A Whole World of Hamster Happiness
May 22, 2002 10:46 AM   Subscribe

A Whole World of Hamster Happiness The number-one Japanese kid's show--with nearly $3 billion in merch sales--will be dancing over to Cartoon Network this June. No energy blasts, no dueling monsters, no mecha-suits...only the deadly cuteness of Hamtaro. Can we who aren't K-5th graders endure?
posted by LinusMines (20 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
i've never known a japanese girl named laura...

i'd prefer more energy blasts/dueling monsters/mecha-suits... with the exception of ronin warriors, cartoon network has done really well with their anime lineup (as well as adult swim.).. i hope this doesn't ruin their streak.
posted by lotsofno at 11:09 AM on May 22, 2002


this has nothing on domo-kun. or momo, for that matter.
posted by moz at 11:21 AM on May 22, 2002


Wow. They're...so...cute. I'd probably watch for a few episodes, anyway.
posted by Su at 11:24 AM on May 22, 2002


Yeah, Momo can kick Hamtaro's ass every day of the week
posted by matteo at 11:27 AM on May 22, 2002


Reminds me of the original dancing dudes from wayback when.
posted by HTuttle at 11:34 AM on May 22, 2002


Wonder if this has something to do along the lines of lessening violence on TV... you know, all the post-9/11 "strategies" that pointed to violence on TV and videogames as the culprits...

Now, I like the characters. However, explaining their Japanese success is something only someone living in Japan would understand - although this Wired article may help.
posted by betobeto at 11:35 AM on May 22, 2002


Those hamsters are adorable. And cute. Did I mention that they're adorable? They remind me of sugar gliders or chinchillas with their huge black eyes. They're so cute! I love them!

But wait. One of them looks bad. Very bad. The one they call Boss. He has a weapon. It looks like a spade, but do not be fooled. It is actually a pulsing microwave particle accelerator which comes equipped with a detachable hydroshocker. Keep watching Hamtaro, because Boss is going to lay the smackdown on all of the cute, unsuspecing hamsters. Soon. Very soon.

Hope that cheered you up a bit, LinusMines ;)
posted by iconomy at 11:36 AM on May 22, 2002


blatant self link, coming in
i cant let this link carry on with out showing u my hamster, monkey
posted by monkeyJuice at 11:36 AM on May 22, 2002


Quoted from the Wired link above:

Thus far, cute is kid stuff in the US, and even then it's not the candy-to-a-baby affair it is in Japan. American kids demand to be entertained; cute is a secondary selling point. Sanrio takes this into consideration in designing goods for the American market. [...] If Pikachu had been introduced in the US simply as something adorable to gaze at on a notebook cover, rather than as a computer-game character, he wouldn't be the hit he is. And he wouldn't appeal to boys.

Guess if CN is taking that into consideration.
posted by betobeto at 11:39 AM on May 22, 2002


It's...

so...

KAWAII!!!!!!!!
posted by jazon at 11:51 AM on May 22, 2002


Yeah, Momo can kick Hamtaro's ass every day of the week.

Because "grown-up male hamsters have very very big balls. They look to sit on a cushion."

Rested, ready, stuffed with testosterone: Momo's a fine man, Hamtaro is just a boy. This is not going to be pretty, kids.
posted by maudlin at 12:15 PM on May 22, 2002


They look like the "Children of the Damned.," glowing eyes and all. Do they speak with Ingrish accents? Or do they just go, "Peepity-squeek?"
posted by tnadeau at 12:23 PM on May 22, 2002


maudlin
you are SO right, man. it's all about rat testosterone
posted by matteo at 12:35 PM on May 22, 2002


Why do we have to subject our kids to this stuff. Teletubbies was bad enough
posted by Voyageman at 2:01 PM on May 22, 2002


Violence? Testosterone? Japanese? Cartoon Network?
Two words: Samurai. Jack.
posted by brownpau at 2:27 PM on May 22, 2002


wow, you mean we've gone through this entire thread without a richard gere joke?!
posted by pxe2000 at 5:15 PM on May 22, 2002


pxe2000, that's gerbils, not hampsters.

and, wow, I really, really, really wish I had Cartoon Network. Samurai Jack (which I saw once in a hotel room), and now this....
posted by epersonae at 5:55 PM on May 22, 2002


Too bad it's not the perverted Gainax feature: "Ebichu: The Housekeeping Hamster."

Poor Ebichu.
posted by modularette at 6:04 PM on May 22, 2002


Why do we have to subject our kids to this stuff. Teletubbies was bad enough

As kid's TV goes, this appears to be more Smurfs-smart than Teletubbies-dumb.

The show is based on a series of popular children's manga, in which the hamsters get into adventures and learn lessons about life, friendship, etc. Probably not bad for the kiddies, when we think about it.

By bringing Hamtaro to its Toonami block, CN continues to pursue the elusive Hello Kitty demographic (younger female). Still, a gang of cute rodents will stand out like a sore thumb next to DBZ and Zoids.
posted by LinusMines at 6:07 PM on May 22, 2002


Me, I'm looking forward to Kirby. You must love all-consuming pink puffballs of DEATH. (Pity it's on Fox, though.)
posted by darukaru at 10:30 PM on May 22, 2002


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