Gemmy Prototype Mini Dancing Hamster - Head Turning/Shoulder Roll Mechanism

Notice the look is different. That's because this is our Hampton the Hamster version with the song that went viral. This song is Roger Miller's Whistle Stop Tour which was in the Disney Movie Robin Hood.
I got to know the guy who did Hampton and we agreed to just put Hampton in the line instead of doing a licensed version. This way it could be line-priced and he would get some royalties. I wasn't planning on doing a licensed Hampton version.
The shoulder roll was a unique movement we created for this line. It took a while to get that movement right, it turned out pretty good. We did a few different head movements combined with the shoulder roll, this is one of them.
Around 2005 we decided to revisit the Dancing Hamsters and make them even smaller. We had a good sales run with these too.
We made all new movements for the line. Changed the look of the face and used a thinner pile plush and less accesories to help save cost. We sold a lot of them.

[@loganmcnab1582]

My boy Hampton you came to life

[@loganmcnab1582]

My boy Hampton you came to life say can Hampton play bop it

[@loganmcnab1582]

Oh my God, the meme came to life

[@Gemmygod]

It was very nice of the creator of Hampton to let you do your version of the character without having to acquire the license first. Kinda wish more creators were like that.
On an additional note, this version of the hamster does kinda look like something from a Japanese anime. But that's just from my perspective.

[@libertyclaws4692]

Gemmy 2005 Japan exclusive dancing Christmas loud house cucumber girl on google images

[@ManuelGarcia-dm3mu]

Cool

[@Gemmy2004snowmiserandfriends]

Joe can you make a video of the everyday version and Christmas version moes tavern in operation

[@ChristopherS768]

It’s so funny how he’s just sitting still, all the produced ones have rounded bottoms so they rock back and forth as they move

[@joep5300]

We tried several different sizes for the rounded bottom to get the movement just right. This prototype must have been done before we implemented it

[@JHHHauntz921]

I like how the head looks better than the actual one's

[@Dier-Decor]

Any idea where I could get fabric that is basically the same as what these used when released? I’ve always loved the feel of it but I have no idea where I could get it.

[@Attackjax123]

Do you think you can do a vid of the mechanism from the mini dancing hamster April? the one that sings raining men

[@ringthegemmycollector]

Interesting

[@Sebbieboi2000]

Did you remember working on the tinsel mice with reindeer antlers in 1990s?

[@joep5300]

Those couldn’t have been in the 1990’s because they used the same mechanisms as the hamsters. The Christmas team worked on those.

[@Sebbieboi2000]

@@joep5300ye because my man who gave me the reindeer antler one said she got it in 1984 at a Woolworths with a full box with a tiny window

[@joep5300]

I don’t think Gemmy existed in 1984 and they weren’t doing animated items then. It doesn’t matter.

[@snoboistudios]

I have the mice mrs claws

[@ChristopherS768]

@@Sebbieboi2000the item you’re talking about was made in 2002.

[@Dier-Decor]

Ok so I just remembered a question I wanted to ask, so these were made to advertise the direct to DVD movie, Hamsters save winter or something like that. So three were known to be released (Hampton, Dixie, Hado) but in the Hampton and the Hamsters cast there is also a character named Fuzzy and I am wondering, was there ever meant to be another character in the set?

[@joep5300]

these were not made to advertise a direct to DVD movie. The timing just worked that way. I barely remember doing Dixie and Hado, I'm assuming I did.

[@Dier-Decor]

@@joep5300 oh ok that would make sense than lol

[@loganmcnab1582]

The new hamster dance film has CGI animation, which I agreed on because they have toys, right

[@Dier-Decor]

That’s so cool will you show the other licensed ones?

[@joep5300]

I uploaded a video on my channel with Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligans Island licensed hamsters

[@Dier-Decor]

@@joep5300 Were there any more licensee mini hamsters planned? Or just these and also do you have the videos of the others?

[@CemuelSoriano]

Let 😊me buy that

[@loganmcnab1582]

I can do this. Oh my God Hampton killed Kenny.

[@Leavingthegemmycommunity4689]

Woah I have him but is a Released Model And It Still have with his Tag

[@ManuelGarcia-dm3mu]

I WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO WATCH THIS VIDEO!