Hamtaro

Hamtaro
Cover of the first children's book
とっとこハム太郎 (Tottoko Hamutarō)
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	CA Alliance Atlantis NA Viz Media UK Viz Media
Original network	TV Tokyo (2000–2006)
English network	AU Cartoon Network (2003) CA YTV (2002–2005) NZ TV3 (2003) PH GMA Network TV5 Philippines (2009–2010) UK Fox Kids (2002–2004) US Cartoon Network (2002–2004)
Original run	7 July 2000 – 31 March 2006
Episodes	296 (Japanese), 105 (English) (List of episodes)
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 (List of episodes)
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 (List of films)
Anime television series
Trotting Hamtaro Hai!
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Music by	Motoyoshi Iwasaki
Studio	Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment
Original network	TV Tokyo
Original run	April 5, 2006 – March 26, 2008
Episodes	77 (List of episodes)
Anime television series
Tottoko Hamtaro Dechu
Directed by	Osamu Nabeshima
Studio	Shogakukan Music & Digital Entertainment TMS Entertainment
Original 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
Original 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.

Multiple anime adaptations were produced by TMS Entertainment and aired on TV Tokyo. The first series was dubbed in English by The Ocean Group.

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").

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.