- ""Go slow, and don't take any nonsense from the Star mob. Show them explosives don't scare us. If they come too close, just…"/"BLOW THEM UP!"/"Yeah, with your hooter, dummy! No silly games, okay? You don't have to be that brave!""
- — Zorran and Zak (Munitions)
Zak is a harbour tug and the third member of Captain Zero's Z-Stack fleet. He is used for a wide variety of tasks around Bigg City Port. Zak's main role was that of a flunky and 2nd-man to devious Zorran, and is generally a vicious, calculating thug.
Biography
Zak is the least focussed-on character in not just in the Zero Fleet, but compared to the Star Tugs as well. He mostly works with Zebedee and is often out to sabotage the Star Fleet’s work.
His only notable role in the whole series was the time when he and Zebedee were competing against Big Mac and Warrior for the steel contract. En-route, they decided to cut through the canal, especially since it was too narrow for the Star Tugs to overtake them.
But in the canal, they and Top Hat (who had a wide load) came cabin-to-cabin at a low and busy railway bridge. Zak egged on Zebedee to scare Top Hat into reversing and didn’t notice, until the point of no return, that Zebedee’s load was big high up for the bridge’s arch.
Personality
Zak has quite a thuggish personality, often aggressive and threatening. Ten Cents even implies Zak knows a thing about being a criminal.
Publicity material for the series indicated that he saw himself as a potential leader of the Z-Stacks.[1]
Technical Details
Basis
Like the other Z-Stacks, Zak is based on the Moran Fleet tugs from the 1920s. It is unknown what tug he is specifically based on.
Livery
Zak is painted in the Z Stacks’ corporate maroon livery. His stack is black with two white ribbons and side circles on it.
Behind the Scenes
Zak is voiced by British actor, animator and modeler Shaun Prendergast, who also provided the distinctive voice of Sunshine, alongside other characters. Prendergast commented in an interview with The Star Tugs Trust that Zak was a difficult character to play due to his deep voice. In TLC's Salty's Lighthouse, he is voiced by Scott McNeil, giving him a gruff Brooklyn accent.
Appearances
Episodes
- Sunshine
- Pirate
- Trapped
- Regatta (does not speak)
- Munitions
- Warrior (cameo)
- High Tide
- Ghosts (deleted scene)
- Jinxed
- High Winds (deleted scene)
- Up River (deleted scene)
- Bigg Freeze (cameo)
Books and Annuals
- Treasure Hunt
- The Race (mentioned)
- The Missing Barge
Audio Files
His whistle is actually Davy Jones's in a lower pitch. It is also very similar to Big Mac's.
| First used | Only used | Sound effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Active | ||
Trivia
- After TUGS' production ended, Zak's model was purchased by the Star Tugs Company, an organization which showcases the models.
- It is currently unknown if Zak's other face masks still remain in existence.
- Initially, Zebedee was to be Zorran's left hand tug and have a desire to lead the Z-Stacks. It's unknown why this change occurred.
- Zak's facial features appear to be modeled after Romanian-born American actor Edward G. Robinson. Shaun Prendergast took inspiration for his gruff Cockney accent from Nigel Anthony's Peter Lorre-esque voice for Zug.
Quotes
- ""You're a team, the best, the better looking, more powerful, and, dare I say, more devious!"/"I like that bit about better looking.""
- — Captain Zero and Zak (Sunshine)
- ""Hey, you guys, I need a tow."/"We don't accept bananas as payment.""
- — Izzy Gomez and Zak (Sunshine)
- ""Hey, Zug! Zorran's going mad waiting for you. Where ya (you) been?"/"Captain Zero told me to deliver this old rustbucket to The Breaker's Yard."/"You'll see Zorran at Mittsville before you get there. He's not gonna like it."/"I'm only carrying out orders! Zorran can't blame me!"/"Ha! Don't you believe it?!""
- — Zak, Zug and Zip (Trapped)
- ""Well, well, well. The Star Tugs. Here! What time d'you call this, eh? You needn't've bothered. There's no work for you. We've got it all sewn up."/"Yeah. You said it, Zak.""
- — Zak and Zebedee (High Tide)
- ""Think you'll do a better job, big mouth?! You ain't got no chance, three against, see, no chance!"/"What do you mean three against one? There's only two of ya (you).""
- — Zak and Warrior (High Tide)
- "Fire Tug won't be much good. Look at that tramper!"
- — Zak referring to Kraka-Toa during the munitions fire (Munitions)