A list of characters from the anime series Hamtaro. The English language names are listed before the Japanese names. The characters are also referred to in their English-language forms.
Hamsters Ham-Ham Gang
Voiced by: Kurumi Mamiya (Japanese), Chiara Zanni (English) Owned by Laura, Hamtaro is a courageous Ham-Ham who's always ready to help out his friends and his owner Laura. However, he cannot stand being ignored by Laura. He is clueless about many things being that he is of an innocent nature, especially love (much to Bijou and Sparkle's dismay). Hamtaro makes the most of his life as a golden hamster (8.6cmHamtaro at Hamtaro.com) and lives each day in happiness hoping to make more friends and have fun. Hamtaro usually ends his sentences with "noda" (のだ) or "nanoda" (なのだ), a phrase often used by playful characters in the Japanese version. This is omitted in the English version. In both Japanese and English versions, he says such things as "Hamha!", "Heke", "Packa-packa" ("kaji-kaji"), and "kushi-kushi".
Voiced by: Kazusa Murai (Japanese), Chantal Strand (English) Owned by Maria. She is a somewhat foreign hamster who loves her blue ribbons, but she is not above getting dirty when she needs to help her friends, and has been known to be generous and helpful. She used to live in France before moving to where she is now, but she feels attached to Japan and has even refused to go back to France. In the Japanese version, she speaks normal Japanese and adds the words "dechuwa" (でちゅわ) (most likely a hamster version of "desu wa") at the end of her sentences, while the English version of Bijou has a French accent. The name "Bijou," is French for "small, exquisitely wrought trinket", or it can also mean "jewel". She has a huge crush on Hamtaro (this is proven in the first episode, when she winked at him after their dancing performance) and is always touched by Boss's affection towards her.
Voiced by: Rikako Aikawa (Japanese), Saffron Henderson (English) Owned by Kana. Oxnard is Hamtaro's best friend in the series and the first Ham-Ham he meets. Oxnard is a bit clumsy at times and has a love for delicious food, especially sunflower seeds (of which he always carries one aroundOxnard at Hamtaro.com). He breaks down in tears when he loses the sunflower seed he carries around. He looks up to Boss and often tries to train with him whenever possible, wanting to be as strong and brave as him. He was originally an easily frightened Ham-Ham, but he has become braver and more dependable in recent episodes. Oxnard has a crush on his close childhood friend Pepper. His Japanese name translates to "calf", which is probably referring to his spotted cow-like fur and his large appetite.
Voiced by: Kentarō Itō (Japanese), Ted Cole (English) A wild field hamster who wears a helmet and carries a shovel.Boss at Hamtaro.com The self-proclaimed leader of the Ham-Hams, Boss has a huge crush on Bijou. He often tries to look like he knows everything, only to have it backfire in his face. He has a bit of a temper, but he is very dependable, courageous, and nice, even shy at times (especially around Bijou). Because he is a field hamster, he is more familiar with nature and is more independent compared to the other Ham-Hams. He has even developed a field hamster sense that instinctively tells him what kind of weather is approaching. However, he cannot deal with the sea as he is prone to sea sickness. Near the end of Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Heartbreak, it is hinted that he has a small crush on Harmony. Later in the series, Boss develops a crush on other girl-hams, such as Gelato and Oshare.
Voiced by: Rei Sakuma (Japanese), Tabitha St. Germain (English) Owned by June. Considered to be a very maternal Ham-Ham, as she often takes care of Penelope and tends to Cappy. She loves the color pink and always wears her pink scarf. Dexter and Howdy often fight for her affection, but she does not seem to notice (sometimes acting like a mediator for them). She feels that she is too young for a relationship anyway. Her Japanese name translates to "scarf", while her English name is based on the word pashmina.
Voiced by: Kaori Matoi (Japanese), Jocelyne Loewen (English) Owned by Kylie. Considered the youngest of all the Ham-Hams, Penelope is usually never seen without the cover of her yellow blanket (though a few seconds in the opening theme show her blanket coming off, revealing her brown and white fur). Although she is friendly to everyone, she feels particularly attached to Pashmina. Being innocent and naive, due to her age, she gets into trouble more often than most of the other Ham-Hams. In season two, she has shown some cross-species affection for Herbert the Pig, a boy by the name of Ethan (Kylie's younger cousin), and a rabbit at Ethan's school. Unlike the other Ham-Hams, and perhaps because of her young age, Penelope can't say anything more than "Ukyu" (うきゅ) in the Japanese version, and "Ookwee" or "Ookyoo" in the English version.
Voiced by: Takako Honda (Japanese), Brad Swaile (English) Owned by the eldest son of a bookstore owner (though it seems that the bookstore owner's daughter is the one who cares for him). He always carries a book with him, and is often turned to for information. He seems to know a lot about science and literature due to his love of reading. He is a little taller than the other Ham-Hams, partially due to his tall ears. He has a crush on Sandy, though it is never initiated until Hamtaro tells him about Sandy's feelings.
Voiced by: Haruna Ikezawa (Japanese), Brittney Wilson (English) Owned by Hillary. A sporty young girl Ham-Ham who carries a ribbon, and is the twin sister of Stan. Her interest in rhythmic gymnastics have been influenced by Hillary, who is a gold medal gymnast. She has a crush on Maxwell. While in the English version it might seem that the two have confessed their affections, a Japanese episode confirms that they are not quite romantically involved yet. In the English version, she has a valley girl accent. She is also shown to be good friends with Hamtaro, as she confided in him her crush on Maxwell.
Voiced by: Kōki Miyata (Japanese), Noel Fisher (English), Michael Coleman (English) Owned by Noel. Sandy's twin brother, who is often caught flirting with the other girl hamsters.Stan at Hamtaro.com As a result, he can be an annoyance to the other boy Ham-Hams, especially Boss, Howdy, and Dexter. Initially, Sandy and Stan were separated, after Noel (who had a crush on Hillary) offered to take care of one of her hamsters. He is often seen shaking his maracas or riding his skateboard. Stan seems to have a crush on Flora, the nurse hamster pet of the veterinarian, Dr. Lion.
Voiced by: Yū Sugimoto (Japanese), Paul Dobson (English) Owned by Goldie. A Ham-Ham notorious for telling bad jokes, especially at inconvenient times. He speaks with a kansai dialect in the Japanese version and with an American Southern accent in the English version. He and Dexter are long-time friends but often fight with each other over the affections of Pashmina, whom they both have a crush on.
Voiced by: Yū Sugimoto (Japanese), Cathy Weseluck (English) A mysterious hamster that Boss found in his hideaway (which would soon become the Clubhouse). It is unknown where he came from or how he found his way there. He is always sleeping, but often utters some helpful and wise advice when the Ham-Hams are in need of it. Through uncanny streaks of luck, any bad situations he may end up in always seem to work themselves out for him; leaving him no worse than before. In the English version, he talks with a lisp. His Japanese name is based on the word "neru" (寝る to sleep), while his English name is based on the word "snooze".
Voiced by: Chihiro Suzuki (Japanese), Samuel Vincent (English) Owned by Curtis. A refined hamster, who is quite smart. He has a crush on Pashmina, but often battles with his long-time friend, Howdy, for her affection. His Japanese name is a pun: Megane means "glasses" in reference to the tan markings of fur around his eyes that makes him look like he's wearing glasses. Coincidentally, his owner is an optometrist.
Voiced by: Ai Uchikawa (Japanese), Ellen Kennedy (English) Owned by Kip and Sue. One of the younger Ham-Hams, Cappy loves hats. The two hats he most commonly wears are his green swimming cap, and the giant red saucepan that he usually hides under. While he loves his home, he does not like being spoiled, and looks up to Boss due to Boss's independence as a field hamster. Pashmina often tends to him when they are together. He has developed some sort of a rivalry with Stucky, especially when it comes to hide and seek. His Japanese name is based on the word "kaburu" (被る to wear/put something on one's head), while his English name is based on the word "cap".
Voiced by: Yūko Saitō (Japanese), Jillian Michaels (English) Owned by Mimi. A Ham-Ham whose fur matches his name, he is the sweet and gentle-natured builder/carpenter of the Ham-Hams who built and repaired many things throughout the duration of the anime as well as in the game. He also designed the Ham-Ham Fun Park. Mimi's parents own and operate a wood working shop in their house, meaning Panda always has access to construction supplies.
Voiced by: Yū Asakawa (Japanese), Terry Klassen (English) A field hamster. Appears occasionally throughout the series (usually when someone loses something). He speaks in rhymes, which often confuse the other Ham-Hams, but they soon figure out what he means. He is clueless about many things, but tends to give wise advice. Always seen carrying his guitar. In 'Hamtaro, Please Come Home' and all other appearances afterwards, he is seen with Herbert the Pig. He has a habit of forgetting names. Whenever he appears, he usually mispronounces someone's name (Hamtaro's most of the time). Whenever he is corrected, he usually replies "You changed your name again?"
Voiced by: Saeko Chiba (Japanese) Owned by newcomer Mindy O'Hara. She and her younger sister, Lazuli live in Jewelry House next to Maki's house. She likes jewels and sparkling objects such as diamonds. She seems to have a crush on Hamtaro.
Voiced by: Akane Omae (Japanese) Owned by newcomer Mindy O'Hara along with her older sister, Lapis. She likes sweets and candy as well as using various potions to create magical seeds that turns into either animals or flying clouds. She seems to have a crush on Snoozer as in Season 3 and 4, she is seen with him fairly often.
Hamuhaa no Ki no Jūnin (Hamha Tree Inhabitants)
Voiced by: Hikaru Tokita (Japanese) He appeared in the Japanese Hamtaro game, Nazo Nazo Q. His dream is to cross the sky, hence the name Sky Ham. He once had a crush on Pashmina.
Voiced by: Sayaka Maeda (Japanese) She is greedy and once tried to make money off of Sparkle. It is rumored that she has a crush on Broski.
Voiced by: Hisayo Mochizuki (Japanese) She predicts hamsters' futures with her magical crystal ball, usually chanting "I see it, atarinchu".
Voiced by: Miyako Itō (Japanese) He is Mystery's little brother and assistant. He usually goes, "pitarin, pitarin, atarinchu" in addition to Mystery's "atarinchu".
Otome Gang
Voiced by: Tōko Aoyama (Japanese) A female hamster with very long green hair.
Voiced by: Masashi Ogawa and Tetsuharu Ōta (Japanese) A lion-maned male hamster.
Voiced by: Hiroko Oyamada (Japanese) A tall male hamster who resembles a bear.
Djungarians
Voiced by: Miharu Iijima (Japanese), Michael Coleman (English) Member of Team Djungle, who lives at Djunglebell Island. He wears a lion costume.
Voiced by: Makoto Tsumura (Japanese), Sharon Alexander (English) Member of Team Djungle, who lives at Djunglebell Island. He wears a zebra costume.
Voiced by: Kimiko Koyama (Japanese), Annette Ducharme (English) Member of Team Djungle. As her name implies, she wears a rabbit costume. She always says "hop" in every sentence and lives at Djunglebell Island. Appears in Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games.