Zaur (G1)

This article is about the Autobot Mini-Cassette from Headmasters. For the Autobot cassette from Animated, see Zaur.

Saur is an Autobot Mini-Cassette from the Headmasters portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Oh, man, I stepped in something.

Saur (ザウル Zauru) is an Autobot Mini-Cassette, and the most powerful of the four Autobot W Cassettebots, being even stronger in the depths of the ocean. Despite this, he is peaceful and has a fondness for cute squirrels and widdle birdies.

He can combine with his partner Dile to form the humanoid robot Legout.

Fiction

Wars manga

Saur was presumably present as part of Legout when Legout was stationed at Scramble City. Metrowars

TransTech

In Axiom Nexus, there was a broadcast program titled Better Call Saur. Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/03/31

Toy

The Headmasters

ASK PROFESSOR SCIENCE

• Zauru [sic] (W Cassettebot, 1987)
  • ID number: C-124
  • Accessories: Left and right "Cannon Guns"

Saur is a mini-cassette that transforms into what appears to be a dark blue (nearly black) Apatosaurus. He has a good range of articulation with several points of movement at the neck and tail, as well as hip joints. Two silver "Cannon Guns" plug into the faux cassette tape holes near his hind legs.

Saur combines with Dile to form the legs of Legout. His cannons become hip-mounted weapons in this form.

Notes

• Saur's name is often romanized as "Zaur", due to how his name (ザウル Zauru) is spelled in comparison to the current standard of transliterating "saur" as サウル sauru. However, zauru was a previously standard transliteration, so "Saur" was most likely Takara's intent. This is also supported by the name of Saur's teammate, Dile, likely being a shortening of "crocodile".
• As one of the vanishingly few toys unique to the Headmasters toyline and something of a tail-ender within the line, Saur and the other three "dino-cassettes" command ridiculous sums on the secondary market. Their actual rarity is questionable, though; similar "exclusive holy grails" Stepper, Artfire, Twincast, and Soundblaster were uncommon, but not vanishingly rare, yet still commanded top dollar due to overseas perception (until they got reissued, at any rate). As there appear to be no plans to reproduce these cassettes, their high-price status is unlikely to change.
• Saur's ability to become stronger in water is a reference to the erroneous idea that sauropod dinosaurs were semi-aquatic.

External links

• W Cassettes toy article at TF-1.com