Animal Crossing TV Series Teaser Should Become A Real Show

After playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, an incredibly talented animator decided to create what they think a TV series based on the game should look like. Animal Crossing has been one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises since its debut in Japan on the Nintendo 64. It didn’t hit Western shores until the early days of the GameCube, but it has never missed a console since then. The game lets players move into a town of named animal villagers, each with their own likes, dislikes, and quirks. Predicting the rise of many games on mobile platforms that encourage checking in every day, a regular play session of Animal Crossing has players walking around for a few hours doing odds and ends while keeping up their relationships with friends and celebrating holidays when they fall on the calendar.

The series grew exponentially in popularity in 2020 with the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which landed at the perfect time to be many player’s first game back into the hobby. This is due to the widespread lockdowns that occurred starting in March, which was right before the game released. Nintendo fans were joined by casual players, nonplayers, and even celebrities, making the game a viral hit across the United States.

If there was ever a time for Nintendo to commission a TV show based on the social simulator, it should be right now. YouTuber and freelance 3D artist Gabriel Salas provided an all-too brief look at what a Rilakkuma and Kaoru-like Animal Crossing: New Horizons show might look like if Nintendo did decide to go for it with the adorable series. The teaser shows Isabelle going through her morning routine before wishing her fellow villagers a good morning, all in a detailed, stop-motion style that makes the anthropomorphic Shih Tzu look like a plush toy come to life.

It’s an impressive look into what might be, although Nintendo has been stingy about utilizing its characters outside the worlds of gaming. Mario has been an exception, but only in a widespread way in the past decade. For years following the bizarre live-action translation of Mario‘s world to the silver screen, the company resisted spreading its characters past its game consoles. As of now, the Italian plumber is set to star in his own animated film by the makers of Minions, as well as dedicated sections in several Universal Studios theme parks. No other franchise has garnered that level of support by Nintendo, but with Animal Crossing’s immense popularity this year, that may change in the near future.

When looked at pragmatically, the cute and cuddly cast of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect candidate for a long-form animated series. There’s even an existing “slice of life” template in the world of anime that would work perfectly with the slow and deliberate pace of the games. Plots don’t have to have many complications, and popular events and guest characters from the game could provide seasons of ideas for episodes. Whether Nintendo would ever go through with such an idea is anyone’s guess, but it could be a missed opportunity if they decide to just stick to what they already know.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Source: Gabriel Salas

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