Hamtaro
|
|
Hamtaro_1_3.jpg
Hamtaro (Japanese: とっとこハム太郎 Tottoko Hamutaro) is a children's anime television program whose main character is the eponymous hamster named Hamtaro (Hamutaro in the original Japanese). The anime is based on Ritsuko Kawai's animated storybooks. Hamtaro is licensed by ShoPro Entertainment in North America.
Supporting characters include other hamsters. Hamtaro is owned by a girl named Laura Haruna (Hiroko Haruna or "Roko-chan" in the original Japanese). The show also features the household's dog, Brandy (Burandon or "Don-chan" in the Japanese series). This television program teaches children about sharing, adventures, and real life situations.
| Contents |
Characters
List of main hamsters
The English name is listed after the Japanese name. The English Wikipedia will refer to Hamtaro characters by the names used in the English-language editions.
- Hamutaro (ハム太郎 Hamutarō, sometimes ハム太郎くん Hamutarō-kun) / Hamtaro - Owned by Laura
- Ribbon (リボンちゃん Ribon-chan) / Bijou - Owned by Maria
- Taisho (大将君 or タイショーくん Taishō-kun) / Boss - a field hamster
- Koushi (こうしくん Kōshi-kun) / Oxnard- Owned by Kana
- Maido (まいどくん Maido-kun) / Howdy - Owned by Goldie
- Megane (めがねくん Megane-kun) / Dexter - Owned by Curtis
- Mafura (マフラーちゃん Mafura-chan) / Pashmina - Owned by June
- Chibimaru (ちびまるちゃん Chibimaru-chan) / Penelope - Owned by Kylie
- Noppo (のっぽくん Noppo-kun) / Maxwell - Owned by the eldest son of a bookstore owner.
- Torahamu-chan (トラハムちゃん Torahamu-chan) / Sandy - Owned by Hillary
- Torahamu-kun (トラハムくん Torahamu-kun) / Stan - Owned by Noel
- Neteru (ねてるくん Neteru-kun) / Snoozer - a field hamster
- Panda (パンダくん Panda-kun) - Owned by Mimi
- Kaburu (かぶるくん Kaburu-kun) / Cappy - Owned by Kip and Sue
- Tongari (トンガリくん Tongari-kun) / Jingle - a field hamster
- Lapis or (in Japan) Lapis-chan (ラピスちゃん Rapisu-chan) - owner unknown, not yet made television debut outside Japan.
- Lazuli or (in Japan) Lazuli-chan (ラズリーちゃん Razuri-chan) - owner unknown, not yet made television debut outside Japan.
Other supporting hamsters
There are plenty of supporting hamsters that have appeared on the show. Some of them one-time, others (like Elder Ham (長老ハム), Auntie Viv (おハムばあさん, Ohamuba-san), Sparkle (くるりんちゃん, Kururin-chan), Bo (にじハムくん, Nijihamu-kun), etc.) are recurring. To see a list of the supporting characters alongside the main ones, check the Japanese Hamtaro character guides (http://www.hamutaro.com/anime/chara/index.html).
Humans and other characters
- Hiroko Haruna (春名ヒロ子 Haruna Hiroko) or Roko-chan (ロコちゃん) / Laura Haruna - The owner of Hamtaro.
- Burandon (ブランドン) or Don-chan (どんちゃん) / Brandy - Laura's dog.
World airing information
- In Japan on TV Tokyo and TV stations of TXN.
- In the United States on the Cartoon Network, some rumor it may end up on Nick Jr..
- In Canada on YTV
- In the United Kingdom on Fox Kids
- In Germany on RTL 2
- In Continental Europe on Fox Kids
- In Latin America on Cartoon Network LA (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico)
- In the Philippines on ABS-CBN
- In Malaysia (and possibly Brunei) on NTV7 (It may be possible that Brunei viewers also get Hamtaro on NTV7 via the Kristal-ASTRO satellite service)
- In Thailand on Channel 7 and UBC
- In Indonesia on RCTI
- In Singapore on Channel I over Starhub cable (previously known as Singapore Cable Vision). Also aired for a short time over TCS Central. Those who live near the borders the might be able to get Hamtaro on NTV7 and/or RCTI as well
- In Hong Kong on TVB Jade
- In Australia on Cartoon Network Pacific. Also aired for a short time on Network Ten
- In New Zealand on Cartoon Network Pacific and TV3 New Zeland
This is just a partial list of channels. Full list of channels carrying Hamtaro is available on both the Japanese site (http://www.hamutaro.com/info/international/index.html) and the English site (http://www.hamtaro.com/international/international.html)
Licensed products
- Shogakukan: Ritsuko Kawai's books, other Hamtaro related titles, Japanese videos/DVDs
- Columbia Music Entertainment: Japanese music CDs
- Epoch Co. Ltd.: Plushes, collectible toy line, talking toys, musical toys, standalone electronic games (for the Japanese/Asian market only, but can also be found in some import stores in North America and Europe)
- Hasbro: plushies, collectable toy line
- The Learning Company: Hamtaro: Wake Up Snoozer! for the IBM PC/PC compatibles/Apple Macintosh
- Nintendo: video games -
- For the Game Boy Color: Hamtaro (Unreleased in the US/Rest of the World), Hamtaro: Ham-Hams Unite
- For the Game Boy Advance: Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak, Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue, Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games/Ham-Ham Sports, Hamtaro E-Cards for the E-Card reader(Japanese market only).
- Sega: Arcade painting game, Sega Pico titles (Japanese market only), Cocopad titles (Japanese market only)
- Banpresto: Arcade kiddie ride
- Smuckers: Smucker's Snacker's
- VIZ Media: books, English-language comics, videos/DVDs
- Seiko: Limited Edition watches
The full list of licensees can be found on both the Japanese and American Hamtaro websites.
External links
- Official English site (http://www.hamtaro.com/)
- Official Japanese site (http://www.hamutaro.com/)
- TV Tokyo Hamtaro website (http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/hamutaro/)