Did you know there was an Animal Crossing movie? If your answer is “no,” you’re not alone; many fans are unaware of its existence. Released in 2006, the film, titled Gekijoban Dobutsu no Mori, grossed $16 million at the Japanese box office but has never seen an official release outside Japan. However, a fan dub made it accessible in the West in 2015, and it has since been archived online. For any Animal Crossing enthusiast, this film is a must-see.
Much like the game itself, Animal Crossing is a laid-back experience, focusing more on ambiance than on action. The film follows Ai, a human girl who arrives in Animal Village, where she takes on various tasks assigned by Tom Nook and interacts with beloved characters from the franchise. The story culminates in an unexpected, sci-fi ending that evokes the whimsy of Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, but the overall tone mirrors that of an anime Let’s Play of the game.
A Cozy Experience with Familiar Faces
The movie is most closely aligned with Animal Crossing: Wild World, which was released a year prior to the film’s debut. As a result, several contemporary characters—such as CJ, Flick, Daisy Mae, Leif, Zucker, and Isabelle—are notably absent. However, the film still features many familiar locations, including the Able Sisters’ shop and Blathers’ museum. Viewers can join Ai for a coffee at The Roost, discover bottles along the shore, and navigate the challenges posed by Mr. Resetti—a different experience for those who started with New Horizons. Ai also helps Gulliver and tries to dodge Redd’s counterfeit items.
The movie wholeheartedly embraces the Animal Crossing lifestyle. Despite the differences in production scale and budget, it stands in stark contrast to other video game adaptations like the forthcoming Minecraft Movie. The film does not attempt to comment on its own absurdity or imply that the village life is merely a game; instead, it offers a genuine look at a year in the life of an Animal Crossing community.
Ai’s journey is complemented by another human character, Yu, who frequently changes outfits and hairstyles while pursuing fossils and bugs. Yu serves as a more direct representation of the player character than Ai, even receiving his own character arc.
I highly recommend watching this film, especially since it has been available in English for nine years now. As a dedicated Animal Crossing fan with over 250 hours logged in New Horizons, I was surprised to discover this hidden gem. The film transitions through each season, but I find that Autumn is the ideal time to experience its tranquil beauty. Its plotless nature makes it a perfect cozy film for a night in, capturing the essence of an Animal Crossing session in just 90 minutes.
In a landscape often filled with video game adaptations that stray from their source material, this film stands out for its fidelity to the original game. There are no unnecessary twists, genre shifts, or alterations to fit a broader audience; it is simply Animal Crossing in anime form. For fans, that alone makes it worth a few Bells.
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