Hamtaro
Hamtaro | |
Cover of the first children's book | |
とっとこハム太郎 (Tottoko Hamutarō[1]) | |
---|---|
Genre | Adventure, comedy, slice of life |
Manga | |
Written by | Ritsuko Kawai |
Published by | Shogakukan |
Demographic | Shōjo |
Magazine | Ciao |
Original run | 1997 – 2000 |
Volumes | 3 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Osamu Nabeshima |
Music by | Motoyoshi Iwasaki |
Studio | TMS Entertainment |
Licensed by | |
Original network | TV Tokyo |
English network | |
Original run | 7 July 2000 – 31 March 2006 |
Episodes |
296 (Japanese) 105 (English) |
Original video animation | |
Directed by | Osamu Nabeshima |
Music by | Motoyoshi Iwasaki |
Studio | TMS Entertainment |
Released | August 6, 2001 – August 6, 2004 |
Episodes | 4 |
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 |
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 |
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").
Original name | 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 (in Japanese)
- TV Tokyo Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu Website (in Japanese)
- YTV Website Archived 19 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
- Hamtaro (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Hamtaro on IMDb