In the original series, it was stated that Voltron was created by Alfor (apparently when he was young since the robot was noted years before) and Haggar's attempt to destroy him resulted in his being separated into five robotic lions. Here, Ariella claims that the Lions of Arus' spirits have always been present, inhabiting the Lions of Voltron - but these didn't exist until Haggar's curse some years ago (note: the new scenario was actually closer to the one in Beast King GoLion (1981), the anime series which inspired Voltron: Defender of the Universe (1984), where the robot, punished by a deity to be divided millennia earlier, was not created by the princess' late father).