The Dancing Hamsters were a series of singing and dancing hamsters made by Gemmy and Funtime Gifts/Funtime Inc. in 2001 to 2005. Each hamster has a unique name and outfit and sings a famous song in a high pitched voice while dancing. The first hamster that was made was Sleepy Simon in 2001. He sings "Mr. Sandman". Simon, along with several other hamsters released in 2001 was made of rubber. Starting late that year, with the Kung Fu Hamster, they were made of plush. The line was discontinued in 2004-05, but hamsters released for special occasions, such as Valentine's Day, Christmas, and Easter could be found in stores until at least 2008. In 2006, Mini Hamsters were launched. They had the same singing and dancing feature as the originals, but were smaller and had a cartoony appearance.
In 2012, Gemmy brought back the Dancing Hamsters. They were larger and more cartoony than the originals and had larger eyes. Several year-round hamsters were sold at Walgreen's, Big Lots, CVS, and Target from 2012-2013. Seasonal hamsters for Valentine's, Easter, and Christmas were also released during these years. No new hamsters were produced after 2013. Several special sets of hamsters were also produced.
Dancing Hamsters were revived again in 2015, this time looking closer to the original 2002 versions. They were sold from 2015-2018.
Trivia[]
- Miniature clip-ons of the Kung Fu Fighting, J-Tee, Jailhouse Rick, Hombre, Wild Willie, Blue, Sexy Rex, Carly, and Sugar Ray Clay hamsters were released. Some of them played snippets of their original version's songs, and some played the entire song.
- In 2003 Military Hamsters were released. These hamsters were Sgt. Scruffy, Captain Carl, Sailor Seymour, and Sgt. Murphy . During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Military Hamsters all had yellow ribbons added to them. This is where the "Support our troops!" meaning comes from in the Gemmy advert for these.
- After the hamster's initial discontinuation, Romancin' Hamsters were released for Valentine's Day 2005. These hamsters, dressed in 50s style outfits, sang love songs while their cheeks lit up and they danced.
- An unknown year brought hamsters dressed as NASCAR drivers who moved steering wheels as they danced. The interesting thing about them is that they danced to songs at a normal pitch!
- In 2003, Gemmy released a limited edition hamster named Sam.
- In 2002, Gemmy released 4 dancing hamsters as characters from the "Rocky" films. These were Rocky, Training Rocky, Clubber Lang and Apollo Creed. They featured slightly bigger boxes and each came with 3 sayings and 1 song.
- In 2009, a Dancing Hamsters album was released, featuring high-pitched covers of songs such as: "Thriller", "Cha Cha Slide", "I'm Yours", "Single Ladies", and "Love Story".
- Legs the Football Crazy Hamster originally came from Manchester, England as said on the back of his box and hence his red/white theme.
- The hamsters hit the shelves again in 2016 and they were sold at Publix and Spencer's.
- Some Frogz and Dancing Hamsters share designs.
- In 2003 there was a promotion where multiple dancing hamsters sang "We are Family" in addition to their normal song. Whether these hamsters are all Spaz, or all hamsters that were available during the promotion is currently unknown.
List Of Original 2001-2005 Hamsters[]
Hamster | Song | Year |
---|---|---|
Sleepy Simon | Mr. Sandman | 2001 |
Birthday Boy | Happy Birthday | 2001-2002 |
Dapper Dan | Puttin On The Ritz | 2001 |
Gigolo Jo | Just a Gigolo | 2001 |
Larry Love | I Think I Love You | 2001-2002 |
Phat Daddy Mac | Rapper's Delight | 2001-2003 |
Wild Critter Cody | Long Tall Texan | 2001 |
Buck And Chuck | Dueling Banjos | 2001 |
Cletis and Claude | Dueling Banjos | 2003 |
Kung Fu (nunchucks) | Kung Fu Fighting | 2001 |
Kung Fu (mace) | Kung Fu Fighting | 2001 |
Kung Fu (shield) | Kung Fu Fighting | 2001 |
Karate (nunchucks) | Kung Fu Fighting | 2001 |
Karate (mace) | Kung Fu Fighting | 2001 |
Karate (shield) | Kung Fu Fighting | 2001 |
Jailhouse Rick | Jailhouse Rock | 2002 |
Wild Willie | Born To Be Wild | 2002 |
30th Birthday | Get This Party Started | 2003 |
40th Birthday | Birthday | 2002 |
40th Birthday | When I’m 64 | 2007 |
50th Birthday | Birthday | 2002 |
Angel | Let It Snow | 2005 |
Anniversary | Happy Anniversary | 2003 |
Apollo Creed | Gonna Fly Now | 2002 |
Barber Ben | Shaving Cream | 2002 |
Beach Bum | Good Vibrations | 2003 |
Betty | I Will Follow Him | 2005 |
Big Man On Campus | School's Out | 2003 |
Birthday Boy II | Happy Birthday | 2001 |
Birthday Boy II (Funtime Version) | Happy Birthday | 2001 |
Birthday Girl | Party All The Time | 2003 |
Birthday Guy | Get This Party Started | 2003 |
Blue | Blue Suede Shoes | 2002 |
Bobby Soxer | Rock Around The Clock | 2003 |
Boots | Don’t Tell My Heart | 2003 |
Buck And Chuck II | Dueling Banjos | 2003 |
Buddy Birthday | Birthday | 2002 |
Buffy | Mickey | 2003 |
Bunny V1 | My Little Bunny Loves Easter (Shortnin' Bread Parody) | 2005 |
Bunny V2 | Easter's Here | 2005 |
Canada | O Canada | 2003 |
Captain Carl | Wild Blue Yonder | 2003 |
Carly | She Works Hard For The Money | 2002 |
Celebration | Celebration | 2002 |
Celebration (Funtime Version) | Celebration | 2002 |
CEO | Love Of Money | 2003 |
Champ | We Are The Champions | 2002 |
Chick | Chicken Dance | 2002 |
Cleo | Walk Like An Egyptian | 2002 |
Clubber Lang | Eye Of The Tiger | 2003 |
Commencement | Shout | 2003 |
Cowboy | Rawhide | 2002 |
Cupid | That’s Amore | 2005 |
Dancer | Jingle Bells | 2003 |
Danny | You Really Got Me | 2005 |
Darrel Waltrip | Born To Be Wild | 2003 |
Devil (With Heart) | Hot Hot Hot | 2002 |
Devil (No Heart) | Hot Hot Hot | 2002 |
DH Singers Valentine's Performance | Don't Go Breaking My Heart | 2004 |
Didi | It's In His Kiss | 2005 |
Disco Don | Shake Your Groove Thing | 2002 |
Doc | Bad Case Of Loving You | 2002 |
Dr. Dunk | Basketball Jones | 2002 |
Dr. Love | Bad Case Of Loving You | 2003 |
Dreamer | Dream A Little Dream | 2003 |
Dutchie | Pass The Dutchie | 2002 |
Easter Chick V1 | Chicken Dance | 2005 |
Easter Chick V2 | You Are My Sunshine | 2005 |
Elf V1 | Jingle Bells | 2005 |
Elf V2 | First Toy Maker To The King | 2005 |
Fireman | Hot Stuff | 2003 |
Fisherman | Going Fishing | 2002 |
Fly Guy | Hooked On A Feeling | 2002 |
Frog V1 | Easter Time (My Boyfriend's Back Parody) | 2005 |
Frog V2 | Bringing Home A Baby Bumblebee | 2005 |
Funkmeister | Give Up The Funk | 2002 |
Grad | Celebration | 2003 |
Graduation | Shout | 2002 |
Grand Master Blaster | Rockefeller Skank | 2001 |
Greaser | Rock Around The Clock | 2003 |
Greg Biffle | I Can’t Drive 55 | 2003 |
Greg Brady | Brady Bunch Theme | 2003 |
Grim | Halloween Sayings | 2003 |
Groom | I'm Into Something Good | 2003 |
Guisseppe | Che La Luna | 2002 |
Guy | Ice Ice Baby | 2002 |
Hal | Mr. Roboto | 2003 |
Hamster In A Red Dress | Devil In Disguise | 2003 |
Hamzilla | Hamzilla (Godzilla parody) | 2003 |
Harry | San Francisco | 2003 |
He Devil | Hot Stuff | 2003 |
Hokey Pokey | Hokey Pokey | 2003 |
Hombre | La Cucaracha | 2002 |
It's A Boy | Let's Hear It For The Boy | 2003 |
It's A Girl | My Girl | 2003 |
J Tee | We Are The Champions | 2002 |
Jacque | Ice Ice Baby | 2002 |
Jamie McMurray | Bad To The Bone | 2003 |
Jan Brady | Brady Bunch Theme | 2003 |
Java | Java Jive | 2004 |
Jimbo | Limbo Rock | 2003 |
Karaoke Kim | I Will Survive | 2002 |
Kringle | We Wish You A Merry Christmas | 2002 |
Kurt Busch | Born To Be Wild | 2003 |
Lamb | My Little Bunny Loves Easter (Shortnin' Bread Parody) | 2005 |
Lamb | Easter Cheer | 2005 |
Larry Love II | I Think I Love You | 2002 |
Legs | Ole, Ole, Ole | 2003 |
Leprechaun | Come On Eileen | 2002 |
Lil' Hamsta | Dilemma | 2003 |
Leroy Brown | Bad, Bad Leroy Brown | 2003 |
Looby | Looby Loo | 2006 |
Love | L-O-V-E | 2002 |
Love Machine Robot | Love Machine | 2003 |
Love Punch | What Is Love | 2002 |
Louie | Louie, Louie | 2003 |
Lowrider Shyler | Low Rider | 2002 |
Luigi | That's Amore | 2002 |
Luigi (Spinning Pizza) | That’s Amore | 2002 |
Mack | Mack The Knife | 2004 |
Macy | What A Girl Wants | 2003 |
Matt Kenseth | Born To Be Wild | 2003 |
Marcia Brady | It’s A Sunshine Day | 2003 |
Marshall | The Fireman | 2003 |
Marty | Happy Together | 2003 |
Maverick | The Gambler | 2003 |
Mitsu | I Think I’m Turning Japenese | 2003 |
Mona | Respect | 2003 |
Monster V1 | Sharp Dressed Man | 2003 |
Monster V2 | Monster Mash | 2003 |
Monster V3 | Superfreak | 2005 |
Murphy | Wild Rover | 2003 |
Nanako | I Think I’m Turning Japanese | 2003 |
Nigel | I Want You To Want Me | 2003 |
Officer Ron | Bad Boys | 2002 |
Over The Hill | Happy Birthday Geezer | 2002 |
Over The Hill | Streetbeater | 2007 |
Over The Hill | Birthday | 2004 |
Pamela | Perfect Day | 2003 |
Party Animal | Get This Party Started | 2003 |
Patient | Feeling Alright | 2004 |
Peter Brady | Time To Change | 2003 |
Phat Daddy Mac II | Rapper’s Delight | 2002 |
Princess | Dancing Queen | 2002 |
Queenie | Dancing Queen | 2002 |
Red | Long Haired Country Boy | 2003 |
Red Baron | Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron | 2003 |
Rock | Old Time Rock n Roll | 2001 |
Rocky | Eye Of The Tiger | 2003 |
Roger | Convoy | 2002 |
Rox | Game Of Love | 2003 |
Rudy | Jingle Bells | 2002 |
Sailor Seymore | Anchors Away | 2003 |
Sam | Tequilla | 2003 |
Sandy | I Know What Boys Like | 2005 |
Santa V1 | Merry Christmas Everybody | 2005 |
Santa V2 | We Wish You a Merry Christmas | 2002 |
Santa V3 | We Wish You a Merry Christmas | 2003 |
Sarge | Bad Boys | 2002 |
Sergei | The Hockey Song | 2002 |
Sexy Rex | I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt | 2001 |
Sgt. Murphy | Marine Corps Hymn | 2003 |
Sgt. Scruffy | Caissons Go Rolling Along | 2003 |
Sneezer | Why Can't We Be Friends (Parody) | 2004 |
Slick | Sharp Dressed Man | 2002 |
Smooth | Ladies' Night | 2002 |
Spaz | She Blinded Me With Science | 2003 |
Spooky | Ghostbusters Theme | 2002 |
Stephan | The Hockey Song | 2003 |
Sticks | Bang on the Drum | 2004 |
Suave | Rico Suave | 2004 |
Sugar | Girls Just Wanna Have Fun | 2002 |
Sugar Ray Clay | Gonna Fly Now | 2002 |
Swinger | It's Not Unusual | 2003 |
Teacher | ABC-123 | 2004 |
Teddy Ballgame | Take Me Out To The Ballgame | 2002 |
Tex | Rawhide | 2004 |
The Hamsterette | Chapel Of Love | 2003 |
Toga | Shout | 2002 |
Toy Soldier V1 | 'Twas the Night Before Christmas | 2002 |
Toy Soldier V2 | Jingle Bells | 2005 |
Training Rocky | Gonna Fly Now | 2003 |
Turkey | Somebody's Watching Me | 2003 |
Uncle Sammie (Short Fur) | Yankee Doodle Boy | 2001 |
Uncle Sammie (Normal Fur) | Yankee Doodle Boy | 2002 |
Valerie Valentine | Fever | 2005 |
Vampire V1 | I Want You To Want Me | 2005 |
Vampire V2 | Get Down Tonight | 2005 |
Victor Valentine | Fever | 2005 |
Vince | Ain't Too Proud To Beg | 2005 |
Werewolf | Shake Your Groove Thing | 2003 |
Werewolf V2 | Clap For the Wolfman | 2004 |
Whitey | Play That Funky Music | 2002 |
Witch V1 | Black Magic Woman | 2004 |
Witch V2 | Evil Ways | 2005 |
Witch V3 | Girls Just Wanna Have Fun | 2005 |
Wolfie | Clap For The Wolfman | 2004 |
Wild Critter Cody Jr. | I Want To Be A Cowboy | 2002 |
Yankee Doodle | Yankee Doodle Boy | 2004 |
(Name Unknown) | YMCA | 2004 |
(Name Unknown) | Sleigh Ride | 2005 |
Zeke | Gonna Make You Sweat | 2002 |
Gallery[]
List of 2012-13 Hamsters[]
Hamster Wobblers (Sold at Target 2012):[]
- Krazy (Original Pitch)
- Love Of Money
- Friday v1 (Original Pitch)
- Super Bass (Original Pitch)
Walgreens 2012 Hamsters:[]
- Super Bass (Hamster Pitch)
- Friday v2 (Hamster Pitch)
- You Make Me Feel
Big Lots 2012 Hamsters:[]
- In Da Club
- The Choice is Yours
Christmas 2012 Hamsters (Home Depot and Lowe's):[]
- Krazy (Hamster Pitch) (Lowe's)
- This Kiss (Lowe's)
- Christmas Is My Favorite Time Of Year (Home Depot)
- Up On The Housetop Rap/Christmas Wrapping (Home Depot)
- Up On The Housetop Rap/Wonderful Christmastime (Home Depot)
- Christmas Chill (Home Depot)
Valentine 2013 Hamsters (CVS and Walgreens):[]
- Call Me Maybe (CVS)
- Love You Like A Love Song (Walgreens)
- Just The Way You Are (CVS) (Re-Released at ACME in 2014)
- Baby (Walgreens)
- Moves Like Jagger (CVS)
Easter 2013 (CVS):[]
- Easter Egg Hop
- Imma Chick
- Baby
List Of 2015-18 Hamsters[]
- Karate- Kung Fu Fighting
- Country- Cruise (Remix)
- 21st Birthday- In Da Club
- 50th Birthday- Happy Birthday to You
- Over the Hill- Dinosaur
- Santa- Text Me Merry Christmas
- Snowman- White Christmas
- Reindeer- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
- Christmas Hamster- Deck the Halls
- Valentines Cowboy- Cruise (Remix)
- Tiger- Let Me Call You Sweetheart
- Valentines Prisoner- Let Me Call You Sweetheart