Hamtaro
Hamtaro | |
Cover of the first children's book | |
とっとこハム太郎 (Tottoko Hamutarō[1]) | |
---|---|
Genre | Adventure, comedy |
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 |
Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment |
Licensed by | |
Network | TV Tokyo (2000–2006) |
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 |
Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment |
Released | August 6, 2001 – August 6, 2004 |
Episodes | 4 |
Anime film series | |
Directed by | Osamu Nabeshima |
Music by | Motoyoshi Iwasaki |
Studio |
Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment |
Released | December 15, 2001 – December 23, 2004 |
Runtime | 50 minutes |
Films | 4 |
Anime television series | |
Trotting Hamtaro Hai! | |
Directed by | Osamu Nabeshima |
Music by | Motoyoshi Iwasaki |
Studio |
Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment |
Network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 5, 2006 – March 26, 2008 |
Episodes | 77 |
Anime television series | |
Tottoko Hamtaro Dechu | |
Directed by | Osamu Nabeshima |
Studio |
Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment |
Network | TV Tokyo |
Original run | April 2, 2011 – March 31, 2012 |
Episodes | 52 |
Anime television series | |
Directed by | Osamu Nabeshima |
Studio |
Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment |
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").
Media
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. In 2004, Hamtaro was cancelled in the United States to air the new Gundam series and Dragon Ball Z. On 23 February 2011, it was announced that Hamtaro would be receiving a series titled Tottoko Hamtaro Dechu.[4]
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 (Japanese)
- TV Tokyo Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu Website (Japanese)
- YTV Website Archived 19 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
- Hamtaro (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Hamtaro at the Internet Movie Database