Japanese logo.
Tottoko Hamutaro Hai! (とっとこハム太郎は〜い!) is a 3D animated series of five-minute Hamtaro shorts. It premiered on April 5, 2006, as part of the "NORI-SUTA Hai!" (のりスタは〜い！) TV block, and ended production on March 26, 2008.
Overview[]
Tottoko Hamutaro Hai!'s first episode aired only five days after Happy Ham-Ham Wedding!, the finale of the main Hamtaro anime series. The Hai! series was marketed at a younger audience than the original anime, though its content was not necessarily educational.
It is animated differently from the original series; most notably, it uses 3D animation instead of 2D, and the hamsters' head-to-body ratio is off (making their bodies look much smaller). The series mainly revolves around the 15 main Ham-Hams, with secondary characters not appearing often; though a few, such as Sparkle, did make a few appearances.
The series has never been aired in English, but has aired in Italian under the title of Hi! Hamtaro: Piccoli Criceti Grandi Avventure. It has also aired in Chinese under the same name as the original series: Hamutailang (Hamtaro), as well as in Thai, Korean, and Indonesian as Hi! Hamtaro: Little Hamsters, Big Adventures. TV Tokyo previously aired reruns Wednesdays at 7:30 AM. As of April 2012, TV Tokyo has stopped showing the reruns. However, Spacetoon Indonesia still shows reruns on their Spacetoon 2 network.
A video game based on the Hai! series, called Hi! Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Challenge, was also released. The game was also published in North America, despite the show itself not airing in the region. Outside of the game, however, not much Hai!-related merchandise was produced; the series wasn't even released on DVD in Japan, though it did get proper DVD releases in some other countries.
Episodes[]
| Ep.# | Episode | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | My Name is Hamtaro! (ぼくハム太郎なのだ) |
Hamtaro helps Oxnard to find the lost seeds. Featuring: Hamtaro, Oxnard |
| 2. | Playing with Bijou (リボンちゃんと遊ぶのだ) |
Bijou needs to prepare herself to play with Hamtaro and Oxnard. Featuring: Hamtaro, Oxnard, Bijou |
| 3. | A Match With Boss (タイショーくんと勝負なのだ) |
Hamtaro and Boss have a speed race down a hill. Featuring: Hamtaro, Boss |
| 4. | Howdy and Dexter (まいどくんとめがねくんなのだ) |
A job at cleaning results in Howdy and Dexter getting into a big fight. Featuring: Howdy, Dexter |
| 5. | Pashmina and Penelope (マフラーちゃんとちび丸ちゃんなのだ) |
Penelope wants a fish kite, so Hamtaro and Pashmina try to think of a way to give her one. Featuring: Hamtaro, Pashmina, Penelope |
| 6. | Maxwell Really Likes Books (本が大好きのっぽくんなのだ) |
Maxwell reads to the Ham-Hams. Featuring: Maxwell |
| 7. | Stan and Sandy (トラハムくんとトラハムちゃんなのだ) |
|
| 8. | Hide-and-Seek with Cappy (かぶるくんとかくれんぼなのだ) |
Cappy plays hide-and-seek with the Ham-Hams. Featuring: Cappy |
| 9. | Panda Can Make Anything (なんでもつくるよパンダくんなのだ) |
Panda builds a playground. Featuring: Panda |
| 10. | Wandering Traveler Jingle (さすらいのたびびとトンガリくんなのだ) |
|
| 11. | Let's Sleep a Lot Like Snoozer (ずっとねてるよねてるくんなのだ) |
|
| 12. | Fun on a Rainy Day (雨の日は楽しいのだ) |
|
| 13. | Flying in the Sky with Everyone (みんなで空を飛ぶのだ) |
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| 14. | Asking Tanabata (七夕のおねがいなのだ) |
|
| 15. | Searching for Fireflies (ホタルをさがすのだ) |
The Ham-Hams search for fireflies. Featuring: Nope |
| 16. | Playing at the Sea (海で遊ぶのだ) |
|
| 17. | Gluttonous Oxnard (こうしくんはくいしんぼうなのだ) |
Oxnard eats all the sunflower seeds Boss had on the Clubhouse table. Featuring: Oxnard, Boss |
| 18. | Happy Birthday (おたんじょうびなのだ) |
|
| 19. | Brandy and a Nap (どんちゃんとお昼寝なのだ) |
|
| 20. | The Monster is Here (オバケが出たのだ) |
|
| 21. | Hot and Cold (あつくて、さむいのだ) |
Howdy and Dexter won't stop arguing, and this upsets Boss, so he makes them exercise, along with Hamtaro. Featuring: Howdy, Dexter, Boss, Hamtaro |
| 22. | A Festival for Everyone (みんなでお祭りなのだ) |
|
| 23. | Climbing the Mountain (山にのぼるのだ) |
|
| 24. | A Troublesome Big Brother (こまったお兄ちゃんなのだ) |
Stan forgot he promised to spend time with Sandy, so she has Hamtaro disguise himself as a new friend of hers to make Stan jealous. Featuring: Stan, Sandy, Hamtaro |
| 25. | Rivals of Love (恋のライバルなのだ) |
Pashmina and Penelope plan on going to Cosmos Field, a wonderful field of blooming flowers. Howdy and Dexter fight over who deserves to go with her. Featuring: Pashmina, Penelope, Howdy, Dexter |
| 26. | Who is the Culprit? (犯人はだれなのだ?) |
Cappy gets his head stuck in a vase and accidentally trashes the Clubhouse, but he's afraid to admit it. Featuring: Cappy |
| 27. | Knitting Fuss (毛糸でおおさわぎなのだ) |
Boss accidentally knocks over a ball of red wool, and the Ham-Hams have to chase it through the tunnels. Featuring: Boss |
| 28. | Eating Too Much (食べすぎちゃったのだ) |
Boss and Oxnard eat so much that they get as round as beach balls and have to exercise the weight off. Featuring: Boss, Oxnard |
| 29. | Playing with Acorns (どんぐりで遊ぶのだ) |
The Ham-Hams go to the mountains and make toys out of acorns. Featuring: Nope |
| 30. | Snoozer's Trip (ねてるくんの冒険なのだ) |
Boss accidentally launches Snoozer into the air while cleaning the Clubhouse, so Hamtaro has to save him. Featuring: Boss, Snoozer, Hamtaro |
| 31. | Penelope Helps (ちび丸ちゃんのお手伝いなのだ) |
Penelope helps Pashmina by delivering a box lunch to Howdy and Dexter. Featuring: Penelope, Pashmina, Howdy, Dexter |
| 32. | Fashion Show (ファッションショーなのだ) |
|
| 33. | Meeting Bijou (リボンちゃんに会いたいのだ) |
Boss gets worried when Bijou is late in coming to the Clubhouse, so he decides to go check on her. Featuring: Boss, Bijou |
| 34. | Panda Car (パンダカーなのだ) |
Panda makes an RV for the Ham-Hams. Featuring: Panda |
| 35. | Pashmina Loves Knitting (あみもの大好きマフラーちゃんなのだ) |
Howdy and Dexter wonder what Pashmina is knitting. Featuring: Howdy, Dexter, Pashmina |
| 36. | Skating with Everyone (みんなでスケートなのだ) |
|
| 37. | Boss's Secret (タイショーくんの秘密なのだ) |
Boss won't let Howdy, Dexter, and Hamtaro into the Clubhouse because he's trying to hide something. Featuring: Boss, Howdy, Dexter, Hamtaro |
| 38. | Meeting Santa (サンタさんに会いたいのだ) |
The Ham-Hams stay up on Christmas Eve to try to see Santa Claus. Featuring: Nope |
| 39. | Playing in Snow (雪で遊ぶのだ) |
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| 40. | Playing with Kites (凧で遊ぶのだ) |
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| 41. | Boss is Sick (タイショーくんがポ〜なのだ) |
Boss has a cold, so Hamtaro and Bijou take care of him. Featuring: Boss, Hamtaro, Bijou |
| 42. | Following Footprints (足あとをおうのだ) |
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| 43. | Herbert is a Big Success (トン吉くん大かつやくなのだ) |
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| 44. | Pashmina is Energetic (マフラーちゃんを元気にするのだ) |
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| 45. | A Nervous Valentine (そわそわバレンタインなのだ) |
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| 46. | Snoozer's Dream Trip (ねてるくんの夢の旅なのだ) |
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| 47. | Penelope the Carpenter (ちび丸ちゃん大工さんなのだ) |
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| 48. | Pleasing Boss (タイショーくんを喜ばせるのだ) |
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| 49. | Oxnard's Big Problem (こうしくん大ピンチなのだ) |
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| 50. | Riding a Swing (ブランコに乗るのだ) |
Bijou wants to ride on a swing with Hamtaro like Sandy and Maxwell do. Featuring: Bijou, Hamtaro, Sandy, Maxwell |
| 51. | Finding Spring (春をみつけるのだ) |
The Ham-Hams look for spring. Featuring: Nope |
| 52. | Finding the Rainbow (虹をさがすのだ) |
The Ham-Hams want to see a rainbow. Featuring: Nope |
| 53. | Exercising (運動するのだ) |
|
| 54. | A Red Ribbon Present (赤いリボンをプレゼントなのだ) |
Hamtaro gives Bijou a red ribbon he found on the floor. Featuring: Hamtaro, Bijou |
| 55. | Chasing Howdy (まいどくんを追いかけるのだ) |
Dexter has to save Howdy when he falls asleep on the back of a delivery truck. Featuring: Dexter, Howdy |
| 56. | Adventure at Home (Part 1) (お家で冒険なのだ［前編］) |
Hamtaro, Oxnard and Boss play at Hamtaro's house, but they get cornered by a cat. Featuring: Hamtaro, Oxnard, Boss |
| 57. | Adventure at Home (Part 2) (お家で冒険なのだ［後編］) |
Hamtaro, Oxnard and Boss have to outwit the cat that cornered them in the first half. Featuring: Hamtaro, Oxnard, Boss |
| 58. | A Noisy Brother (うるさいお兄ちゃんなのだ) |
|
| 59. | A Date With Sparkle (くるりんちゃんとデートなのだ) |
Sparkle returns and goes on a date with Hamtaro, but Bijou is jealous and tries to get Hamtaro's attention. Featuring: Sparkle, Hamtaro, Bijou |
| 60. | Broski (サーファーくんなのだ) |
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| 61. | Laura and the Sunflower Field (ロコちゃんとひまわり畑なのだ) |
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| 62. | Swapping Places (Part 1) (入れかわっちゃったのだ［前編］) |
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| 63. | Swapping Places (Part 2) (入れかわっちゃったのだ［後編］) |
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| 64. | Bijou Cannot Play (リボンちゃんと遊べないのだ) |
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| 65. | Major Change! Howdy (大変身だ! まいどくんなのだ) |
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| 66. | Hasty Fighting (ケンカはやめるのだ) |
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| 67. | Unequal Fashion (おしゃれがとまらないのだ) |
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| 68. | Mole's Digging Ham Dream (ゆめほりハムのもぐるくんなのだ) |
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| 69. | Santa Hamtaro (ハム太郎サンタなのだ) |
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| 70. | Laura's Lost Property (ロコちゃんのおとしものなのだ) |
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| 71. | Go! Robo-Boss (Part 1) (ゆけ! タイショーロボなのだ［前編］) |
Boss dreams to have a robot shaped like him. Featuring: Boss |
| 72. | Go! Robo-Boss (Part 2) (ゆけ! タイショーロボなのだ［後編］) |
|
| 73. | Hamtaro's Ogre Confrontation (ハム太郎の鬼たいじなのだ) |
Hamtaro and friends act out the story of "Momotaro, the Peach Boy". Featuring: Hamtaro |
| 74. | A Scary Crow (カラスはこわいのだ) |
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| 75. | Give Her the Floral Decoration (花かざりを渡すのだ) |
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| 76. | Detective Hamtaro (名探偵ハム太郎なのだ) |
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| 77. | Viewing Cherry Blossoms Together (みんなでお花見なのだ) |
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| [?] | Hamtaro's Summer Special (ハム太郎の なつスペシャルなのだ) |
Only known to have aired on TV once, on August 6th, 2007. Features music videos of Te Wo Tsunago, Ham-Ham Train (same visuals as Thai credits), and Happy Ham-Ham Birthday. |
For unknown reasons, some official episode lists claim to have 102 episodes total; but in reality, there are only 77 episodes, with the remaining ones being repeats.
Bumpers[]
While not necessarily "episodes", various Hamtaro-related bumpers were run in the original NORI-SUTA broadcasts. These were usually educational, often encouraging the viewer to figure out the answer to a problem. One of the most common bumpers was where a Kanji letter would be hidden beneath a layer of sunflower seeds; Oxnard would eat all of the seeds away, until the Kanji was properly revealed. These bumpers do not seem to have been shown outside of Japan.
In some later re-runs (likely 2011 onward), there were additional bumpers based on the Hamtaro "Kururin Change House" playset, which was also commonly advertised in Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu.
Home Video Releases[]
Thailand[]
| Episodes 1-26 | 200x | DVD | ||
| Episodes 27-51 | 200x | DVD | ||
| Episodes 52-77 | 200x | DVD |
There are no other known home releases outside of the Thai dub. It is theorized that some Japanese "Hajimete no Hiragana / Kazu / ABC" (はじめてのひらがな・かず・ABC) DVDs may feature Hai-related content, but this is unconfirmed (and somewhat unlikely).
Trivia[]
- On the Thai DVD releases, each episode ends in a credits sequence, accompanied with a shortened cut of the Ham-Ham Train song. For unknown reasons, these credits were not shown at all in Japan.
- Following the gradual switch to HD television, later Japanese Hai! airings featured a rainbow-sunflower seed border around the screen, to fill the empty space on a widescreen TV.
- Similar, plaid-patterned boarders were used in most episodes of Tottoko Hamutaro Dechu.
- Somewhat strangely (given its few home video releases), the complete Mandarin dub of Hai! is known to exist online in high quality. It is unclear where these Hai copies originated from; though they seem to be actual studio transfers, rather than TV channel recordings.
Gallery[]
External link[]
- Offical site (Japanese)