Zanzara was a loanerbot which fought exclusively in Nickelodeon Robot Wars. It appeared in the International Tag Team competition under the captaincy of Team Creative Steel, whose own machine The Gap was left too heavily damaged to compete following an earlier event.[1] Zanzara fought alongside Run Away, but lost in the first round, later picking up a second defeat in the Play-off against established UK Series competitor Bigger Brother.
The body of Zanzara had previously competed in Season 1 of Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors as the undefeated robot Silver Box.
Design[]
Zanzara from the front
Zanzara was a two-wheel drive robot designed to resemble a purple mosquito, decorated with fur, long eyestalks and wings. It was armed with a large front-mounted cutting disk which rotated quickly and was capable of damaging opponents when competing under its original identity as Silver Box.
However, the robot had a high ground clearance from all sides, and, unlike Silver Box, was not invertible. These posed greater vulnerability against robots armed with flipping weapons, though Zanzara showed good speed and manoeuvrability, and its quoted weight of 211lbs was substantially heavier than the 174lbs listed for its previous incarnation.
Etymology[]
The name Zanzara is Latin for 'mosquito'.[1]
The Team[]
Jordan Robson and Max Chapin in their control pod
Team Creative Steel (right) and Team Run Amok introduce their machines in Nickelodeon Robot Wars
Team Creative Steel's line-up for the Nicklelodeon series went largely unchanged from their prior appearance in Extreme Warriors. In keeping with the series' child-focused nature, Jordan Robson assumed most of their speaking roles and drove Zanzara in place of captain Max Chapin. Josh Robson, meanwhile, was not present on screen.
Chapin would still accompany Jordan and, as revealed following Zanzara's second battle, would carry out repairs to their loanerbot in between bouts.
Robot History[]
Nickelodeon[]
Zanzara was provided by the Robot Wars producers to Team Creative Steel for their appearance in the Nickelodeon International Tag Team, after their original robot, The Gap, suffered irreparable gearbox damage against Propeller-Head in Extreme Warriors Season 2.[1] Driven by Jordan Robson, it was paired up with Run Away for this event, uniting Team Creative Steel with their sister Team Run Amok entry.
- Jordan Robson: "This is Team Creative Steel with Zanzara."
- Aaron Joerger: "This is Team Run Amok with Run Away."
- Jordan Robson: "We've teamed up for the International Tag Team!"
- Aaron Joerger: "All the other robots, beware!"
- — Jordan Robson and Aaron Joerger introduce their team's machines
In the US Qualifier, the pair faced Team LOGICOM and their machines The Revolutionist and Spin Doctor.
The initial collision between Zanzara and Spin Doctor
Zanzara is knocked out by the first of many hits from The Revolutionist
Zanzara fought first, immediately slamming into the horizontal disk of Spin Doctor. The impact sent sparks flying and disabled both robots' spinners. Small pieces of debris also fell out of the front of Zanzara as it spun round, before it drove into the center of the arena and dodged a reversing Spin Doctor. Seconds later, The Revolutionist left its corner without being tagged, as Zanzara drove over to press the Pit trigger.
- "Zanzara still looking for a taggin' – OH! The Revolutionist up at a 1,000rpm speed, completely pushes Zanzara out of the way! Look at the power!"
- — Stefan Frank as The Revolutionist immobilizes and buffets Zanzara around in multiple hits
While reversing, Zanzara was hit by The Revolutionist, the impact tearing its rear panel off and sending it spinning into Shunt's vicinity. Shunt axed, pushed and lifted the purple machine away before The Revolutionist hit it twice more.
Zanzara and Run Away are thrown together by the Floor Flipper
Left by the Steam Pit, Zanzara was now completely immobilized, prompting Run Away to leave its corner in an attempt to charge at The Revolutionist. However, this led to The Revolutionist immobilizing Run Away as well, cementing defeat for the Oregon-based machines as Spin Doctor briefly drove up to Zanzara to check for further signs of movement. Shortly before being counted out, Zanzara was flipped over against an angle grinder by Matilda, who proceeded to place it onto the Floor Flipper alongside Run Away. The two defeated robots were flung across the arena simultaneously, Zanzara landing upright, before Shunt attempted to pit them both with Zanzara hanging over the edge.
In the Play-off, Zanzara and Run Away were due to face UK representatives Bigger Brother and Kat 3. Both machines were still left with lasting damage from The Revolutionist; despite an extensive rebuild, Zanzara's disk was not able to be repaired, compelling Jordan Robson to resort to ramming tactics instead. For Run Away, this was severe enough to force its withdrawal from the battle. With Kat 3 also withdrawing under similar circumstances, Zanzara and Bigger Brother were left to fight alone. Like Team Big Brother, Robson remained secretive about the rest of his strategy against the then-recent UK Series runner-up when interviewed by Vivianne Collins.
- Vivianne Collins: "Well, they said they've got a secret weapon. Do you have a little secret plan?"
- Jordan Robson: "Yeah."
- Vivianne Collins: "Mmm, no one's telling!"
- — Jordan Robson responds to Team Big Brother's 'secret' tactics
Zanzara is flipped almost immediately by Bigger Brother
Without a working weapon, Zanzara hesitated, then attempted to dart away from Bigger Brother in the opening seconds of the battle. This was not enough for it to avoid being pushed and flipped near the bottom wall, with Bigger Brother proceeding to flick Zanzara again before slamming and pinning it against the Disc of Doom trigger.
- "Well, Zanzara thought they were gonna be ramming, but they're getting rammed, more like... as Bigger Brother is just showing the dominance of that hydraulic lifting arm!"
- — Stefan Frank as Zanzara struggles against Bigger Brother
Zanzara is stranded on its side following another flip by Bigger Brother
Zanzara was next pushed into an errant Dead Metal, sustaining light damage as it escaped the House Robot's grasp. This evasion was not to last, however, as Bigger Brother threw Zanzara onto its side beside an angle grinder.
- "And here comes Bigger Brother, putting Zanzara right into the rail! Aww, Jordan is just looking on in disbelief! Poor Zanzara, doesn’t have what it takes to get off the side..."
- — Stefan Frank as Bigger Brother flips Zanzara against the wall
Refbot closed in to try and free Zanzara from the wall, only for Shunt to drag it back onto its wheels with his axe. Zanzara briefly rammed Shunt in response, only to be attacked by both House Robots before Bigger Brother pushed it across the arena again. Zanzara retreated towards another angle grinder and the Disc of Doom trigger, only to be pinned a few more times by Bigger Brother before 'Cease' was called.
- Max Chapin: "We took a lot of damage in the last match, and we just about didn't make it. I mean, there's... not even... bolts not tight, there's glue not dried and, you name it! It was... almost didn't make it."
- Dave Aizer: "I know you aren't happy with the way it turned out, but do you feel a little better because you kept competing?"
- Jordan Robson: "Yeah."
- — Post-Play-off interview
The subsequent Judges' decision ruled in favor of Bigger Brother. Upon being interviewed by Dave Aizer, Max Chapin revealed that due to the damage sustained in its Qualifier, Zanzara also came close to withdrawing from the Play-off entirely and had entered the arena in an incomplete state. Nevertheless, it and Run Away would finish fourth in the International Tag Team.
Results[]
| ZANZARA - RESULTS | ||
| Nickelodeon Robot Wars | ||
| International Tag Team Representing the USA, competing with Run Away, Fourth Place | ||
| US Qualifier | vs. Spin Doctor & The Revolutionist | Lost |
| Play-off | vs. Bigger Brother & Kat 3 | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 2
Series Record[]
Zanzara in The Pits
| US Series | Zanzara Series Record |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | Did not enter |
| Season 2 | Entered with The Gap |
| Nickelodeon | International Tag Team, Fourth Place |
Note: Zanazara's previous incarnation, Silver Box, competed in the Robot Rebellion of Extreme Warriors Season 1.
Trivia[]
- Unlike its previous incarnation as Silver Box, which never lost a battle, Zanzara could not collect a combat win.
References[]
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