Zip (TUGS)

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

Zip is Captain Zero's second 'harbour switcher'. It is safe to presume that he is also the newest addition to the fleet, as well as the youngest. He works, nearly always, with Zug (No. 4) and together they are often used to win minor contracts (such as the freighting of quarried bolders) and other such duties. Like the rest of the Z-Stack fleet, Zip is based on the Moran tugs of New York. He speaks with a neutral English accent.

Zip is famously described as 'Zug, only worse'. His head is often in the clouds, and he is well known for being a coward. He is easily scared and sometimes speaks out of turn. He is very quick to back down when engaging in an argument, and is easily dominated. Zip is often described as being 'slow in the head', for it will often take him a while to catch onto things, even basic terms and phrases like devious. He is mostly left out of plans, but may come up with his own, screwing up the original.

Zip's whistle, much like Star switcher Sunshine, has a 'whooping' sound, but was deeper, with a middle-to-low pitch.

Whilst Zip and Zug are a similar wavelength, and have often been comparied with Ten Cents and Sunshine, Zug is much more skeptical of the pair, whilst Zip is quite the opposite. He will often follow along with Zug's plans in any situation, even if the concept of doing so causes him to lose his nerves. Zug often takes advantage of Zip's naivity to keep himself out of danger. Zip is not seen as often as the other Z-Stacks, though his roles in various episodes have always brought much-needed comic relief.

According to sources, Zip is voiced by British actor John Baddely, who also provided the distinguishable voice of Top Hat. In Salty's Lighthouse he was voiced by Ian James Corlett.

In the Japanese version he was voiced by Masashi Ebara who also voiced Top Hat.