Ian Hawke is the hidden main antagonist of Alvin and the Chipmunks and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and the (former) secondary antagonist of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. He is The Chipmunks and The Chipettes' former arch-nemesis and Dave's former arch-rival and best friend.
Ian was the music producer and executive of JETT Records, who schemed to push the Chipmunks to fame to earn money off of them. Soon after he lost his job because, The Chipmunks escaped from him and returned to Dave. In the second movie, he met the Chipettes; he made lies about the Chipmunks, who were the reason why the Chipettes came to America. Soon afterwards, the Chipettes found out he was lying.
Ian also attended college with Dave and Claire. When his ex-roommate Dave Seville first entered the headquarters, Ian wanted to be his boss since he no longer was Dave's college roommate. Instead, he became his "best friend".
Alvin and the Chipmunks
In the first film, Ian is the main antagonist. He is visited by Dave, who presents a song he wants produced to Ian. However, he refuses and bluntly tells Dave that he thinks it is bad and he hated it. He proceeds to tell Dave that he should quit writing music that he thinks no one will give attention to.
Later, Dave once again visits Ian to present to him Alvin and the Chipmunks in order to convince him that they would be JETT Records' next big hit. Unfortunately, the audition goes horribly as the nervous trio refuse to sing due to intense stage fright.
Later, in his house he hears a door bell and thought it was just kids, It happens upon the Chipmunks who sing Ian "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" and greatly impress him and make him realize that Dave was right. He welcomes them into JETT Records and later calls Dave in the supermarket, calling him his favorite song writer and to tell him of the song's success and also informing him of the video that got 10,000,000 hits on YouTube. Later, at a Christmas concert, Ian tries to convince Dave to let him work with the trio. However, Dave quickly realizes that Ian would only exploit the Chipmunks and refuses, as well as pretending not to hear his proposition.
This angered Ian, who warns Dave not to go against him, further claiming that he never loses. He later attempts to manipulate the Chipmunks by telling them that Dave is holding them back and that he could be making them 20 million dollars a day and that Dave doesn't view them in a positive light. Later at Dave's house, a misunderstanding occurs and a heartbroken group of Chipmunks contact Ian to see if they can live with him. When the Chipmunks move in with Ian, life at first seems grand as they are given a plentiful amount of toys and activities, but things begin to take a turn for the worse as Ian begins to overwork and exhaust them.
Finally, at the big concert in L.A., Dave wants to visits the Chipmunks, but is flatly refused by Ian. Ian then further hurts the Chipmunks' feelings by claiming that Dave sent back tickets for their concert. Dave later attempts to sneak into the Chipmunks' performance but is blocked by security guards. Claire, however, sneaks Dave in by pretending that he is a journalist for a local magazine and giving him a press pass. When Dave enters the theater and calls out their names, the overjoyed group of Chipmunks quickly realize that Ian had lied to them and proceed to ruin the show and cause significant amounts of chaos.
Despite their efforts, Ian manages to once again capture the Chipmunks and quickly whisks them away in a cat cage. However, they easily escape and trick Ian with their doll doppelgangers. As Ian is chauffeured away toward the airport Ian discovers the dolls and proceeds to yell in defeat.
In a post-credit-scene, it is revealed that the Chipmunks' escape cost Ian the world tour, as well as his career and fortune. So he tries to get three squirrels to sing, but, of course, fails.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
In the second film, Ian returns as the main antagonist. He is depicted as a shadow of his former self: jobless as well as broke. It seems he is such a poor state that he even eats a piece of muffin that had been in the garbage and a rat had gotten hold of. However, Ian ends up as the adoptive father, caregiver, and manager of the Chipettes. But he only adopted them to get revenge on the Chipmunks. The two bands later met up at school, but Alvin and Brittany were the only ones that ended up distrusting each other (until Alvin saves her and her sisters from Ian). He manipulated the Chipettes into believing the Chipmunks were evil and that Alvin literally spit on him. Despite this, he still wanted only the "B-girl" (Brittany) as a star and didn't allow Jeanette and Eleanor on Brittany's way. He again loses his fortune after the Chipettes escape just as the Chipmunks did in the first film, leaving him to lamely make up for their disappearances by dressing up as Brittany and using puppets to portray Eleanor and Jeanette. As a result, he was thrown in a dumpster by security guards.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
In the third film, Ian returns as the secondary antagonist but later a supporting protagonist. He is an employee on the cruise ship dressed like a pelican. He tried to crack the Chipmunks and Chipettes' relationship with Dave and ruin his life. However, he, in a way, does re-kindle his relationship with Alvin and his brothers, along with Dave and the Chipettes by helping Dave rescue his six "kids".
At the end of the film, when the Chipmunks and Chipettes perform at the International Music Awards, Dave and Ian (who has reformed) work together with them to keep them famous and happy, becoming friends again.
Trivia
- Ian is believed to be the live-action film version of "Uncle" Harry.
- Ian is constantly believed to be the secondary antagonist in the third film.
Gallery
- Main article: Ian Hawke/Gallery