History Main / HamsterWheelPower

** Large-scale versions have also appeared in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', powered by golems (''Making Money''), trolls (the riverboat from ''Witches Abroad''), oxen or human prisoners (''Small Gods''). A subversion in ''Eric'' was a giant wheel propelled by damned souls (and, briefly, by the Luggage), but it didn't power anything and was merely one of Hell's torments.

** Large-scale versions have also appeared in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', powered by golems (''Making Money''), trolls (the riverboat from ''Witches Abroad), oxen or human prisoners (''Small Gods''). A subversion in ''Eric'' was a giant wheel propelled by damned souls (and, briefly, by the Luggage), but it didn't power anything and was merely one of Hell's torments.

* Doomwheels in TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} are Skaven warmachines bristling with warpstone weaponry, powered by a Rat Ogre running inside.

** Large-scale versions have also appeared in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', powered by golems (''Making Money'') or human prisoners (''Small Gods''). A subversion in ''Eric'' was a giant wheel propelled by damned souls (and, briefly, by the Luggage), but it didn't power anything and was merely one of Hell's torments.

* When the theater lost power on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', Dr. Honeydew rigged a giant hamster wheel generator that ran on "Beeker power". When Beeker got tired, Honeydew activated a power booster - he released a tiger inside the wheel to chase Beeker.

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* One puzzle in ''VideoGame/Limbo'' involves luring a creature to a wheel to get it to power a WeatherControlMachine.

* In ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife'' (the video game) there's a rather convoluted puzzle wherein you put a rude French mouse on a wheel, and giving him the proper motivation (not [[MiceLoveCheese cheese]]) makes him run so as to open a door.

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* In ''MontyPython's The Meaning of Life'' (the video game) there's a rather convoluted puzzle wherein you put a rude French mouse on a wheel, and giving him the proper motivation (not [[MiceLoveCheese cheese]]) makes him run so as to open a door.

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One humorous way to demonstrate that a mechanical device is primitive, of amateurish construction, or simply underpowered is to have it propelled, not by internal combustion or electricity, but by Pocket Pet Power. Hook it up to a wheel-shaped or spherical cage, and let a small animal -- usually a hamster or mouse -- run its little legs off inside to generate torque. The larger the device, and the tinier the animal, the odder this arrangement looks.

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* Episode two of the ''{{Pokemon}}'' Anime shows that the Pokemon Center's backup power generator is several Pikachu running on a horizontal wheel around a tesla coil.

* One episode of ArchieComics ''Explorers of the Unknown'' had the VillainOfTheWeek's superweapon powered by "1,000,000 hamsters in running wheels."
* In ''TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'', it's revealed that [[spoiler:a major source of electricity for the whole world is actually a giant hamster wheel where TheFlash is running in superspeed.]]

* In ''ChickenRun'', the chickens escaped on a plane that ran on pedals.
** In ''{{Madagascar}} 2'', a plane was similarly powered by monkeys.

* A white mouse in a wheel powers part of the RubeGoldbergDevice shown in the opening credits of ''{{Elementary}}''.
* When the theater lost power on ''TheMuppetShow'', Dr. Honeydew rigged a giant hamster wheel generator that ran on "Beeker power". When Beeker got tired, Honeydew activated a power booster - he released a tiger inside the wheel to chase Beeker.
* StephenColbert once suggested that puppies licking peanut butter off turbine blades to make them spin might be a viable alternative-energy option on ''TheColbertReport''.
* On ''GilligansIsland'', Gilligan pedals a stationary bicycle in order to generate power for the radio and a few other devices. At least once the stationary bicycle became non-stationary, sending Gilligan flying through the underbrush.

* Gnomes in the {{Spelljammer}} D&D-in-space setting use giant space hamsters to power much of their goofy technology.

* The video game ''TheIncredibleMachine'' uses these almost exclusively for power sources.

* Ferries in ''FinalFantasyX'' are powered by [[HorseofADifferentColor chocobos]] running in hamster wheels. Justified, since a more advanced engine would presumably break Yevon's taboo against machina.

* Many powered devices used by the ''KidsNextDoor'' were hamster-driven.
* Norm, a giant robot from ''{{Phineas and Ferb}}'', runs on squirrel power.

* Animatronio, a Renaissance robot built bu LeonardoDaVinci in the ''{{Futurama}}'' episode "The Duh-Vinci Code", is powered by a rat-wheel in his chest.

* [[{{Discworld}} Archchancellor Ridcully]] has one such device under his hat that may prevent baldness, powered by a hamster.
** Large-scale versions have also appeared in ''{{Discworld}}'', powered by golems (''Making Money'') or human prisoners (''Small Gods''). A subversion in ''Eric'' was a giant wheel propelled by damned souls (and, briefly, by the Luggage), but it didn't power anything and was merely one of Hell's torments.

* Doomwheels in {{Warhammer}} are Skaven warmachines bristling with warpstone weaponry, powered by a Rat Ogre running inside.

* A freeze ray in ''WesternAnimation/LeagueOfSuperEvil'' was powered by a hamster running in wheel. It wore little jogging accessories.

A common power source for HomemadeInventions or BambooTechnology. Often combined with RubeGoldbergDevice for maximum wackiness.

Examples:

* In the Upsidasium story arc of ''RockyAndBullwinkle'', it is revealed that vehicles in Pottsylvania are revolutionary (or "revolves"), thanks to the power of tiny squirrels running in wheels.
* At the end of the ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "Boobs in the Woods", DaffyDuck takes out the motor out of PorkyPig's car, so Porky forced Daffy to pedal the crankshaft instead. When he complains that Porky had no right to do that, Porky produces a license that allows him to do just that (a CallBack to a gag about licenses earlier in the cartoon).

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