Zamu

Zamu is a Decepticon Mini-Con from the Prime portion of the Aligned continuity family.

Zamu (ザム) is Breakdown's Arms Micron partner. Not the excitable sort, there's not a lot else to say about him, other than he hangs out with Gura pretty much all the time.

Fiction

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Prime cartoon

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Zamu only appears as an actual character in the Arms Micron Theater segments of the Japanese broadcast of Prime. Technically, he appears in the main cartoon any time Breakdown uses his hammer, but we're not going to bother with that and just focus on his individual exploits.
Voice actor: Atsushi Imaruoka (Japanese){{#if: |, {{{2}}}}}

Zamu and Gura popped into the Arms Micron studio for a friendly chat with their Autobot counterparts about a recent battle, but as O.P. started giving them advice for future battles, he grew increasingly ruthless and turned black as if tainted by Dark Energon. Arc wondered aloud what was in O.P.'s drink. Acceleration Transformation! Speed Match! Later, he, Gura, and Noji got to be berated by Guru. Until a mysterious voice boomed through the studio, scaring them all... Phantom Transformation! Mind-Diving The voice belonged to Gora, who quickly asserted leadership of the Decepticon Microns. Guru wasn't terribly happy with this, so Gora commanded the others to form the Energon Sniper Combo Weapon, which was promptly used to kerblast Guru into submission. Counterattack Transformation! The Resurrection of Megatron!

Zamu later helped Gora form some Combo Weapons in a vain (and unsuccessful) attempt at impressing Arc. Strategy Transformation! Unravel the Sinister Thread! He and other Decepticons spied on the Autobot Microns during the 20th episode celebration party. Duel Transformation! Quell Cliffjumper's Regrets When Breakdown died, Zamu announced that he would be leaving the other Microns, causing such gloom and sadness that Gura transformed into a new Shining form to brighten things and cheer him up. Unfortunately, Zamu then ruined the drama by saying he'd be back after dinner. Turbulent Transformation! Insect Battle He was among those who combined with Hades until informed that they weren't making their combination any more powerful since Hades was at peak strength to begin with, at which point he disconnected and left. Clashing Transformation! The Dark Commander Appears

Using his hammer mode, Zamu played the role of an usu mortar during the Arms Microns' retelling of The Crab and the Monkey. Combustible Transformation! Struggle over the Omega Key He came in 9th place in an Arms Micron popularity poll, Sky Dance Transformation! The Suicidal Skydive and joined the other Decepticon Microns in tricking Guru into thinking Zori was their new leader. Blackest Transformation! The Shadow of Treachery To celebrate the end of Arms Micron Theater, Zamu and all the other Microns got together to say goodbye to their audience. Ultimate Transformation! Fight! Transformers

Toys

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Prime

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  • War Breakdown (Voyager, 2012)
  • Set ID number: AM-12
  • Micron ID number: M-12
  • Release date: June 30, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: AP Natural
Part of the fourth wave of TakaraTomy Prime toys, Zamu transforms from a rhinoceros-like robot into Breakdown's massive hammer weapon. He is covered in 5mm posts and holes as part of the Arms Micron gimmick, allowing him to combine with other Microns to form bigger and more ridiculous "Combo Weapons" and "Super Combo Weapons".
He was only available packed in with the Voyager Breakdown toy, coming out of the package as a bunch of unpainted parts on runners, like a model kit. His extra deco is provided by customer-applied foil stickers on a sheet he shares with Breakdown.


I'M AN ABOMINATION!!! And I'm coming to your house after schoooool!
  • Hellflame Zamu (Arms Micron, 2012)
  • Release date: July 28, 2012
  • Energon Crystal: AP Gōsei
A clear-red version of Zamu was given away as a campaign bonus with the purchase of 3000 yen's worth of Transformers toys at Japanese Toys"R"Us stores on July 28 of 2012. This version is almost completely devoid of stickers, having only the small faction symbol sticker that goes under his Energon Crystal.


10 Year Anniversary

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Just different enough.
  • War Breakdown and Vehicon 2-Pack (Multi-pack, 2020)
For the tenth anniversary of Prime, Zamu was reissued along with Breakdown, Vehicon, and Igu. Just like before, he came unassembled on a model kit sprue with a sticker sheet. The only significant difference is that the stickers now use Breakdown-matching dark blue rather than the dark purple of the original.
Zamu's instructions include steps to form the (unnamed here) Big Scissor weapon... which includes two Microns not actually available in the 10 Year Anniversary line. While Noji is functionally identical to Igu as far as this weapon goes (as they both transform into a Vehicon blaster), there is no substitute for Jida in the line at all. Jida is marked with a "sold separately" sticker in the instructions, and years later, no Hasbro-sold Jida has materialized. Thumbs up!
This set was exclusive to Hasbro Pulse in the U.S. and Canada, but was available at general retail in Hasbro's Asian markets such as Hong Kong.

Notes

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  • The genesis of Zamu's name is currently unclear. One possibility is that it's an intended throwback to Generation 1 Ramhorn, called Amhorn (アムホーン Amuhōn) in Japan, with the "za-" based on サイ (sai), Japanese for rhinoceros. It's not watertight, but you can't have everything.

Zamu Combinations

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Named combination weapons including Zamu: {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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Arms Up Modes featuring Zamu: {{ #if: {{#ifexpr: 3 }}

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