Like with previous shows co-created by Dan Povenmire, Hamster & Gretel has a collection of running gags and moments that tend to appear throughout the series. The way these are portrayed in Hamster & Gretel is more similar to Milo Murphy's Law, as both shows have moments that commonly reoccur in the series, but aren't in every single episode; whereas most of Phineas and Ferb's running gags are incorporated in its formulaic premise.
Super Punch[]
- Main article: List of Super Punches in Hamster & Gretel
Gretel using a Bad Guy Punch against Professor Exclamation.
One of Gretel's signature traits is excitedly calling out an attack, typically using the phrasal template "[noun] PUNCH" (the noun typically being Gretel's target), and then hitting her target. The phrase will typically materialize into colorful block letters for a brief couple seconds as Gretel calls her attack, and these letters are sometimes being interacted by the characters in the show before dematerializing.
Typically, Gretel will announce her punch excitedly before striking her target.
Sometimes, other characters will use the phrasal template of "[noun] PUNCH" instead of Gretel (these typically come without the phrase materialization). Phrase materialization can also occur on other attacks by Gretel that don't involve punching (e.g. "Eel Tackle" or "Super Slap"), and sometimes, the onomatopoeia of an impact sound could materialize as well. Gretel is also shown to materialize phrases into colorful letters that aren't supposed to be attacks at all (e.g. "Math" or "Best Friend Bailey's Birthday").
Image scene transitions[]
- Main article: List of image scene transitions in Hamster & Gretel
A typical image scene transition in Hamster & Gretel.
A common occurrence in the series is scene transitions that involve a spinning comic book backdrop, and a zooming image superimposed onto it, with an action sting played alongside it. Oftentimes, the superimposed image is of Hamster and Gretel themselves, typically in a neutral expression, but often using various expressions as well; however, other characters, such as Kevin or Fred, are used instead, and sometimes it's an object of sorts; these images are typically unique, and only a few transition images are reused for later episodes. The images in question tend to be relevant to either the previous scene it transitions from, or the following scene it transitions to.
These scene transitions are clearly inspired by the scene transitions used in the 1966 Batman television series, which coined these kind of transitions. The transitions Batman has also involve a spinning backdrop with a zooming superimposed image (which, in this case, is typically the Batman sigil, found on Batman's suit and on the Bat Signal), and an action sting (which is derived from the series' theme song). The incentive to use transitions inspired by those of Batman likely stems from the fact that Hamster & Gretel is a superhero-based comedy series as well.
Coincidentally enough, Milo Murphy's Law, a previous show co-created by Dan Povenmire, also had a scene transition inspired by Batman, added in the episode "The Phineas and Ferb Effect" (a crossover with Phineas and Ferb, another show co-created by Dan Povenmire). The scene transition has an image of Milo, Diogee and Perry the Platypus superimposed to it, and the action sting is the same one that would eventually be used for Hamster & Gretel.
Action News report[]
Occasionally, a Hamster & Gretel episode may include a news report from Action News field reporter, Veronica Hill. They're typically used to convey an issue involving a supervillain or criminal to Hamster, Gretel and Kevin, and are used to set up the plot of an episode in a convenient way. Sometimes, though, Veronica may insert some of her own snark in her reports, occasionally with the added implication that she hates her current job and hoped for better field pieces.
Imaginary floating heads[]
In some episodes, a floating head of a character may appear beside another character (usually Gretel or Kevin). This floating head usually acts as a reminder of something that has been said by the actual character earlier in the episode, which may be especially useful advice for the situation that the other character currently finds themselves in. The floating heads may say other random things alongside the useful reminder.
Imaginary floating heads that give advice in the form of an earlier phrase is a trope that has appeared in various forms of media. The floating heads in Hamster & Gretel is another example, and sometimes spoof, of this trope.
Andrew and Clyde's chess game[]
While not as prevalent as other running gags, some episodes of Hamster & Gretel would occasionally include Andrew and Clyde, a couple of elderly men, playing chess against each other. Sometimes, Andrew would take notice of the situation that a more focal character finds themself in, asking Clyde if he had hired said focal character to distract him. Clyde would then deny, revealing he had hired someone else to distract Andrew with, which Andrew would then reply with "Well played, Clyde, well played".
Clyde and Andrew is another set of recurring characters voiced by Dan Povenmire and his friend Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for their shows. Swampy had previously co-created Phineas and Ferb and Milo Murphy's Law with Dan Povenmire, and those shows would occasionally have a couple of characters voiced by them. For Hamster & Gretel, however, Swampy was only available to do voicework.
This town, man[]
As of the second half of Season 1, certain episodes of Hamster & Gretel may include the resigned comment of "This town, man" (or a variation of it) from Hamster, typically as a reaction to some ridiculous happenstance he and Gretel encounter, and also in reference to how only the city they live in seems to always have ridiculous happenstances like what he's reacting to on a regular basis. Sometimes, a comment like this may come from a different person such as Fred (who is similarly stoic and blasé about her town).