History Anime / Hamtaro

It ran from 2000 to 2006 and lasted for nearly 300 episodes, only 104 of which were translated into English and aired on Creator/CartoonNetwork. It later spawned a spin-off series of five-minute episodes known as "Tottoko Hamutaro Hai!", which aired on the various incarnations of TV Tokyo's weekday morning variety show [=NoriSuta=]. There were also four movies, [[NoExportForYou none of which made it overseas.]]

It ran from 2000 to 2006 and lasted for nearly 300 episodes, only 104 of which were translated into English and aired on Cartoon Network. It later spawned a spin-off series of five-minute episodes known as "Tottoko Hamutaro Hai!", which aired on the various incarnations of TV Tokyo's weekday morning variety show [=NoriSuta=]. There were also four movies, [[NoExportForYou none of which made it overseas.]]

''Hamtaro'' was initially featured on Creator/{{Toonami}}, Creator/CartoonNetwork's block specifically created for action-based shows. The show also aired on Creator/FoxKids in Europe.

* DreamEpisode: There are several episodes where Laura and Hamtaro are dreaming where Laura and the Ham-Hams would play a character depending on the story. One episode in particular ("The Legend of the Courageous Hamtaro!") is where Laura is a princess and Hamtaro and the other Ham-Hams are the guards and Boss plays a villain. Another episode is based on ''[[{{Literature/Snow White}} and the Seven Dwarfs]]'', where Laura is Snow White and some of the Ham-Hams are the seven dwarfs. Also Laura can communicate with the other Ham-Hams including Hamtaro himself.

* AllJustADream: There are several episodes where Laura and Hamtaro are dreaming where Laura and the Ham-Hams would play a character depending on the story. One episode in particular ("The Legend of the Courageous Hamtaro!") is where Laura is a princess and Hamtaro and the other Ham-Hams are the guards and Boss plays a villain. Another episode is based on ''[[{{Literature/Snow White}} and the Seven Dwarfs]]'', where Laura is Snow White and some of the Ham-Hams are the seven dwarfs. Also Laura can communicate with the other Ham-Hams including Hamtaro himself.

[[quoteright:313:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gan_6367.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:313:[[{{Tagline}} Little hamsters, big adventures!]] ]]

* LoveAtFirstPunch: It's implied that [[DarkSkinnedBlond Roberto]] has a crush on Laura, who actually stood up against him for acting like a jerk. She doesn't romantically like him back, however; [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan she still prefers Travis]].

* BigEater: Oxnard.
%% This doesn't explain what the reaction is * Berserk Button: Don't ever make Pashmina's scarf get dirty! She doesn't take it very well, as seen in her debut episode.

%% * Blush Sticker

%% * Casanova Wannabe: Stan.

** {{Aver|tedTrope}}sion: A lost and injured kitten that Boss took in and had to let go of when he learned she had an owner.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Tux.

* FestivalEpisode

* LonelyRichKid: Maria, until Laura befriends her.
* LovableCoward: Oxnard.

* LoveAtFirstPunch: It's implied that [[DarkSkinnedBlond Roberto]] has a crush on Laura, who actually stood up against him for acting like a jerk. She doesn't romantically like him back, however; [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan she still prefers]] [[NiceGuy Travis]].

* BerserkButton: Don't ever make Pashmina's scarf get dirty! She doesn't take it very well, as seen in her debut episode.

* BlushSticker

* CasanovaWannabe: Stan.

* ChristmasEpisode.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* GratuitousFrench: In the English dub, Bijou would sometimes add various french words to her sentences such as "Oh là là" or "Bonjour".

* NiceHat: Cappy, he really loves his hat

* {{Tsundere}}: In the OVA, Sparkle has a huge crush on Hamtaro but sometimes would call him an idiot or stupid. Compared to the other female Ham-Hams, Pepper take this UpToEleven when she doesn't mind getting herself dirty and is a lot more outgoing compared to Sandy.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The main band of hamsters is 13 strong--and plenty more side-hams show up from time to time, not to mention the humans.

[[caption-width-right:313:[[{{Tagline}} We are the ham-hams!]] ]]

* NiceCharacterMeanActor: Glitter. Onstage, she's a bubbly J-pop singer with TastesLikeDiabetes lyrics. Offstage, she's a sharp-tongued, egotistical bitch, and tries to drive Travis away from Laura so he can spend time with her. Same can be said for her pet Sparkle, who also isn't fond of the Ham-Hams style or the clubhouse.

* {{Meganekko}}: Kana. Also, Dexter (well, they're marks on his fur that look like glasses, anyway...)

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Ook-Ook.

* OutOfCharacterMoment: Bijou has a crush on Hamtaro and is prone to jealousy if she thinks or knows another girl likes him. However, in the 2nd movie, she shows no signs of disappointment when Princess Cye-ra announces that she wants to marry Hamtaro.
** In the 3rd movie Bijou is... oddly cold to her friends in the opening. She responds to their friendly greeting with a reluctant hello and then walks away from them with her nose in the air. Vastly different behaviour to her SpoiledSweet personality from the series.

** In "Auntie Viv and Elder Ham" Howdy tells Auntie Viv he [[Series/IDreamOfJeannie dreamt of Jeannie's car]].

* [[Main/{{Hoyay}} Ho Yay]]:
** Laura and Kana have a lot of Les Yay for whatever reason... [[Main/{{Squick}} which brings up some really bad thoughts]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KREZpxI68RQ This scene has another awkward-feeling moment of this trope]].

* {{Mondegreen}}: Likely why Penelope's catchphrase was changed from "Ookyoo!" to "Ookwee!"

* ThePowerOfLove: ''Ham Ham Heartbreak'' makes a game out of it!

* ShoutOut: To ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', in two places. First, the shady Ham-Merchant says 'Buy somethin', will ya!?' like the original Zelda shopkeepers did. The second is [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments much funnier]]. You collect three marbles throughout the game, one red, one green, and one blue. Then you place them in a pedestal that looks like it has a sword in it. Then you tug on the sword. The 'Opening a Treasure Chest music' from Zelda plays. And... [[spoiler:IT'S A SPOON!]]

** {{Aver|tedTrope}}sion: A lost and injured kitten that Boss took in [[TearJerker and had to let go of when he learned she had an owner.]]

* TertiarySexualCharacteristics: How do you tell Stan and Sandy apart? At simple sight, Sandy has a bow right above her tail. But, but if you look at them clearly on a close up, Sandy's eyes are shown to be green, while Stan's are blue; and her belly is white while Stan's is beige, making them a case of HalfIdenticalTwins.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** On Travis's birthday, one of his friends is like, "Hey, birthday boy! Let's take you to the girls' room!" but this is only suggested in the dub...
** Then there's Stan, whose entire character is based around flirting with girls.
** A lot of the [[Main/{{Hoyay}} Les Yay]] moments between Laura and Kana can bring up some really [[Main/{{Squick}} Squicky]] thoughts.

''Hamtaro'' (''Tottoko Hamutaro'' in Japan) is an anime series [[AdaptationDisplacement based on a series of children's books about hamsters]], Hamtaro and his Ham-Ham buddies lead exciting adventures while his owner Laura is off at school having her own adventures.