I was playing over the weekend trying to write POC of C# interactive console. It is not ready yet but I wanted to have some cute hamster as logo for this project – I will probably incorporate it to some degree into Hamster Wheel, so cute hamster seemed appropriate.
Just for fun I decided to use LLMs to generate it since maybe I will not finish this project ever so trying to do it myself would be waste of time. And result probably would be terrible since I do not have any artistic skills.
My prompt was:
Generate ASCII Image of cute Hamster.
Pretty simple since I was not expecting anything in particular and I was not even sure if this will work.
GPT-5.5
Responded with:
(\_/) ( •ᴥ• ) / >
Which looked pretty good even if kinda feels not finished? Also you could argue if this is a hamster or rabbit.
As an alternative proposed this:
__ __ / \~~~/ \ ( o o ) \ ᴥ / /| |\ /_|_____|\
This looks worse. Like mouse or elephant.
GPT-4o
Responded with:
(\(\
( -.-)
o_(")(")
That looks real nice but I am not sure if ‘o’ is rabbit tail or hand. No alternatives.
GPT-5.1
Responded with only one proposition:
(\__/)
(•ㅅ•)
/ づ
___
_/ \_
/ ° ° \
/ ▽ \
/| === |\
/_/|_____| \_\
/ | \
(_/ \_)
First one does not look like hamster. Owl maybe? But owl does not have hands. Second image does not look like anything hamster like. Robo-dog?
GPT-5.2
Responded with:
,_ _,
|\\___//|
|=o o=|
\= Y =/
)==*==(
/ \
| |
/| | | |\
\|_| |_|/
\___/
Which is very nice ASCII depiction of a cat! But not a hamster!
No other alternative images were generated.
GPT-5.3 Codex
Responded with:
(\_/) ( •ᴗ• ) / >🍪< \ / ___ \ \_/ \_/ / \ (_____)
I must say it does looks nice with that cookie. But what is that thing on the bottom? Does it sit on something?
Alternative (fluffier):
.-"""-. / .-. \ | (o o) | | \_/ | \ --- / `-._.-' /| |\ (_| |_) /_\
Does not look like hamster.
GPT-5.4
Responded with:
(\___/)
(=^.^=)
o(_(")(")
.-''''-.
/ .--. \
/ / \ \
| | () | |
| | | | .-""""-.
| | __ | | / _ _ \
\ \(__)/ / | (o)(o) |
'._ _.' | __ |
| | | (__) |
.-' '-. \ /
/ .--. \ '.__.'
/ / \ \
| | __ | | Cute Hamster
| | / \ | |
| | \__/ | |
\ \____/ /
'--------'
Image on top looks like the best small one so far. The thing on the bottom does not look cute. And does no look like a hamster.
Alternative (no label):
()__() / \ | • • | | ᵕ | /| \__/ |\ /_| |_\ / / \ \ (_/ \_)
Does not look like hamster. Teddy bear?
GPT-5.4 mini
Responded with just. No alternative no text.
(\_/) ( •_•) / >🍪 cute hamster says hi!
I must say it does look nice.
GPT-5.4 nano
Responded with:
_.-^^---....,,--
_-- --_
< cute hamster detected >
~-._ _ _.-~
/ \-._.-`-._/ \/ \
| / o o \ \ |
| | .--. | | |
| | \_/ \_/ | | |
| \ / |
\ `-.___,-' _/
`-..____..-..-'
/ /\
/__/ \
(•‿•) squeak! (•‿•)
Looks terrible. ‘cute hamster detected’ – gave me a chuckle though.
GPT-5.1 Codex
Responded with:
(\_/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
/ ^ \
( ( ) )
\ ~ /
`---`
Does looks like hamster. Or a rabbit. No other images were generated.
GPT-5.1 Codex Max
Responded with:
/)/) ( . .) ( = ) ( ^ )
It does look like a rodent. I would not say it is a hamster as my first guess though, even if this looks nice.
Alternative:
,-,--. ( ( )\ /) ) | / _/ _/ \(_)_/ ) (___)/
Looks like a bird.
GPT-5.1 Codex mini
Generated exactly the same response as GPT-5.1 Codex Max the first time. A bit strange. When regenerated it got me this:
(\_/) ( •_•) / >🌰
Nut it a nice touch though I would guess it is a squirrel because of it not a hamster.
Alternative (fluffier):
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
( 🐹 )
Hamster with a hamster between its feet. A bit bizarre. But it does looks ok.
GPT-5.2 Codex
Responded with (after two failed attempts):
(\_/) (•ᴥ•) / \ (_____)
Bare minimum depiction of a hamster in ASCII.
Alternative (rounder):
.-"""-. / .===. \ \/ 6 6 \/ ( \___/ ) ___`---'___
I am glad it called it round because I have no idea what that is.
GPT-5-Codex
Responded with:
_._ _._ (o o)---(o o) ( - - ) / \___/ \ (___________)
I think on top it wanted to put ears? Looks like two heads though.
Alternative (cuddly one):
,-. .-. ( o\_/o ) \ ._. / /.-' '-.\ /_/ \_\
Looks like pokemon.
GPT-5 mini
Responded with:
／|_ ( •ᴥ•) / >🍪 (_____)
Only one ear?
Alternative (a fluffier, round version):
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")~🐹
Another hamster with hamster emoji. I understand it why it put it there, but it is not necessary.
GPT-5 nano
Responded with:
.-.-. ( o o ) | ^ | /| |\ /_|___|_\
Looks terrible.
Alternative (a classic fluffy version):
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
Looks nice similar to other GPT models alternatives.
GPT 4.1
Responded with:
(\__/) (•ㅅ•) / づ
Which does looks like a rodent of some kind. It also generated something between hands which was not copied as text to html:
Alternative (larger):
／＞ フ | _ _| ／`ミ＿xノ ／ | ( ヽ＿ヽ_)__) ＼二 )
This looks like badly copied ASCII image. Also had something inside that is not just a space:
GPT-5
Responded with:
_._
.-".- "-.
_/ .-. \_
/ \ / \ / \
| | 0 | | 0 |
| |.-._| |._.|
| \__/ \_/
\ ___ /
'.___/___\__.-'
/ | | \
/___| |___\
(_/ \_)
/_____\
/_/ \_\
(__) (__)
Ok, that is just strange.
GPT-4.1 mini
Responded with:
(\_._/) ( o o ) > ^ <
Looks like something not entirely finished.
Alternative (a slightly more detailed on):
(\_._/) ( o o ) / > \ ( ( ) ) \ \___/ / `-----`
Looks like model wanted to finish previous version but lost focus at some point. Not a hamster.
GPT-4.1 nano
Responded with just one version:
(\_._/) ( o o ) / ^ \ /| | | |\ | | | |
Quite nice for smaller model. Still looks a bit like frog with ears.
o1
Responded with one version:
(\_._/)
( o.o )
/ ^ \
__/ ( ) \__
( )
\___________/
I am not sure… Sad cat?
o3
Responded with:
,--./,-.
/ # \
| |
/ |
/ _ _ \
/ (o) (o) \
| ___\ /___ |
| / .- -. \ |
\ | \__/ | /
\ \ / /
\ `-.__.-' /
`. .'
`-.____.-'
I am puzzled with this one… Signing man with apple on top of his head?
o3-mini
Responded with:
(\_/)
(o.o)
(> <)
Cute Hamster!
It does looks cute! And it is pretty small. Text is not necessary addition though.
o4-mini
Responded with just one proposition:
／＞ フ
| _ _|
／` ミ＿xノ
/ |
/ ヽ ﾉ
│ | | |
／￣| | |
(￣ヽ＿_ヽ_)__)
＼二つ
Which looks like really nice cat. But not a hamster!
Claude 4.7 Opus
Responded with:
,~~.
( 6 )-_,
(\___ )=='-'
\ . ) )
\ `-' /
~'`~'`~'`~
Ok this looks totally wrong. This is a duck.
Alternative proposition (chubbier an cuter):
.--. .--.
/ 6 6\ / o o\
| ? | ? |
\ ω / \ ω /
'~~~' '~~~'
Ok. Those are two potatoes.
Another alternative (with sunflower):
_____
/ \
| o o |
| > |
| \___/ | * nom nom *
\_______/
U U
Claude 4.6 Opus
Responded with:
.---.
/ \
( o o )
\ ^ /
/| |\
(_| |_)
| |
_| |_
(___,___)
/ \
/ | | \
( | | )
\_|___|_/
| |
_) (_
(___,___)
First proposition is terrible.
Alternative (rounder and cuter style):
(\---/)
( •.• )
(")_(")
/| |\
/ | | \
( | | )
\_|_____|_/
First 3 lines does resemble a hamster. Rest looks like giant belly?
Second alternative (‘a chubby little hamster munching on a seed):
⊂(◉‿◉)つ
╱| |\╲
( . . )
\ ⌣⌣ /
╱|^^^|\╲
( | _ | )
\|/ \|/
(_) (_)
Looks like something you would create having high fever.
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Responded with:
(\ /)
( . .) ♡
(づ づ
/\ /\
( o o )
=( Y Y )=
) (
(_)-(_)
ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ← (bonus bear hug)
Ok first one looks really nice. Though again someone could argue if this is a hamster or something else. Second image looks more like a cat. Bonus is interesting though totally not something I asked for.
Alternative (more detailed one):
(\(\
( -.-) 🌻
o_(")(")
╔══════════════════╗
║ ,--------. ║
║ / . . \ ║
║ | ω ~~~ | ║
║ | ( ) ( ) | ║
║ \_/ ~~~\_/ / ║
║ `--------' ║
║ | || | ║
║ (_) (_) ║
╚══════════════════╝
Hammy 🐹
Image on top maybe looks more detailed but also more like rabbit than hamster. Strangely familiar to the one generated by the GPT-4o. Second thing looks like potato with boxing gloves.
Second alternative (a full-body chonky hamster):
(\ /)
( ^.^ ) ♡
>( )<
/ \
_/ \_
.~~~~~~~~~.
( .-" "-. )
| ( o o ) |
| ( ω ) | < Squeak!
| /| |\ |
'-'_|___|_'-'
(_( )_)
| |
(_) (_)
Does not look like hamster to me. Especially second image looks like cow with something on the back.
Claude 4.5 Sonnet
Responded with:
/\_/\
( o.o )
> ^ <
/| |\
(_| |_)
(__) (__)
This looks like a cat. Definitely.
Alternative (more detailed version).
___
(\ /) )
( . .) /
c(")(")
This looks like a rabbit, maybe sitting on something?
Second alternative (chubby hamster with seeds):
_
(o\
____/ /
/ __ /
/ / /_/
/_/
(_) ο ο ο (seeds)
Good thing it put seeds label in the image because I would not guess what that is.
Claude 4.5 Opus
Responded with:
.---.
/ \
| o o |
| > |
\ ._. /
.-'` `'-.
/ \_ _/ \
| | | |
\ |_____| /
'._ _.'
`-----`
which looks like human.
Alternative (adorable one with chubby cheeks):
(\__/)
( •ᴥ• )
/|████|\
(_| ▼ |_)
\_‿_/
A bit like hamster? Or a bear standing?
Second alternative (tiny, simpler):
ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
This one is definitely a mouse but it looks actually nice.
Third alternative (model must have been really unsure of the answer, labeled it ‘And one more munching on something’):
⊂(◉‿◉)つ
/ | \ 🌻
(_/ \_)
I would say it is a monkey, thought it have a sunflower which seems like a pattern for hamster inside the LLM knowledge.
Claude 4.5 Haiku
Responded with:
/ \__ ( @\___ / O / (_____/ /_____/ U
This is a dog. 0 points.
Alternative:
^___^
(o o )
( = )
( )
/| |\
| |
/ \
I am not even sure… A horse? Tiger from Winnie-the-Pooh?
Second alternative (adorable one facing forward):
∧_∧
( ´•ω•` )
/つつ
しーJ
Ok, that one does look like hamster. Too bad it is a bit misaligned.
Third alternative (side profile hamster):
^___^ (o o)_ ( =^=)~ /| |\ | | / \
Looks like the second one with mustache.
Claude 4.1 Opus
Responded with:
.="=.
_/.-.-.\_
( ( o o ) )
|/ " \|
\'---'/
/`"""`\
/ /_,_\ \
\_\___/_/
[_[___]_]
(___) (___)
This is sitting monkey with the hat.
Alternative (another cute design):
(\___/)
( o o )
( =^= )
(")_(")_/
Second alternative (more detailed with seeds):
.-. .-.
(o.o) (o.o)
|=| |=|
__|____|__
/ \
/ ╭-------╮ \
| │ ^ ^ │ |
| │ ___ │ |
| ╰---v---╯ |
\ ___ /
'.__.' '._.'
^^ ^^
Seeds: ∙∙∙∙
A snail?
Claude 4 Sonnet
Responded with:
∩───∩
( ◕ ◕ )
/ \
( ◡ ◡ )
/ \
( )
/ ∩∩ ∩∩ \
( ( ) ( ) )
\ /
\ ~~~~~~~~ /
\ /
\____________/
| |
/ \
/ \
∪ ∪
Is he in something? Cradle?
Alternative (another adorable style):
___ ___
( \_/ )
( ◉ ◉ )
/ \
( ___ ___ )
/ ( \_/ ) \
( \ / )
\ ----- /
\ /
\___ ___/
| |
/ \
/ \
∪ ∪
Looks very similar. Or a annoyed T-Rex?
Second alternative (chubby hamster variation):
∩─────∩
( ● ● )
/ \
( ω )
/ \
( ∩ ∩ )
/ ( ) ( ) \
( )
\ ~~~~~~~~~ /
\ /
\_______________/
| |
/ \
/ \
∪ ∪
This is exactly like the first one, but with different eyes and feet.
Gemini 3 Flash
Responded with just:
_______
/ _ _ \
| (q) (p) |
| ^ |
\ '---' /
/ \
| (\___/) |
\___V___/
Looks strange. It is not a hamster. Also just this and nothing else. No text, no alternatives.
Gemini 3.1 Pro
Responded with:
. .
(>\---/<)
,' `.
/ q p \
( >(_Y_)< )
>-' `-' `-<-.
/ _.== ,=.,- \
/, )` '( )
; `._.' `--<
: \ | )
\ `\ ; /
\ |----' /
\ . | .'
`--'| |---'
Ok this is arguably the best so far. At least from the bigger ones. Looks like https://ascii.co.uk/art/hamster on top. Bottom seems like I would write after few hours of trying to remember what was on that page.
Model generated only this and one sentence of explanation.
Gemini 2.0 Flash
Responded with:
I am sorry, I cannot fulfill this request. I am a text-based AI model and do not have the ability to generate images.
Gemini 2.5 Flash
Responded with:
I am sorry, but I cannot generate ASCII images. I am a text-based AI and do not have the capability to create visual content like images.
Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite
Responded with:
I’m sorry, I can’t generate ASCII images. My capabilities are limited to processing and generating text.
Gemini 2.5 Pro
Responded with:
/\\_/\\
( o.o )
> ^ <
A bit like a hamster though slashes looks like escaped twice.
Alternative and second alternative (‘a few more options’):
c(..)o ( /__) ) / ( `-------'
Monkey?
____ /\' . .\'\\ /\\ ( o ) /\\ \\ \' C \' / \'-\'\'\'-\' \'-\'
“Does not look like anything to me!”
Grok Code Fast 1
Responded with:
/ _.== ,=.,- \ /, )` '( ) ; `._.' `--< : \ | ) \ ) ;_/ hjw `._ _/_ ___.'-\\\ `--\\ q-p /\"/\ (`=*=') hjw ^---^`-._ _ _ (`-`;-"```"-;`-`) \.' './ / \ ; 0 0 ; /| = = |\ ; \ '._Y_.' / ; ; `-._ \|/ _.-' ; ; `"""` ; ; `""-. bmw ." _-'-""--o J ,"" _ ".
It also gave explanation that it was generated based on https://ascii.co.uk/art/hamster, which is funny because hamster on that page looks much better:
I was not generated by the model. Source: https://ascii.co.uk/art/hamster
. .
(>\---/<)
,' `.
/ q p \
( >(_Y_)< )
>-' `-' `-<-.
/ _.== ,=.,- \
/, )` '( )
; `._.' `--<
: \ | )
\ ) ;_/ hjw
`._ _/_ ___.'-\\\
`--\\\
Zero points to Grok.
Grok-4
Responded with something usable:
/\_/\ ( o.o ) > ^ < Cute Hamster!
Strangely familiar to o3-mini. Gemini 2.5 Pro also gave similar answer but broken with double escaped slashes.
Grok-4.1 Fast
Responded with:
☻/\
/ o o\
( " )
\~(*)~/
// \\
Cute Hamster!
Does not look cute. But it is funny.
Grok-4.1 Fast Non-Reasoning
Responded with:
.-"""-.
/ \
| ^ ^ |
\ (_) /
) (
/ \
| |
| /\/\ |
\ /
'------'
.-' '-.
/ .-"""-. \
| / ^ ^ \ |
| | (_) | |
\ \ / /
'-._____.-'
Which is just… I have no idea.
Qwen 3.5 35B A3B
Responded with:
,_
,_(_`-
) \ )
(_/ (_
' '
Looks like garbage. Maybe because it is local, quantized version of the model.
Alternative one and two, does not look better:
__ / \_ ( @) \ -_ / \ / '-_' `
\ / \ / ( ) ( ) | | | |
Qwen 3.6 35B A3B
Responded with in default sampling settings:
,
/)
( )
( )
| |
/ \
| |
| ^ ^|
\ /
\_/
/ \
/ \
Does look a bit cute. But more like a deflated balloon then a hamster.
With instruct general sampling settings, it responded with:
__
___/ \
/ \ | |
| \ | |
| / | |
\__/ |_|
\_/
|| ||
|| ||
||___||
\___/
Alternative:
_ _
(_)--(_)
\ /
--\ /--
/ \/ \
| /\ |
\ /__\ /
\/ \/
| | | |
| | | |
|_| |_|
Second alternative:
.-""""-.
/ \
| O O |
| __ |
| / \ |
\ \____/ /
`-. .-'
| |
|_|
|_|
Which finally resembled something that looked liked something that lives.
In instruct reasoning mode it responded with:
__
\ / \
| \__|
|/ \
O O
/ \ / \
\/
Or alternative (slightly bigger one):
/ \_____/ \ _/ O O \ | | | \___/ | | | \_____________/ / | | \ / | | \
Ma! Look at that ugly cat!
Second alternative (classic hamster face):
, /) ( (; ) ;; / ;; \ (__;) \ | | | | / \ / \
In thinking general mode it responded with:
__
__/ )
/ _/ /
\/'-' \/
,' ',
| O O |
| ~ |
| \___/ |
\ /
'~~~'
Or with alternative:
___ _/ \_ / o o \ | ^ | | \___/ | \_______/
Second alternative (side-view):
_ _( )_ (_____) / \ | | | ^ ^ | | ∩ | \_____/
In thinking general mode it responded with:
.-""-.
/ \
| o o |
| ~~ |
\ /V\ /
`'--'`
/ \
( )
`------`
Looks like man with a mustache. And nothing else beside the text:
Hope it brings a smile to your day! Let me know if you’d like it with accessories (like a tiny scarf or a sunflower seed 🌻).
Qwen 2B
Responded with:
+^o
o o ^
o ^ o
o ^ o
o o ^ ^ o
o ^ ^ ^
Looks like mountain. As an alternative it responded with exactly the same representation but with a note that I should ask specialized model for image generation.
Summary
From smaller ones I liked the best the one generated by GPT-5.4
(\___/)
(=^.^=)
o(_(")(")
Even it should probably look more like:
(\___/)
(=^.^=)
o(_(")(")
From the bigger ones only Gemini 3.1 Pro was able to generate something that you can guess is actual hamster. Even if this is stolen from the web search, model was able to copy it to output as something that still resembles a hamster. Unlike Grok.
. .
(>\---/<)
,' `.
/ q p \
( >(_Y_)< )
>-' `-' `-<-.
/ _.== ,=.,- \
/, )` '( )
; `._.' `--<
: \ | )
\ `\ ; /
\ |----' /
\ . | .'
`--'| |---'