Product Details

• Actors: Daniella Evangelista, Chiara Zanni, Kelly Sheridan, Jillian Michaels, Pam Hyatt
• Directors: Osamu Nabeshima
• Format: Animated, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Viz Video
• DVD Release Date: October 15, 2002
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00006JDUV
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,498 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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• For more information about "Hamtaro - Hamtaro and the Ham-Hams (Vol. 1)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hamtaro is an English-language adaptation of the 2000 series Tottoko Hamtaro (Hamtaro the Hamster). With his outsized round head, huge eyes, big ears, and tiny limbs, Hamtaro is another aggressively cute little character in the tradition of Hello Kitty and Pikachu. In "Hamtaro, Please Come Home," his owner Laura and her parents move into a new house in the suburbs. While they're unpacking, Hamtaro sneaks out to explore and starts making friends with other hamsters: nervous Oxnard, pushy Boss, and pretty Bijou. (The neighborhood is apparently overrun with the little rodents.) The episodes quickly fall into a pattern: Laura socializes with her new classmates--most of whom also have hamsters--while Hamtaro secretly meets his pals, the Ham-Hams, in their underground clubhouse. Hamtaro is a harmless entertainment for preschoolers, although their older siblings may dismiss it as saccharine and sappy. Unrated: suitable for all ages. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great anime for kids, parents, and open-minded anime fans, June 22, 2006

By	Neil Ford (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought my first Hamtaro DVD as a present for a friend who has a sweet tooth for cute little animals, and then got a copy to satisfy my own curiosity as an anime fan (plus the DVD was on special). I must say I enjoyed what I saw.

First of all, it IS cute, but not absolutely disgustingly cute - it's just a visual style that you quickly get used to.

Second, even though it is technically a "kids' show", it's not exactly mindless. Just as in more "mature" anime, there are story threads that continue through the series, the characters (while being stereotypes) have some complexity in their relationships, and, thanks to the normal human characters and good background art, there is a sense that the show takes place in (a nice part of) the real world, rather than some airy-fairy cartoon utopia.

Third, visually this show is superior to any US children's cartoon show I've seen recently, especially in the directing (composition & cutting) and the painted backgrounds. And, finally, while I would have liked the option of Japanese language and subtitles, I think this DVD is that rare thing - a pretty good dub of a Japanese anime.

The great thing about Hamtaro is that, although it's for kids, it's not as "dumbed down" as some shows, which means that adults (parents and, er, *ahem* others) can enjoy it too, and parents don't have to worry about their kids being treated like morons.

The downside: with only three episodes per disc, you only get an hour for your money. Also, due to some quirk with the sound mixing, your ears may suffer from some fatigue after half an hour of Ham-Ham adventuring.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hamha, Ham fans!, September 13, 2003

A Kid's Review

Hamha! I think the dvd really rocks. Its not just for pre-school because i'm 11 and i like it loads!!! It has got "Hamtaro"+"The Ham-Ham Clubhouse"+"Calling All Ham-Hams!" on it and is the must have for a ham-lover!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!, May 8, 2005

A Kid's Review

Okay, yeah, Im thirteen. But, I loved this little cartoon. I was stuck with my cousin and she was making me sooo mad I had to go burn off steam, so I flopped on the couch and turned on the Tv. I thought it would be stupid at first, but I was wrong. I highly reccommend hamtaro for anyone!