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This Villain was proposed and approved by Villains Wiki's Pure Evil Proposals Thread. Any act of removing this villain from the category without a Removal Proposal shall be considered vandalism (or a futile "heroic" attempt of redemption) and the user will have high chances of being | ||
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| “ | It's Finn McMissile! He's seen the camera! Kill him! | „ |
| ~ Professor Zündapp ordering the Lemons to kill Finn McMissile because he found the Lemons' weapon to use against the World Grand Prix racers. |
| “ | Allinol must be finished for good. McQueen cannot win the last race. Lightning McQueen must be killed! | „ |
| ~ Professor Z ordering the death of Lightning McQueen, and also his most famous quote. |
| “ | It's the American spy! | „ |
| ~ Zündapp realizes Mater infiltrated the meeting, disguised as Ivan. |
Professor Otto Wolfgang Zündapp, better known as Professor Z, is the secondary antagonist of Pixar's 12th full-length feature film Cars 2, the second installment in the Cars film series.
He is a German weapons designer and a scientist who works for Sir Miles Axlerod in the latter's plot to turn the entire world against alternative fuel and make money out of it. He is Finn McMissile's arch-nemesis, as he killed (both indirectly and directly) secret agents Leland Turbo and Rod "Torque" Redline, two of Finn's associates.
He was voiced by Thomas Kretschmann, who also played Alfredo Grossi in The Stendhal Syndrome, Eli Damaskinos in Blade II, Timothy Cain in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Flemming in Hostel III, Wolfgang von Strucker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Le Clerq in Hitman: Agent 47, Lorentz Vogelmann in Dragged Across Concrete and Colonel Weber in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Biography[]
Cars 2[]
Zündapp was first seen in an oil rig where he and his fellow Lemons murdered a British agent named Leland Turbo by having him crushed into a cube, much to the shock of Leland's friend Finn McMissile. Upon spotting McMissile, Zündapp orders his gang to kill him, but McMissile escapes by faking his death.
As it turns out, Zündapp is plotting to sabotage the World Grand Prix, as he is willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate all obstacles to his plan. He even got his gang to execute an American agent Rod "Torque" Redline after deducing him as McMissile's contact in Tokyo, though Redline averted this by slipping classified information regarding the plot onto Mater before his death, leaving McMissile and his partner Holley Shiftwell to mistake Mater as a secret agent.
Upon realizing that Mater has got the classified info, Zündapp orders his henchmen to track down Mater and kill him, though the latter tags along with McMissile and Holley while learning more about the Lemons' plot to sabotage the World Grand Prix. During the second race in Porto Cosa, Mater attends the Lemons' meeting while disguised as Ivan and soon learns the horrible truth: Zündapp has created an electromagnetic pulse weapon disguised as a World Grand Prix camera that can ignite the alternative fuel Allinol, which explains why many racers crashed during the first race in Tokyo. And with Allinol suspended, the world would have to resort back to using oil, and as the Lemons still own the largest oil reserves in the world, they would become the most powerful cars in the world, finally getting revenge for years of humiliation. Following the sabotage of the second race, Zündapp receives his next order to kill Lightning McQueen (due to the latter's decision to use Allinol in the final race), much to Mater's shock. After Mater reveals himself by accident, Zündapp quickly tells his allies that Mater is the American spy but Mater was able to escape.
Eventually, Zündapp and his gang are able to track down McMissile and Holley before they detain Mater when he tried to warn McQueen. Zündapp remarked on how Mater cared about McQueen and taunts Mater on how he was not able to warn him in time.
Zündapp and the lemons trapped the three spies before bringing them with them to London. After having Grem and Acer tie up Mater and the agents inside Big Bentley to enact the final stage of their plan, it was mentioned that Zündapp wanted Mater to witness his friend's demise. Grem and Acer fired up the EMP beam on McQueen during the race. However, McQueen unexpectedly escapes unscathed, due to his friend Sarge having switched the Allinol with organic fuel to avoid such an incident, just as Mater escapes to warn Lightning McQueen. Anticipating that the attempt would fail and that Mater would escape, Axlerod had implanted a bomb inside Mater's air filter in hopes that it would go off to kill both McQueen and Mater. However, before Zündapp was able to detonate the bomb, Mater uses his rocket booster to speed himself and McQueen out of range, much to Zündapp's anger.
Upon being confronted by the escaped Holley and McMissile, Zündapp panics and runs off to the harbor to escape with Tony Trihull. However, McMissile snags Zündapp with several hooks before killing Tony by letting his magnet take his explosives, allowing him to capture Zündapp. After Mater explains the events to McQueen, Zündapp was soon brought before Mater and McQueen all tied up and injured from the explosion. The captured evil scientist angrily questioned McQueen on why his death ray didn't kill him, something that shocked the racecar. McMissile angrily orders Zündapp to disarm the bomb, but Zündapp reveals that it can only be disarmed with a voice command by the one who activated it and that neither Mater's nor Zündapp's voices are a match. This was confirmed when Mater tried to deactivate it, only for the timer to start in five minutes, and when Zündapp is forced to deactivate it, it only shortens it. Realizing that Zündapp is of no use, Holley angrily tasers Zündapp, and then left him unconscious before helping the others finish off the other Lemons for good.
Eventually, Mater soon realized that Axlerod is the true mastermind behind the plot and that Allinol was actually gasoline engineered to ignite as part of the plan. An outraged Mater confronted Axlerod by forcing him to deactivate the bomb to confirm his suspicions. after that Zündapp, along with Axlerod and the other Lemons, are arrested and sent to prison for their crimes for good.
Video games[]
Cars 2: The Video Game[]
In Cars 2: The Video Game, Professor Z is the main antagonist of the Hunter missions. While waves of henchmen are sent to attack the player, Zündapp watches from his helicopter. On the last wave, Professor Z's helicopter will swoop down while the Professor attempts to shoot a missile at the player. The player will receive 100 points if they are able to shoot at his helicopter once, and will instantly win a gold trophy if they shoot at him two more times.
Additionally, Professor Z is an unlockable playable character, available once the "Capitol View" crest is obtained. He is a light-weight character, and focuses on speed rather than power. An alternate version of Zündapp called "Young Professor Z" can be also be unlocked by earning the "Master Agent" crest. Both versions of Professor Z have the same stats.
Kinect Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure[]
In Kinect Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure, Professor Z appears on pictures that the player has to hit to get extra points when a new goal is unlocked in the first Cars level.
In the second level, he is heard talking as he tries to stop the player and Holley Shiftwell from deactivating the bomb on Francesco Bernoulli. He makes a physical appearance in the third level. He is in the helicopter with a convoy of trucks full of bombs. Throughout the level, he tries to stop Finn McMissile and the player from finding out where the bombs are being taken. In the ending cutscene, he shoots a missile at the player while in midair, but the player dodges the missile and pushes Professor Z out of the helicopter before the missile hits the helicopter. Finn asks Professor Z if he is all right in there, with him denying as McMissile then says, "No thanks required, mate. All in a day's work." When the level is completed with the player seeing their score and what they unlocked, Professor Z is seen with a parking boot, as to prevent him from driving away.
Creation and development[]
Originally, Professor Z was not added into the story of Cars 2, nor was Axlerod, as the filmmakers were supposed to use a Russian character named Zil. Zil would have been the lemons' leader, with the same evil plan of forcing the world to put alternative energy out of use. However, the filmmakers decided not to use the character, and they used Professor Z and Axlerod instead.
Personality[]
Professor Zündapp is considered by others to be ruthless due to his desire of making money out of selling oil, even if it means causing many car crashes during the World Grand Prix races and killing others who may know of Axlerod's plot. He can also be described as a genius, as shown when he was able to create an EMP weapon disguised as a World Grand Prix camera to ignite the racers' fuel to start up the crashes in the first place. As with his leader Sir Miles Axlerod, he lacks any redeeming traits as he shows no remorse or even consideration regarding how his crimes will affect others. Throughout the film, he commits various acts of murder and terrorism all out of anger and greed. While he does have an excuse for his evil as he like the other members of his group got treated so poorly, he commits crimes for entirely selfish reasons. Furthermore, he and Miles show no care for each other; their partnership being merely professional. He was also sadistic, as he wanted Mater to witness his friend's demise and was smiling when trying to activate the bomb to kill Mater and McQueen.
Overall, Professor Zündapp is a greedy and cold-hearted terrorist who proves that he will do anything for a quick buck. He never shows signs about caring about anyone but himself, and doesn't even really care about the discrimination he faced beyond using it as an excuse to kill the others. Furthermore, since he does play a more active role when committing these heinous acts, one could argue that he is even worse than his leader.
Weaponry and Gadgets[]
- Dangerous Missile Launcher: While aboard his helicopter in Cars 2: The Video Game, Professor Z is armed with a missile launcher that he may try to use it on the player on the last wave of a Hunter mission.
- Electromagnetic Pulse Emitter: He was the one who created this weapon disguised as a camera in order to explode the engines of the World Grand Prix racers.
- Missiles: In his Quick Changers die-cast, he has two missiles.
Relationships[]
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Quotes[]
| “ | Wunderbar. With Finn McMissile gone, who can stop us now? | „ |
| ~ Zündapp, chuckling evilly when he thought he had killed Finn McMissile. |
| “ | Acer: Ay! What's so funny? Rod: Well, you know, I was just wearing a disguise. You guys are stuck looking like that! [gets dropped] Allinol? Thanks, fellas! I hear this stuff is good for ya. Zündapp: So you think! Allinol by itself is good for you. But, after microscopic examination, I have found that it has one small weakness. When hit with an electro-magnetic pulse, it becomes… extremely dangerous! Grem: Smile, for the camera! Rod: Is that all you want?! I got a whole act! Zündapp: You were very interested in this camera on the oil platform. Now, you will witness what it really does. Rod: Whatever you say, Professor. Acer: You talked up a lot of cars last night! Which one's your associate? Rod: Your mother! Oh, no, I'm sorry, it was your sister! You know, I can't tell them apart these days. Grem: Can I start it now, Professor Z?! Zündapp: Go... 50% power. [turns to Rod] This camera is actually an Electro-Magnetic Pulse Emitter. Acer: What about her?! Did you give to her?! Zündapp: The Allinol is now heating to a boil, dramatically expanding, causing the engine block to crack under the stress, forcing oil into the combustion chamber. Acer: How about him?! Did you talk to him?! Rod: Why do I care?! I can replace an engine block! Zündapp: You may be able to but, after full impact of the Pulse, unfortunately, there will be nothing to replace. Acer: How about him? Does he have it? Zündapp: (after realizing that Mater has it) That's him, he's the one. Grem: Roger that, Professor Z. Rod: No! Zündapp: [to Axlerod on the microspeaker] Yes, Sir. We believe the infiltrator has passed along sensitive information. I will take care of it before any damage can be done! [to the Lemons] The project is still on schedule. You will find the second agent, and kill him. |
„ |
| ~ Zündapp capturing Rod Redline and torturing him about who the second agent is, killing him with the electromagnetic pulse camera once he gets said information and ordering his minions to kill Mater. |
| “ | Axlerod: …till Lightning McQueen is dead! Zündapp: Of course. |
„ |
| ~ Zündapp getting his orders from Axlerod to kill McQueen. |
| “ | It's the American spy!!! | „ |
| ~ Zündapp realizes Mater infiltrated the meeting, disguised as Ivan. |
| “ | You actually care about the race car. A pity… you didn't warn him in time. | „ |
| ~ Zündapp after Mater gets kidnapped. |
| “ | Give it up, McMissile! | „ |
| ~ Zündapp as Finn attempts to capture him. |
| “ | You! Why didn't my death ray kill you?! | „ |
| ~ Zündapp ranting out at McQueen. |
| “ | Zündapp: Oops, did I forget to mention that it can only be disarmed by the one who activated it? Holley: Say it! Zündapp: Deactivate. Bomb: Voice denied. Zündapp: I'm not the one who activated it. Would anyone else like to try? |
„ |
| ~ Zündapp's last words before getting tased by Holley. |
Trivia[]
- His design is based on a Zündapp Janus, a German microcar made by the Zündapp motorcycle company from 1957 to 1958. The name "Janus" came from the Roman God, which is based on the unusual design of having the doors at the front and rear, passengers in the rear-facing backward. It had a 245 cubic centimeters engine, with an optimistic top speed of around 50 mph (80 kph). It had a poor handling because of its unusual weight configuration.
- Most of Professor Zündapp's traits, especially his thick foreign accent, were taken from Zil, a Russian car who was originally intended to be the main antagonist of Cars 2. However, Zil was scrapped when Sir Miles Axlerod proved to be more popular among the producers.
- In the short YouTube documentary A Day in the Life of John Lasseter, it is shown that during the end of production of Cars 2, Professor Z's lines in the interrogation scene with Rod "Torque" Redline were changed to remove any references to radiation ("electromagnetic pulse" was originally "blast of radiation"). John Lasseter asked that the lines be changed out of respect for Japan, due to what happened there three months before the film's release in the United States, which it was caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. However, in the Cars 2 Junior Novelization and the Cars 2 magazine, "blast of radiation" was used, probably because they were made before they changed the line.
- Along with Grem, Acer, Miles Axlerod, and Victor Hugo, Professor Z is playable in Cars 2: The Video Game, even though they are villains. However, it could be that, along with the tracks, they are part of the simulation.
- Alongside this, a younger version of Professor Z is also playable in the game.
- Professor Z for some reason is always referred by his real name only by Finn McMissile. However, McMissile refers to him as "Professor Z" in the cutscene of the start of Cars 2: The Video Game. And although McMissile and his voice actor Michael Caine are British, McMissile pronounces the "Z" in Zündapp's name the American way ("Z" in American is pronounced "zee" while in Britain is pronounced "zaid"). However, it could be that the "Z" in his name is always pronounced "zee" even in Britain (when referring to Professor Z) in that cutscene. It could also be that all people pronounce the "Z" in his name the American way. Also, although Professor Z pronounces "missile" in the British way (miss-i-all), he pronounces "can't" in the American way.
- His license plate is BAD GA 58, which appears to be a pun on "bad guy". The 58 is one of the years the Zündapp Janus was made (1957-1958). Per the German license plate rules, the first 1-3-letter abbreviation represents the city where the car was registered. "BAD" is assigned to Professor Z's hometown, Baden-Baden.
- When he arrived at the casino in Italy for the Lemons' secret meeting, he greeted his fellow leader colleagues with "Guten Tag", which is German for "Good day".
- Also, another German word he said is "Wunderbar" when he is informed by Grem that Finn McMissile is "dead". Wunderbar is a German word for "wonderful".
- His voice actor Thomas Kretschmann is actually German himself like his character.
- Also, another German word he said is "Wunderbar" when he is informed by Grem that Finn McMissile is "dead". Wunderbar is a German word for "wonderful".
- Professor Z is the one of the two Cars 2 characters to have the same voice actor in multiple versions of the movie, as Thomas Kretschmann voiced Professor Z in both the English and German dubs of the movie.
- Although he is the secondary villain, he is more evil than Axlerod because he was willing to sabotage the World Grand Prix not just by making the world turn against alternative fuel and rely on oil, but also as well as murdering Rod "Torque" Redline. Additionally, he was also completely willing to kill Mater, Lightning McQueen, and Finn McMissile in order to keep his plan in full swing. Furthermore, he and Axlerod show no known care for each other - and no known care for anyone but themselves. Zündapp also is the one who drives the plot and is far more dangerous than Axlerod due to having a criminal record long before Axlerod met him. This makes Professor Z one of the darkest Pixar villains.
- The description of "Young Professor Z" in Cars 2: The Video Game implies that he's been dreaming of world domination since his youth (back when he had a normal roof rack, wasn't rusty and/or dented and wore glasses along with a bow tie).
- Zündapp appears in a Turkish Cars Official Magazine comic for the 2022 Disney+ and Pixar series Cars on the Road; he appeared with two new yellow henchpitties (who are two Alza Tutto Forklifts) kidnapped Mater and The Queen of England.
External links[]
- Professor Zündapp on the Pure Evil Wiki
- Professor Zündapp on the Disney Wiki
- Professor Zündapp on the Pixar Wiki
- Professor Zündapp on the World of Cars Wiki
[]
 Villains
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