Hamtaro: What is the appeal of this soothing anime about the adventures and friendship of an adorable hamster?

Hamtaro - Hamster's adventure of love and friendship

"Hamtaro Dechu" is a TV anime series based on a picture book by Ritsuko Kawai that aired on TV Tokyo from 2011 to 2012. The series is set in a small, green town and tells the heartwarming story of Hamtaro the hamster and his friends. With 52 episodes, each one only five minutes long, the series gained popularity as a way to teach children the importance of love and friendship.

■ Story

Hamtaro, a hamster who lives in the house of Loco, a fifth-grader, in a small town full of greenery, is a curious and energetic character. Hamtaro, who works hard for Loco with his small body, is the main character of this animation. Hamtaro has many hamster friends, the "Ham-chans." They gather in a secret underground house and are always looking for something new and interesting. As a result, they often cause a lot of excitement. Hamtaro is a special hamster who can understand human feelings, and he goes on various adventures with Loco and his friends.

■Cast

The voice actors are Kurumi Mamiya as Hamtaro, Haruna Ikezawa as Loco-chan, Rikako Aikawa as Koushi-kun, Kentaro Ito as Taisho-kun, Kazusa Murai as Ribbon-chan, Rei Sakuma as Muffler-chan, Yu Sugimoto as Maido-kun, and Chihiro Suzuki as Megane-kun. These voice actors bring out the unique characters of the Ham-chans in a charming way.

■ Main Characters

Hamtaro is a special hamster who is popular and always stands out, and understands other people's feelings. Koushi-kun is a very quiet boy who is always hungry and eating something. Ribbon-chan is a naive young lady who is popular with everyone. She is memorable for putting treasures in a jewelry box. Taisho-kun is a strong man who is like an older brother to everyone. Muffler-chan is quiet, but reliable. She is a girl who always wears a muffler that brings back memories. Chibimaru-chan is like Muffler-chan's little sister and is always looked after by her. Megane-kun is stylish and has a pattern that looks like glasses. He is a little bit pretentious. Maido-kun likes jokes and is a neat freak. He is a boy who likes cleaning and can quickly become friends with anyone. Torahamu-chan is quick and has a mischievous personality. He is good at spinning ribbons and is a genius at rhythmic gymnastics. Noppo-kun has a kind older brother-like personality. He is a smart boy who loves to read books. Tongari-kun is always traveling alone and is good at playing the guitar. Panda-kun is dexterous and good at making things. He loves art and dreams of becoming a carpenter. Kaburu-kun has a shy personality. He is a boy who likes to wear everything. Neteru-kun is an idea man. He often talks in his sleep. He is distinctive for always sleeping inside his socks. Torahamu-kun is Torahamu-chan's twin brother. He easily falls in love with girls and loves singing and dancing. He looks just like Torahamu-chan, but he is very playful.

■Subtitle

Many of the subtitles for each episode symbolize the adventures of Hamtaro and his friends, and have the appeal to draw viewers in. Here are some of them:

• Episode 1: Hamtaro Appears! (2011/04/02)
• Episode 2: Let's build an underground house! (2011/04/09)
• Episode 3: Get together! Ham-chans (2011/04/16)
• Episode 4: Jump out! Ribbon-chan (2011/04/23)
• Episode 5: Let's Dance! Torahamu-chan (2011/04/30)
• Episode 6: Let's go find Torahamu-kun! (2011/05/07)
• Episode 7: Wandering around! Tongari-kun (2011/05/14)
• Episode 8: What a Disaster! Ribbon-chan (2011/05/21)
• Episode 9: Panda-kun is on the move! (2011/05/28)
• Episode 10: It's a mystery! Neteru-kun (2011/06/04)
• Episode 11: It's time for courage! Kaburu-kun (2011/06/11)
• Episode 12: I'll send you a present! (2011/06/18)
• Episode 13: The Exciting Museum (2011/06/25)
• Episode 14: So cute! Chibimaru-chan (2011/07/02)
• Episode 15: Follow him! Daddy's Glasses (2011/07/09)
• Episode 16: It's Mommy Time! Taisho-kun (2011/07/16)
• Episode 17: Hamu-chan is doing great! (2011/07/23)
• Episode 18: Too Many! Konpeitou (2011/07/30)
• Episode 19: Let's go! First time at the beach! (2011/08/06)
• Episode 20: Adventure! Summer Festival! (2011/08/13)

■ Related works

There are many related works based on the original work by Ritsuko Kawai, "Hamtaro Dechu." Here are some of them:

• Hamtaro
• Hamtaro is Ham Ham Paradise!
• Hamtaro, yeah
• Hamtaro the Movie: Great Adventure in Ham-Ham Land
• Hamtaro the Movie: Ham Ham Hamuja! The Phantom Princess
• Hamtaro the Movie: Ham Ham Grand Prix Aurora Valley's Miracle - Ribbon-chan in the nick of time!
• Hamtaro the Movie: Ham Ham Paradise: The Mysterious Demon's Picture Book Tower
• Hamtaro's Birthday - Searching for Mommy - 3,000 Tech Tech
• Ham-chans' Great Treasure Hunt ~ Ham-Haa! A Wonderful Summer Vacation at the Sea
• Ham-chans and the Prince of the Rainbow Kingdom: The World's Greatest Treasure
• Hamtaro Ham Ham Parade! Ham-chans Aim for the Ham Ham Gold Medal ~Run! Run! The Great Battle~

■ Theme songs and music

The opening theme "Hamtaro Tottokota 2011" was written and composed by Ritsuko Kawai, arranged by Motoyoshi Iwasaki, and sung by the Ham-chans. This song was loved by viewers as it symbolizes the adventures of Hamtaro and his friends.

■ Production

"Hamtaro Dechu" was animated by Shogakukan Shueisha Productions, with TMS Entertainment participating as an animation production partner. Directed by Osamu Nabeshima, the series faithfully reproduced the original work by Ritsuko Kawai while entertaining viewers with its own unique story development.

■Works

The copyright is owned by Ritsuko Kawai, Shogakukan, SMDE, and TV Tokyo. These organizations worked together to create "Hamtaro Dechu" and turn it into a work that is loved by many children.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"Hamtaro Dechu" has been highly praised as a work that teaches children the importance of love and friendship. The adventures of Hamtaro and his friends bring smiles to viewers' faces and are memorable as heartwarming stories. In particular, Hamtaro's ability to understand human feelings and the bond he shares with his friends are sure to have a positive influence on children. Furthermore, with each episode only five minutes long, the story unfolds in a way that draws viewers in, making it enjoyable for adults as well as children.

The reason we recommend this work is that it can teach children important values ​​through the adventures of Hamtaro and his friends. It is filled with many lessons, such as the importance of love and friendship, the courage to face difficulties, and the importance of bonds with friends. In addition, the subtitles and story development of each episode keep viewers entertained, and there is something new to discover every time, stimulating children's imaginations. Furthermore, the beautiful animation based on the original work by Ritsuko Kawai and the charming characters are full of elements that will endear it to viewers.

"Hamtaro Dechu" not only teaches children the importance of love and friendship, but is also a fun show for the whole family. Be sure to watch it and enjoy the adventures of Hamtaro and his friends.