Hamtaro

Hamtaro
	Cover of the first children's book
とっとこハム太郎; (Tottoko Hamutarō)
Genre	Adventure, comedy, slice of life
Manga
Written by	Ritsuko Kawai
Published by	Shogakukan
Magazine	Ciao
Demographic	Shōjo
Original run	1997 – 2000
Volumes	3
Anime television series
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Music by	Motoyoshi Iwasaki
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Licensed by	CA: Alliance Atlantis; NA: Viz Media; UK: Viz Media;
Original network	TV Tokyo
English network	AU: Network Ten, Cartoon Network (2003); CA: YTV (2002–2005); NZ: TV3 (2003); PH: GMA Network; TV5 (2009–2010); UK: Fox Kids (2002–2004); US: Cartoon Network (2002–2004);
Original run	7 July 2000 – 31 March 2006
Episodes	296 (Japanese); 105 (English) (List of episodes)
Original video animation
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Music by	Motoyoshi Iwasaki
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Released	August 6, 2001 – August 6, 2004
Episodes	4 (List of episodes)
Anime film series
Directed by	Osamu Dezaki
Music by	Motoyoshi Iwasaki
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Released	December 15, 2001 – December 23, 2004
Runtime	50 minutes each
Films	4 (List of films)
Anime television series
Trotting Hamtaro Hai!
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Music by	Motoyoshi Iwasaki
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 5, 2006 – March 26, 2008
Episodes	77 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Tottoko Hamtaro Dechu
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 2, 2011 – March 31, 2012
Episodes	52
Anime television series
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Studio	TMS Entertainment
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 7, 2012 – March 30, 2013
Episodes	51

Hamtaro, known in Japan as Trotting Hamutaro (とっとこハム太郎, Tottoko Hamutarō), is a Japanese children's manga and storybook series created and illustrated by Ritsuko Kawai. The manga is serialized in Shogakukan's all-girl's magazine Ciao in 1997, focusing on a hamster named Hamtaro who has a variety of adventures with other hamsters, known as "Ham-Hams" ("Hamuchans" in the Japanese version). Viz Media published the manga adaptations and storybooks in English.^[2]^[3]

Multiple anime adaptations were produced by TMS Entertainment and aired on TV Tokyo. The first series was dubbed in English by The Ocean Group.

Plot

The series revolves around an anthropomorphic hamster named Hamtaro, who is owned by a 10-year-old girl named Hiroko Haruna (Laura Haruna in the English dub). Curious by nature, he ventures out each day to make friends and go on adventures with a clan of fellow hamster friends known as The Ham-Hams. The Ham-Hams meet at a special clubhouse built by Boss ("Taisho").

**Hamsters**
Japan Original name	United States version	Gender	Height	Owner	Debut
Hamutarō	Hamtaro	Male	8.6 cm	Laura Haruna	Episode 1
Ribon-chan	Bijou	Female	7.5 cm	Maria	Episode 1
Taishō-kun	Boss	Male	10 cm	-	Episode 1
Kōshi-kun	Oxnard	Male	10 cm	Kana Iwata	Episode 1
Mafurā-chan	Pashmina	Female	7.5cm	June	Episode 2
Chibimaru-chan	Penelope	Female	6.2cm	Kylie	Episode 2
Maido-kun	Howdy	Male	8.5cm	Zack	Episode 2
Megane-kun	Dexter	Male	8.7cm	Curtis	Episode 2
Neteru-kun	Snoozer	Male	8.5cm	-	Episode 2
Panda-kun	Panda	Male	8.8cm	Mimi	Episode 3
Noppo-kun	Maxwell	Male	10.5cm	Melissa	Episode 3
Torahamu-chan	Sandy	Female	7.5cm	Hillary	Episode 3
Kaburu-kun	Cappy	Male	7.0cm	Kip and Sue	Episode 3
Tongari-kun	Jingle	Male	8.5cm	-	Episode 10
Torahamu-kun	Stan	Male	7.5cm	Noel	Episode 14
Rapisu-chan	Lapis	Female	7.5cm	Maggie O'Hara	Episode 194
Razuri-chan	Lazuli	Female	7.5cm	Maggie O'Hara	Episode 194

Media

Manga

There are three manga about Hamtaro, A Home for Hamtaro, Hamtaro Gets Lost, and Jealous Hamtaro. In the first two, Hamtaro's owner is named Yukari while in the latter, her name is Amy.

Anime

In Japan, Hamtaro aired five anime series, released four movies, several specials, many video game/DVD releases and merchandise. The success was not paralleled in the United States, however, with only the first series, some special episodes, three video games (though two others were released in Europe), and limited merchandise. On 23 February 2011, it was announced that Hamtaro would be receiving a series titled Tottoko Hamtaro Dechu.^[4]

Games

A series of games for Nintendo mobile consoles have also been released.

References

^ Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia. California: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 1-933330-10-4.
^ Hamtaro Gets Lost and Other Stories (The Adventures of Hamtaro, Vol. 2) Amazon.com
^ The Adventures of Hamtaro, Vol. 3: Jealous Hamtaro and Other Stories Amazon.com
^ "Tottoko Hamtarō Dechu TV Anime to Premiere in April".

External links

Hamtaro Official Japanese site Template:Ja icon
TV Tokyo Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu Website Template:Ja icon
YTV Website Archived 19 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine
Hamtaro (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
Hamtaro at IMDb

[1] Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (2006). The Anime Encyclopedia. California: Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 1-933330-10-4.

[2] Hamtaro Gets Lost and Other Stories (The Adventures of Hamtaro, Vol. 2) Amazon.com

[3] The Adventures of Hamtaro, Vol. 3: Jealous Hamtaro and Other Stories Amazon.com

[4] "Tottoko Hamtarō Dechu TV Anime to Premiere in April".

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