Dr. Hämsterviel

**Dr. Jacques von Hämsterviel** is one of the main villains in the Lilo & Stitch Franchise.

## Background

Before the events of the franchise, Hämsterviel worked alongside Jumba Jookiba as a scientist, after the two graduated from Evil Genius University and managing a business called Jokes on You. Together, they made genetic illegal experiments. According to Jumba, it was Hämsterviel that went to the authorities about the illegal experimentation. Hämsterviel was more than likely arrested as well because of the heavy affiliation. Apparently, Hämsterviel's plan was to fund Jumba's experiments, then take them for himself, then squeal on Jumba and take over the universe.

Little did Hämsterviel know, Jumba was released to capture his latest experiment 626. During these events, Jumba reformed and spent his days on Earth with a new family. Eventually, Hämsterviel would escape, recruits the former captain of the Galactic Federation as his henchman and seek to regain his experiments. Hämsterviel's attempts failed but the constant failures did not prevent the mad scientist from trying again. Years after these events, Hämsterviel sets out to harvest absolute power instead.

### Personality

Hämsterviel seems to have somewhat of a Napoleon-complex as, despite his short stature, he has a large, imposing character and wants nothing less than total galactic domination, as he is extremely self-absorbed, viewing no one (not even his former partner, Jumba or his henchman, Gantu) as his equal. He insults everyone he sees, even when they do something for him or have not done anything at all. Not to mention, he often acts like a spoiled brat, throwing a tantrum when he does not get his way and will take his frustration out on anyone.

He is cunning, diabolical and very abusive to his henchman Gantu, whom he frequently assaults with a plethora of poorly-formed, albeit demeaning and redundant insults (which could hardly even be called insults) for his failures to capture the experiments; even when Gantu manages to capture a few experiments. Hämsterviel never thanks him for it. He also does not care about his minions, so long as they outlive their usefulness to him. However, despite Gantu's loyalty, as well as helping him escape jail in Leroy & Stitch, after Hämsterviel's objectives had been achieved, saying that since he had Leroy to do a better job, Gantu was of no use to him anymore. This horrible treatment was one of the things that proved to be his downfall, as Gantu would later help Lilo and Stitch to defeat Hämsterviel out of spite against him.

Hämsterviel also hates his old business partner Jumba, as well as Stitch, Lilo and Pleakley. His schemes have sometimes been directed at them, either to enslave them or even kill them. Originally, he schemed to capture the 625 experiments that Jumba created before Stitch and use them in his bid to conquer the galaxy, viewing them as his own property because he financed their creation using his shady business deals.

In spite of Hämsterviel's diabolical nature, he's shown to be a coward in the face of dancer, he only shows it if he ever faces conflict himself or caught in a helpless situation that puts him in the face of death. After Sparky freed Stitch, the two restrained him in the same restraints he used on Stitch to slice him in half, prompting him to say that it was a joke. This was shown again after Leroy and his clones were shut down, Hämsterviel got nervous when he was left alone and defenseless at the angry 624 experiments.

Back in the years, when he and Jumba were friends, Hämsterviel was shown to be somewhat of a jokester. In three newspaper articles of their graduation, business and their first experiment, Hämsterviel was waving his posterior at him.

### Physical Appearance

Hämsterviel is a short, chubby, rodent-like alien with white fur and red eyes. While Hämsterviel views himself as a hamster, his appearance is more of a cross between a gerbil and a rabbit, he has long ears like the latter with pink innards, buck teeth, a pink nose and a long tail with bushy brown fur at the tip.

Hämsterviel always wears a red cape with a gold "H" brooch attached to it.

## Appearances

### Film

* Stitch!
* Leroy & Stitch

### Television

* Lilo & Stitch: The Series
* Stitch!

## Disney Parks

Dr. Hämsterviel appears as a walkaround at Tokyo Disneyland along with many other characters from the franchise, as the film and television series are some of the most popular Disney media in Japan.

### Walt Disney World Resort

In 2014, Hämsterviel made his North American debut during the Unleash the Villains event, as part of the Disney villains line-up. This makes him the first and so far only Disney Villain who originated from a sequel to a Disney Animated Canon film that has appeared in parks.

### Disneyland Paris

Hämsterviel made an appearance in Disneyland Paris as part of Stitch's Hawaiian Paradise.

### Tokyo Disneyland

In Mudsummer Night's Panic, Hämsterviel plots to finally capture Stitch and steal his powers. When his minions located him, they travel to Earth to make the move. Hämsterviel sends Gantu to proceed with the capture but the bumbling captain fails and joins Lilo and Stitch's party instead. After all seems lost for the villains, Hämsterviel arrives but decides to join as well with no minions to assist him with the plans.

Hämsterviel is also seen atop a float in the parade Lilo and Stitch's Big Panic: Find Stitch.