Hamtaro - Nendoroid
Hamtaro delighted children in Japan and around the world with playful stories about a group of adventurous hamsters. These stories champion the importance of teamwork, friendship, and peaceful solutions to conflict. The titular hamster, Hamtaro, resonates with his young audience through his child-like personality and sense of wonder. Hamtaro is the first of the Ham-Hams to join the Nendoroid line in his debut figure, "Nendoroid Hamtaro."
Nendoroid Hamtaro
Hamtaro joins the Good Smile Company lineup in this custom dimension Nendoroid figure. His already chibi proportions perfectly fit the Nendoroid model. At 2.6 inches, Hamtaro is smaller than a traditional Nendoroid, but it only adds to his adorable hamster appearance. Vibrant painting details showcase his signature orange spots while also contrasting the subtle pink blush on his cheeks. The figure comes with three faceplates: a bright smile, a cheerful, closed-eye expression, and stuffed cheeks. Additional accessories include an individual sunflower seed, a pile of seeds, and a small, hand-held sunflower.
Release Date: December 2021
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: Shichibee
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS & PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Height (Approx.): 65mm | 2.6"
About Hamtaro
Hamtaro is a story about a group of adventurous hamsters. The story centers on a brave and naive hamster named Hamtaro as he meets the other hamsters in his town.
About Hamtaro: Story
The story of Hamtaro begins as the Haruna family moves to a new city. Hamtaro belongs to the family's ten-year-old daughter, Laura. When Laura goes out to school or to meet friends, Hamtaro sneaks out of his cage and meets up with the other hamsters in the area. The group of hamsters, known as the Ham-Hams, often play together in their Clubhouse, built by the field hamster, Boss. Their adventures usually involve attempts to solve problems in their owners' lives and meet new Ham-Hams. By the end of the day, Hamtaro returns home and listens to Laura tell him about her own adventures.
About Hamtaro: Characters
Hamtaro is the main character in the Hamtaro series. He is an orange and white Syrian hamster with large grey eyes. While Boss is the official "leader" of the Ham-Hams, Hamtaro often takes the main role in the group. He cares deeply for his friends and loves to have fun more than anything else. Hamtaro also displays a great level of bravery, risking his life to save other hamsters from cats and other dangers. Notably, Hamtaro also possesses a very child-like view of love. He fails to notice the romantic feelings of other hamsters, often providing comedic relief in the series.
Bijou, Ribbon-chan in Japanese, is another central character in the Ham-Hams and Hamtaro franchise. She is a small, pure white Dwarf hamster with blue eyes and two blue-ribbon accessories. Her family spent time living in France, giving her a French accent and elegant aura. At the beginning of the series, Bijou never left her cage, living a clean, pampered, but lonely life. Hamtaro and the Ham-Hams convince Bijou to come out and play, greatly expanding her worldview. She has a crush on Hamtaro and Boss has a crush on her, creating a two-way oblivious love triangle amongst the Ham-Hams.
Hamtaro Series Development
Hamtaro began as a children's book series in the mid-1990s created by Kawai Ritsuko. Since its creation, the franchise has expanded to include a television series, multiple films, and several video games.
Hamtaro Series Development: Production
Kawai published the first Hamtaro story in the shojo manga magazine Ciao! in 1997. The franchise, known primarily as "Tottoko Hamutaro" in Japanese, spurred the creation of three different manga volumes and several storybooks. The series received an OVA adaptation in 1999 before earning a full tv anime adaptation in 2000. The original anime series ran from 2000 until 2006, spanning nearly 300 episodes. A second anime series, called Tottoko Hamutaro Hai!, ran from 2006 until 2008. A third, 100 episode series titled Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu!, aired in Japan from 2011 until 2013.
Hamtaro Series Development: Reception
The Tottoko Hamutaro series proved incredibly popular in Japan. Two years after the tv anime launch in 2000, the franchise generated over $2.5 billion in merchandise sales and revenue. Tie-in merchandise includes plush toys, licensed stationery, figures, and physical DVD sales. The franchise also produced four full-length films, several tv specials, and eight adventure and educational video games.
The anime series received an English adaptation through VIZ Media in 2002. However, the franchise did not see the same level of success in the United States as it did in Japan. The English anime dub only adapted the first three seasons of the original anime. Of the eight video games, only four were released in North America and six in Europe.