92b2x0cm9uLTE3ODg5MDE4MTQyNjQtNTE5NTMzNjgzLndlYnA)

## Authentication Verdict

**“By” Toei**

- Hyakujū-Ō GoLion (百獣王ゴライオン) known in the US as Voltron (Lion Force) · All episodes · Episode 1-52 · All episodes
- Series composition, original credited to: Susumu Takaku, Saburo Yatsude, the Toei house name.
- Layers: Overlay, Overlay, Composition, Underlay
- Markings: No markings present
- Cel role: Eyecatch

## Japanese Animation Details

- **Franchise**: Hyakujū-Ō GoLion , known in the US as Voltron (Lion Force)
- **Japanese Title**: 百獣王ゴライオン
- **Director**: Katsuhiko Taguchi (田口勝彦)
- **Animation Director**: Kazuo Nakamura (中村一夫)
- **Character(s)**: GoLion
- **Airdate / Year**: 1981
- **Substrate**: Acetate (Cel)
- **Medium**: Cel paint on acetate with xerographic trace lines; airbrushed effects on a separate overlay cel. Background in gouache.
- **Purpose**: Production
- **Production Type**: TV Series
- **Sequence**: Eyecatch
- **Country of Production**: Japan

## Catalogue Note

### Dimensions

12.95 × 16.2 in (32.9 × 41.1 cm)

### Description

An eyecatch is the bumper shown before and after the commercial break. Only one cel setup was created for this sequence, so this single artwork appeared in every episode of the fifty-two-episode run.

The production code in the upper right corner reads アイキャッチ ("eyecatch"), handwritten by studio staff. The series was originally broadcast on Tokyo 12 Channel, now known as TV Tokyo.

### Context

GoLion is the Japanese original behind Voltron, the 1984 American series that reused its footage and made the lion robot one of the most recognized designs of the decade.

Because a single setup was painted and reused across the entire run, eyecatch artwork survives in smaller quantities than standard episode cels. It also features the series logo and lead character design prominently, unlike a typical episode cut.

## Condition & Grading

- Cel + Production Background
- C: Good condition
- Condition grade at the time of examination, September 8, 2026
- **Condition Flags**: Line fading (moderate) · Paint chipping / paint loss · Bloom · Stuck to overlay cel · Surface haze · Adhesive / tape residue

### Conservation

This is a four-layer cel setup; from top to bottom, the layers are the title text, the airbrush layer for the sword, the GoLion robot, and the lion head with airbrush. All four cel layers are stuck to one another and cannot be separated without paint loss; they are treated as a single unit. The stack is not stuck to the background, but it appears to have been at one point and was lifted off, pulling paint and paper from the background onto the back of the lion head layer. Stored flat in unsealed polypropylene.

## Certification & Verification

- **Serial Number**: RKJ15778
- **Certified By**: [Heather Russell](https://www.rinkya.com/authentic/certifier/699ca15bbe4e854c02c3ad3b)
- **Title**: Japanese Collectibles Authentication Specialist
- **Credentials**: [On the specialist’s profile →](https://www.rinkya.com/authentic/certifier/699ca15bbe4e854c02c3ad3b)

## Provenance

1. The production studio (Nakamura Production) · 1981–1999
2. Someone working in the industry · 1999 · from the production studio
3. Private Collection, the present owner · since 1999 · via a Japanese auction

Acquired through a private Japanese online lottery sale of animation artwork, organized by the previous animation industry-connected owner.

## Verifiable Independently

Powered by Rinkya Authentic · Permanent public record RKJ15778

- **Decentralized Storage** TX: [VGAw5N18NwHWT2d-A8_tIaBsjt3KVlTHC335ts_Uo08](https://arweave.net/raw/VGAw5N18NwHWT2d-A8_tIaBsjt3KVlTHC335ts_Uo08) · Stored: October 3, 2026
- **Polygon Blockchain** TX: [0x0d59b91cec0312d8c515eab22ed02e3295a383d18cf8d23fb7c6c8b3d94d14c7](https://polygonscan.com/tx/0x0d59b91cec0312d8c515eab22ed02e3295a383d18cf8d23fb7c6c8b3d94d14c7) · Anchored: September 9, 2026
- **Bitcoin Timestamp**: Confirmed in Bitcoin block #969756
- Bundle hash (SHA-256): `a6c858820179fba093e2940f8e83ebf96f92a49c578879201bbecba8e966e5d8`

Cite as: Rinkya Authentic, RKJ No. 15778, certified 8 September 2026 by Heather Russell, Japanese Collectibles Authentication Specialist, https://www.rinkya.com/authentic/record/RKJ15778