TV-Series
Description
Zander, known as Noratty in Japanese media, is a core member of the Alpha Gang's Alpha Trio. He grew up in an orphanage with Ursula and Ed, forming a troublesome group until Dr. Z adopted them as their caring foster father and brought them into the gang. Physically tall and lanky with pale skin, he has short black hair featuring two curved ahoge strands and brown eyes usually hidden behind round sunglasses. His attire consists of a dark brown trench coat over a red shirt, black pants, and shoes. His Japanese name "Noratty" is a reversed katakana reading of "Tyrannosaurus," reflecting his early link to Fire-element dinosaurs in arcade and DS games. His English name stems from his habitual use of the Japanese phrase "ざんす" (zansu).
Zander often tries to appear intelligent by crafting the trio's plans, though these consistently fail. He exhibits nervousness, awkwardness, and cowardice, frequently funding their equipment only to face consequences when it gets destroyed. He harbors a persistent crush on Reese Drake, calling her "his angel" and composing a song for her after she rescued him in the desert during the "Dinosaur Amour!" episode; this infatuation continues through later encounters.
In Season 1, Zander primarily uses Spinosaurus ("Spiny") as his dinosaur partner, occasionally deploying Tank (Saichania) or Terry (Tyrannosaurus). Despite poor battle skills and frequent losses, he occasionally secures victories. Rod and Laura later supplant the trio in dinosaur hunting, reducing them to comedic roles. The season ends with the trio ejected from the Alpha Jet during Seth's betrayal to balance weight. They later help rescue Dr. Z, resulting in confinement aboard the Backlander timeship.
Stranded in the Cretaceous period after a failed return attempt in Season 2, the Alpha Trio forms an uneasy alliance with the D-Team against the Spectral Space Pirates, undertaking tangential missions. Key episodes include:
- **Ancient Rome**: Searching for "famous Roman pizza," they are captured and forced into gladiatorial combat using Terry. Rescued and recaptured, they flee after Shear's intervention.
- **Caribbean Sea**: Dressed as pirates pursuing treasure, they mistake a pirate magazine for a map, leading to mishaps with their Alpha Pedal Glider.
- **Ancient China**: Disguised as "Sandy" among Sanzo Hoshi's disciples seeking eternal youth, they find only unripe peaches and face Gabbro's Carcharodontosaurus.
- **Ancient Japan**: They disturb and then evade a bear family.
- **Ancient Persia**: Captured by the 40 Thieves, they are coerced into aiding Zayid's city takeover using their dinosaurs, battling the D-Team before defeat by a Space Pirate-controlled Genie.
- **Renaissance Paris**: Sent to retrieve a Cosmos Stone under the guise of finding French bread, they crash their Alpha Jet. They ally with orphaned Teen Musketeers against Chancellor Richelieu and later use the jet to rescue them. Zander directs Spiny to combine Ultimate Moves with Chomp and Ace to defeat Gabbro's Gigas after Tank's loss.
In the finale, Zander is relegated to comedic roles, like being chased by a giant mantis after forgetting his Alpha Scanner. During the battle against the Dark Pterosaur, Spiny breaks its shell with Hydro Cutter but is defeated by Armatus's Spectral Stinger while shielding Terry. Post-battle, Zander gives Reese a flower before returning to the future with the Alpha Gang, Ancients, and Rex.
In the Nintendo DS game, Zander primarily uses Fire dinosaurs like Torvosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus, and Alpha Acrocanthosaurus, occasionally deploying Styracosaurus. His chemistry skills are demonstrated when he engineers a sleeping sickness affecting a town.
Zander often tries to appear intelligent by crafting the trio's plans, though these consistently fail. He exhibits nervousness, awkwardness, and cowardice, frequently funding their equipment only to face consequences when it gets destroyed. He harbors a persistent crush on Reese Drake, calling her "his angel" and composing a song for her after she rescued him in the desert during the "Dinosaur Amour!" episode; this infatuation continues through later encounters.
In Season 1, Zander primarily uses Spinosaurus ("Spiny") as his dinosaur partner, occasionally deploying Tank (Saichania) or Terry (Tyrannosaurus). Despite poor battle skills and frequent losses, he occasionally secures victories. Rod and Laura later supplant the trio in dinosaur hunting, reducing them to comedic roles. The season ends with the trio ejected from the Alpha Jet during Seth's betrayal to balance weight. They later help rescue Dr. Z, resulting in confinement aboard the Backlander timeship.
Stranded in the Cretaceous period after a failed return attempt in Season 2, the Alpha Trio forms an uneasy alliance with the D-Team against the Spectral Space Pirates, undertaking tangential missions. Key episodes include:
- **Ancient Rome**: Searching for "famous Roman pizza," they are captured and forced into gladiatorial combat using Terry. Rescued and recaptured, they flee after Shear's intervention.
- **Caribbean Sea**: Dressed as pirates pursuing treasure, they mistake a pirate magazine for a map, leading to mishaps with their Alpha Pedal Glider.
- **Ancient China**: Disguised as "Sandy" among Sanzo Hoshi's disciples seeking eternal youth, they find only unripe peaches and face Gabbro's Carcharodontosaurus.
- **Ancient Japan**: They disturb and then evade a bear family.
- **Ancient Persia**: Captured by the 40 Thieves, they are coerced into aiding Zayid's city takeover using their dinosaurs, battling the D-Team before defeat by a Space Pirate-controlled Genie.
- **Renaissance Paris**: Sent to retrieve a Cosmos Stone under the guise of finding French bread, they crash their Alpha Jet. They ally with orphaned Teen Musketeers against Chancellor Richelieu and later use the jet to rescue them. Zander directs Spiny to combine Ultimate Moves with Chomp and Ace to defeat Gabbro's Gigas after Tank's loss.
In the finale, Zander is relegated to comedic roles, like being chased by a giant mantis after forgetting his Alpha Scanner. During the battle against the Dark Pterosaur, Spiny breaks its shell with Hydro Cutter but is defeated by Armatus's Spectral Stinger while shielding Terry. Post-battle, Zander gives Reese a flower before returning to the future with the Alpha Gang, Ancients, and Rex.
In the Nintendo DS game, Zander primarily uses Fire dinosaurs like Torvosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus, and Alpha Acrocanthosaurus, occasionally deploying Styracosaurus. His chemistry skills are demonstrated when he engineers a sleeping sickness affecting a town.