Hamtaro - Nendoroid
Hamtaro has delighted children in Japan and around the world with fun stories about a group of adventurous hamsters. These stories emphasize the importance of teamwork, friendship, and peaceful solutions to conflict. The eponymous hamster, Hamtaro, resonates with his young audience thanks to his childlike personality and sense of wonder. Hamtaro is the first of the Ham-Hams to join the Nendoroid line with his debut figure, "Nendoroid Hamtaro."
Hamtaro Nendoroid
Hamtaro joins the Good Smile Company line with this custom-sized Nendoroid figure. His already chibi proportions match the Nendoroid model perfectly. At 2.6 inches, Hamtaro is smaller than a traditional Nendoroid, but this only adds to his adorable hamster-like appearance. The vibrant paint details highlight his signature orange spots while contrasting the subtle pink blush on his cheeks. The figure comes with three face plates: a bright smile, a happy closed-eye expression, and padded 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
Features: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS and PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Height (approx.): 65mm | 2.6"
About Hamtaro
Hamtaro is the story of a group of adventurous hamsters. The story focuses 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 when the Haruna family moves to a new town. Hamtaro belongs to Laura, the family's ten-year-old daughter. When Laura leaves for school or to meet friends, Hamtaro sneaks out of his cage and joins the other hamsters nearby. The group of hamsters, known as the Ham-Hams, often plays together in their clubhouse, built by the field hamster, Boss. Their adventures usually involve trying to solve problems in their owners' lives and meet new Ham-Hams. At 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 of the Hamtaro series. He is an orange and white Syrian hamster with large gray eyes. Although Boss is the official "leader" of the Ham-Hams, Hamtaro often takes the lead role in the group. He cares deeply for his friends and loves to have fun more than anything. Hamtaro also displays great courage, risking his life to save other hamsters from cats and other dangers. It is also notable that Hamtaro has a very childish view of love. He fails to notice the romantic feelings of other hamsters, which often serves as comic 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 lived in France, giving her a French accent and an elegant aura. At the beginning of the series, Bijou never left her cage, living a clean, pampered, but solitary life. Hamtaro and the Ham-Hams convince Bijou to go outside and play, greatly expanding her worldview. She develops a crush on Hamtaro, and Boss develops a crush on her, creating a two-way love triangle among the Ham-Hams.
Development of the Hamtaro series
Hamtaro began as a children's book series in the mid-1990s, created by Kawai Ritsuko. Since its inception, the franchise has expanded to include a television series, several 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, has spawned three separate manga volumes and several storybooks. The series received an OVA adaptation in 1999 before receiving a full television anime adaptation in 2000. The original anime series aired from 2000 to 2006, with nearly 300 episodes. A second anime series, titled Tottoko Hamutaro Hai!, aired from 2006 to 2008. A third, 100-episode series, titled Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu!, aired in Japan from 2011 to 2013.
Hamtaro Series Development: Reception
The Tottoko Hamutaro series has proven incredibly popular in Japan. Two years after the television anime premiered in 2000, the franchise has generated over $2.5 billion in merchandise sales and revenue. Merchandise includes plush toys, licensed stationery, figurines, and physical DVD sales. The franchise has also spawned four feature films, several television specials, and eight adventure and educational video games.
The anime series was adapted into English by VIZ Media in 2002. However, the franchise did not achieve the same success in the United States as it did in Japan. The English 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.
