Zorran (TUGS)

Zorran is a fictional character who appeared in the 1988 television series TUGS, created by the producers of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Zorran is perhaps the most devious and well-known of all the Z Stacks and he is Captain Zero's first tug. He is the fleet's leader. Like Big Mac and Warrior and his Z-Stack companions Zak and Zebedee, he is a harbour tug.

He is a scheming and evil tug and his lackeys (who are usually Zug and Zip) do his dirty work to keep him happy. He has a love/hate relationship with tramp steamer Izzy Gomez. Like the rest of the Z-Stack Fleet, Zorran is based on the tugs of Moran fleet from the 1920's. He speaks with a neutral English accent (with lashings of Cockney). Although he is a steam-driven tug, his deep, aggressive whistle sounds more like the air-horns fitted to modern diesel locomotives, trucks and ships.

He has a major roles in most episodes, and a majority of stories focus on him as a leading, scheming villain in some way. Although he is undoubtedly the smartest of the Z-Stacks, his plans usually end up backfiring - either through the incompetence of the other Z-Stacks or through his own overconfidence. He doesn't appear to be afraid of anyone other than Hercules, and has even been known to show insolence to his boss, Captain Zero.

Despite his malign characteristics, there is a very good reason for Zorran's role as leader of the Z-Stacks - he's easily the most competent and (when not scheming) sensible of the fleet, best shown in the episode 'Munitions' when he was given responsibility for overseeing a large delivery of explosives. Zorran ensured the other Zs followed all correct safety precautions and saw that the job was carried out efficiently. Later at the Naval Pool he sided with OJ when arguing with the officious navy Tug Bluenose over common sense vs. orders, and when a massive fire broke out was concerned enough to urge rival tug Ten Cents to get out of the danger zone. True to his more opportunistic nature however Zorran then sat back to enjoy the impromptu fireworks display as the naval tramp steamer Krakatoa blew itself apart.

Zorran is voiced by British actor, animator and modeller Chris Tulloch, who designed many of the tugs himself, including Ten Cents. He is one of the only characters whose voice actor can be definitively identified.

In Salty's Lighthouse Zorran's voice was done by two different actors. First Scott McNeil and later Kirby Morrow. The actor who played him in the original TUGS was only credited as art director and director.

In the Japanese version he was voiced by Hazime Ozeki.

The model

Zorran's model possessed a unique feature. The character was apparently able to adjust his hat when he looked upwards. In fact, this was an accidental feature caused by the hat not being properly attached to the model. However, the director liked this feature so much that it was retained.