Editing Animal Crossing

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Animal Crossing''}}
{{Wrongpage|the game|the series|Animal Crossing (series)}}{{Infobox Video Game
|title        = [[File:PG Logo English.png|200px|English game logo]]
|image        = [[File:PG Box NA.png|200px|North American game cover]]
|theme        = [[File:Main Theme PG.mp3|Main theme]]
|developer    = [[Wikipedia:Nintendo EAD|Nintendo EAD]]
|publisher    = [[Nintendo]]
|director     = [[Katsuya Eguchi]]<br>[[Hisashi Nogami]]
|producer     = Takashi Tezuka
|programmer   = Yuhiki Otsuki
|artist       = Noriko Ikegawa<br>Yoshihisa Morimoto
|writer       = Makoto Wada<br>Kenshirou Ueda<br>Kunio Watanabe<br>Nate Bihldorff{{Note|name=NoA|English localization}}<br>Rich Amtower{{Note|name=NoA}}
|composer     = Kazumi Totaka<br>Kenta Nagata<br>Toru Minegishi<br>Shinobu Tanaka
|series       = ''[[Animal Crossing (series)|Animal Crossing]]''
|platforms    = [[Nintendo GameCube]]
|released     = {{Flag|JPN}} December 14, 2001<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/|title=Animal Forest+|language=Japanese}}</ref><br>{{Flag|USA}} September 16, 2002<ref name=AC_Early>{{Cite web|author=Jonathan Metts|date=August 6, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7622/lucky-gamers-play-animal-crossing-early|title=Lucky Gamers Play Animal Crossing Early|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref><br>{{Flag|AUS}} October 17, 2003<br>{{Flag|EUR}} September 24, 2004
|genre        = Simulation
|modes        = Single-player
|ratings      = {{Rating|ESRB=E|PEGI=3+|ACB=G<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/animal-crossing|title=ANIMAL CROSSING|site=Australian Classification|retrieved=October 18, 2020}}</ref>}}
|media        = GameCube Game Disc
|requirements = 57 blocks <small>(town save data)</small><br>1 block <small>(NES save data)</small>
|input        = Nintendo GameCube Controller<br>[[Game Boy Advance]] <small>([[Animal Island]] only)</small> <br>[[Nintendo e-Reader]]
|strategywiki = Animal Crossing
}}
'''''Animal Crossing'''''{{Note|{{Nihongo foot|どうぶつの森+|Dōbutsu no Mori+|Animal Forest+}}}} is a simulation game for the [[Nintendo GameCube]] and the first game in the {{SER}} to be released outside of Japan. It was first released in Japan on December 14, 2001 as an expanded port of the [[Nintendo 64]] game {{DnM}} nine months after its release. Known in Japan as '''''Doubutsu no Mori+''''', the game retailed for 7,140 yen and sold 92,568 copies during its first week of sale. {{PG|nolink}} adds new content and utilizes the Nintendo GameCube's internal clock to keep track of the in-game date and time. The game's newly added content includes an [[Animal Island|island location]] where the player can help a [[Islander|lone inhabitant]] furnish their house, a [[museum]] for donating collectibles, a [[Able Sisters|tailor]] where players can create custom designs, and compatibility with the [[Nintendo e-Reader]] with a series of [[Merchandise/Animal Crossing-e|cards]] released specifically for the game.  

The game was released in North America in 2002. To prepare the game for release, Nintendo of America embarked on an extensive localization, headed by Nate Bihldorff and Rich Amtower. Their efforts resulted in a substantial increase of in-game text compared to {{DnM}}, and the change of many distinctly-Japanese cultural elements to make them more recognizable to a western audience. Additional content was implemented, such as entirely new holidays, items, and characters. Certain events were also changed to have broader appeal in western regions. This version of the game was also later released in Australia in 2003, and across Europe in 2004.

{{PG|nolink}} was a commercial and critical success, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and garnering strong reviews from gaming media. The game became a Player's Choice title about a year after its North American release.{{Citation Needed}} Due to the successful localization effort, the game was translated back into Japanese and released in Japan as {{DnMe+}}, which features the western-oriented changes as well as additional content not present in any of the previous versions.

{{PG|nolink}} has been included in many year-end 'best of' lists, featured in several all-time top video game countdowns, and has since received multiple [[Animal_Crossing_(GCN)#Awards_and_nominations|awards and nominations]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:PGPlayerOutofHouse.png|thumb|left|240px|A player standing outside of their house]]
Just as in {{DnM}}, [[player]]s assume the role of a human setting out for a life of their own in a [[town]] of anthropomorphic [[list of villagers|animals]]. Each town is randomly generated, ensuring that no two players' experiences are identical. Gameplay within each village is open-ended, allowing players to engage in a variety of activities that suit their playstyle. Players can pick [[fruit]], grow [[tree]]s, [[flower|garden]], hunt for [[fossil]]s and [[fish]], catch [[bugs]], do favors for the [[villager]]s, or decorate their [[Player house|homes]].

===Plot===
Upon arrival to the town, the player is greeted by [[Tom Nook]], a local store owner and freelance builder who provides the player with housing. Nook loans the house to the player, advising them to work for him to help pay off the house. After completing several tasks for Nook, he informs the player that they no longer need to work for him and can pay off the loan in their own time. After paying off the loan, Nook allows the player to expand their house in exchange for a new loan. After fully expanding the house and paying back all loans, Nook builds a statue of the player in their honor in front of the [[train station]].
{{Clear|left}}

===Controls===
{| class="styled color-gameplay" 
|-
! align=center | Input
! Result
|-
| align=center | Control Stick
| 
*Walking and running
*Moving the cursor in menus
|-
| align=center | C Stick
| 
*Adjusting the camera (when inside houses or [[museum]] exhibits)
*Doing aerobics (during the [[morning aerobics]] or while the {{I|Aerobics Radio|Animal Crossing}} is turned on)
|-
| align=center | A
| 
*Selecting within menus or dialog
*Interacting with items, objects, or characters
*Using a held item
*Advancing past the title screen
|-
| align=center | B
| 
*Running (while holding a direction on the Control Stick)
*Picking up items
*Cancelling within menus or dialog
*Backspacing while typing
|-
| align=center | X
| 
*Opening the [[map]]
*Switching between accents on the last typed letter while typing
*Pressing the Select button in an [[NES game]]
|-
| align=center | Y
| 
*Opening the player's [[pockets]]
*Switching between letters, symbols, and icons while typing
*Pressing the Start button in an [[NES game]]
|-
| align=center | Z
| 
*Turning the lights on or off in the player's house (prior to {{DnMe+}})
*Pressing the Select button in an [[NES game]]
*Quitting an NES game (while also holding L and R)
*Taking a [[Photo (screenshot)|screenshot]] (in {{DnMe+|nolink}})
|-
| align=center | L
| 
*Running (while holding a direction on the Control Stick)
*Picking up an item or design in the player's pockets
*Switching keyboard to display numbers and capital letters while typing
*Quitting an NES game (while also holding R and Z)
*Soft resetting an NES game (while also holding R and START/PAUSE)
|-
| align=center | R
| 
*Running (while holding a direction on the Control Stick)
*Switching between the player's pockets, bug collection, and fish collection
*Creating a space while typing
*Quitting an NES game (while also holding L and Z)
*Soft resetting an NES game (while also holding L and START/PAUSE)
|-
| align=center | START/PAUSE
| 
*Opening the player's pockets
*Confirming a written letter
*Advancing past the title screen
*Soft resetting an NES game (while also holding L and R)
|-
| align=center | + Control Pad
| 
*Moving the cursor while typing
*Turning the lights on or off in the player's house (in {{DnMe+|nolink}})
|}

{{Clear}}

==Features==
''Animal Crossing'' introduces new content that is not present in the original ''Doubutsu no Mori'', including new items, locations, mechanics, characters, and events.

===Characters and locations===
{{Main|Animal Crossing/Characters}}
The [[museum]] is introduced along with its curator, [[Blathers]], allowing players to donate all of the [[bugs]], [[fish]], [[fossils]], and [[paintings]] they collect to be publicly displayed. The [[Able Sisters]] tailor shop and its proprietors [[Mabel]] and [[Sable]] are also introduced and allow the player to create and display their custom [[design]]s, those of which may be worn by villagers in town.

[[Punchy]] and [[Cheri]] are introduced as two of the possible villagers that can live in the player's town. One of eighteen [[Islander|island-exclusive villagers]] can inhabit an [[Animal Island|island]] that can be traveled to by speaking with [[Kapp'n]] at the [[dock]], albeit only if a Game Boy Advance is connected to the system. 

[[Tortimer]] is introduced as the mayor of the player's town. He can be found near the [[wishing well]] during most events, and, if talked to, he will give the player an exclusive item to celebrate the event.

===Items===
New items of furniture are added into the game, and the player can now add additional stories to their house, gaining a second floor or basement. Furthermore, various bugs and fish not present in the original game are added, and one fish, the [[Herabuna]] was removed and replaced with the [[Brook Trout]]. The [[Axe]], which was unbreakable in the original game, now breaks if used too often. 11 new [[NES games]] are also added, and are now explicitly labeled as the game they emulate, rather than all simply being identified as "Famicom". However, two of the new games, ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''Super Mario Bros.'', are unobtainable. Also, two games are exclusive to ''Doubutsu no Mori+'', being {{wp|Gomoku Narabe}} and {{wp|Mahjong}}. Outside of Japan, these were replaced by ''[[Soccer]]'' and ''[[Excitebike]]''.

Stationery is now sold in packs of four, instead of a single page as in the original game. The player can now store up to three items in storage containers. Additionally, music players can now store every aircheck and the player can quickly switch between the songs they own.

===Game Boy Advance connectivity===
By connecting to a [[Game Boy Advance]] via a [[GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable]] players can access the [[island]], play [[NES games]], and scan [[Animal Crossing-e]] cards with the [[e-Reader card]] to access special items, patterns, and mini-games. Certain NES games can be transferred to the Game Boy Advance to play on the go, and the island can be downloaded to a Game Boy Advance to play after returning to the player's town.

==Development==
{{See also|Animal Crossing/Staff|label1=List of Animal Crossing staff}}
Despite being released near the end of the [[Nintendo 64]]'s lifespan, {{DnM}}'s sold through its entire print run. The success of the game, paired with the inability to produce enough cartridges to meet demand, encouraged the development team to port the game to the [[Nintendo GameCube]],<ref>{{Cite web|author=Wired Staff|date=April 7, 2006|url=https://www.wired.com/2006/04/interview-the-w-2/|title=Interview: The Wild World of Katsuya Eguchi|site=Wired|retrieved=November 8, 2020}}</ref> which was released less than six months after {{DnM|nolink}}. Taking advantage of the greater memory capacities of the system, the team included new features that could not be added to the original game, such as [[Animal Island]]. The game was released eight months after the original {{DnM|nolink}}.

===North American localization===
The Nintendo of America localization team began writing game dialogue in early 2002; however, translation of the game's hundreds of items began months earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|date=May 16, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgg62DMyzyA&t=1m13s|title=Inside the Treehouse with Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Localizing Animal Crossing (Ep 1)|site=YouTube}}</ref> Unlike the extended localization and development process for recent titles in the series, ''Animal Crossing'' was localized in the span of eight to twelve months. During this time, the team translated over 30,000 files of text,<ref name=NWR_Preview>{{Cite web|author=Andres Rojas|date=May 22, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/hands-on-preview/2855/animal-crossing-gamecube|title=Animal Crossing Hands-on Preview|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref> worked to develop new items and events to appeal to a North American audience.

====Announcement and release====
[[File:PG Logo E3 2001.png|thumb|right|200px|The game's logo as seen at E3 2001]]
In April 2001, shortly after the release of {{DnM|nolink}} and eight months before the release of {{DnM+|nolink}}, producer Takashi Tezuka stated in an issue of ''Nintendo Dream'' that Nintendo of America was preparing for an international release.<ref>{{Cite web|author=IGN|date=April 30, 2001|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030408034152/http://ign64.ign.com:80/articles/094/094018p1.html|title=Animal Forest for US|archive-date=April 8, 2003|retrieved=September 10, 2020}}</ref> The following month, on May 16, 2001<ref>{{Cite web|author=IGN|date=May 10, 2001|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/10/nintendo-pre-e3-press-conference-details-2|title=Nintendo Pre-E3 Press Conference Details}}</ref> at Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference, a six-second montage of gameplay footage from what was then known as ''Animal Forest'' was shown to members of the media as part of a larger reel featuring upcoming Nintendo GameCube titles.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo World Report|date=June 6, 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGepCTXT0wA&t=6m0s|title=Planet Gamecube E3 2001 Video Part 5|site=YouTube}}</ref> The clip did not feature any dialogue, however the presence of the shrine indicates that it was still early in the localization process, if not footage directly from the Japanese version.

As early as October 2001,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Max Lake|date=October 19, 2001|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/6621/animal-forest-usa-bound|title=Animal Forest USA Bound?|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref> Nintendo established a page on their website for ''Animal Forest'' noting it was "being optimized for its U.S. debut on the GameCube."<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011123183306/http://nintendo.com/games/gamepage/gamepage_main.jsp?gameId=646&showMe=1|title=Main Game Page, Animal Forest|archive-date=November 23, 2001}}</ref> A few months later on February 28, 2002, at a Nintendo Roundtable Conference, Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that localization of ''Animal Forest'' was "progressing and moving along quite well" with then-Nintendo president Satoru Iwata projecting it to be released "sometime in the fall."<ref>{{Cite web|author=Michael Cole|date=February 28, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7060/animal-forest--coming-to-north-america|title=Animal Forest + coming to North America!|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref> About a month later on March 30, 2002, the game's name was officially changed to ''Animal Crossing''<ref>{{Cite web|author=Mike Sklens|date=March 30, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7196/animal-forest--gets-a-name-change|title=Animal Forest + gets a name change|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref>, as reflected on Nintendo's website at the time.

On May 22, 2002, at Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference, an extended video was shown introducing ''Animal Crossing'' and highlighting its ability to connect with the e-Reader and Game Boy Advance.<ref>{{Cite web|author=NintendoNWRExclusive|date=June 10, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uzTeRvm1Uo&t=15m9s|title=Nintendo E3 2002 Press Conference from PGC E3 2002 DVD|site=YouTube}}</ref> Iwata also confirmed the game for September release in North America. Later that day, ''Animal Crossing'' made its second E3 appearance, this time as a playable title on the show floor.<ref name=NWR_Preview/> It was generally overshadowed by high-profile titles, however it still received the third-place spot on the Game Critic Award's list for Best Original Game of E3 2002.<ref name=GiantBomb_E3>{{Cite web|author=Giant Bomb|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/e3-2002/3015-3434/|title=E3 2002}}</ref> ''Animal Crossing'' was released in North America on September 16, 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030213033234/http://www.nintendo.com/games/gamepage/gamepage_main.jsp?gameId=646&showMe=1|title=Animal Crossing|archive-date=February 13, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015011041/http://www.animal-crossing.com:80/parents.jsp|title=The Crossing Guardian : For Parents|site=animal-crossing.com|archive-date=October 15, 2002|retrieved=September 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name=AC_Early/> There were reports, however, that select Blockbuster Video locations had received and began renting advance copies of the game as early as September 6.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Billy Berghammer|date=September 6, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7731/animal-crossing-hits-blockbuster-early|title=Animal Crossing hits Blockbuster early?|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref>

===Australian and European release===
{{PG|nolink}} was released on October 17, 2003 and September 24, 2004 in Australia and Europe, respectively. Both versions feature minor bug fixes from the North American release, and the European release features localizations in French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
{{Research Needed||note=Needs info about the Japanese DnM+ development + research into release date(s) in South American countries is needed. Starting point: Research South American distribution by ''Latamel Inc''.}}

==Regional differences==
===Japan to North America===
In addition to being an upgraded re-release to the original {{DnM}}, there are also many differences between the Japanese {{DnM+|nolink}} and international {{PG|nolink}}.

====Interface====
*The dial typing system, featured in {{DnM|nolink}}, is retained in the Japanese version of {{PG|nolink}} game, although it is replaced with a virtual QWERTY keyboard in the international versions.
*The color of the [[Nintendo]] logo differs between versions. In the Japanese version, it is white, while in the international version it is red.
*The "Press START!" text on the title screen reads "Press Start Button!" in the Japanese version.
*The copyright text on the title screen reads "&copy;2001 Nintendo" in the Japanese version; this was changed to "&copy;2001,2002 Nintendo" in the North American release.

====Locations====
*The shrine from the original game is changed in the international version to be a [[wishing well]].
*[[Tom Nook's shop]], the [[Town Tune|Melody Board]], and the [[dump]] all have different signs. In the Japanese version, the signs feature katakana but are replaced with English text in the international version.
*The exterior of [[Nookington's]] is considerably redesigned, featuring a new canopy and marquee, a new building surface, and a large window in place of the sales banners. The clothing display window is also repositioned and given a new border.
*The {{Wp|Japanese postal mark}} (''〒'') above the [[post office]] entrance is changed to a window in the international version.
*The sign above the entrance of the [[police station]], which features Japanese text and a star in the center, is changed to "POLICE" in the international version. Additionally, the sign to the left of the entrance is removed and the poster on the side is changed from a wanted poster featuring six individuals, one of which is crossed out, to a single animal.
*[[Redd]]'s stand during the [[Fireworks Festival]] has a completely different appearance between versions. In {{DnM|nolink}} it is enclosed by red canvas walls on three sides with a sign above the front side of the stall. In the international version, it is open on all sides, with a red and white-striped pitched roof and more visible decorations but no signage.
*[[Igloo]]s contain woks with bubbling blocks of tofu in the Japanese version, which is changed to a pot of chowder in the international.
*The orange-roofed player house has a Worn-Out Mud Wall and Old Board Floor instead of a Wooden Wall and Steel Floor.

====Characters====
*All of the possible [[player]] face textures have black eyes in the Japanese version. In the international version, six of the eight faces for each gender are given colored eyes. This design choice is retained in other Japanese releases until the release of {{HHD}}.
* [[Farley]] and [[Franklin]] are new characters introduced in the international version that do not exist in the Japanese version.
* Various existing characters were redesigned in the international version, and their redesigns have been kept in all subsequent games in all regions.
** [[Tortimer]] wears glasses with white blue lenses and a red zucchetto in the Japanese version. He also wears a white rope around his chest. 
** [[Mr. Resetti]] and [[Don Resetti]] simply wear white shirts in the Japanese version and wear overalls on top of the shirts in the international version. Additionally, Mr. Resetti's mining helmet features a green stripe under the headlight, while Don Resetti's is green with a white stripe.
** [[Tom Nook]] and [[Redd]] both have Japanese characters on their aprons. In the international version, Tom Nook's apron is instead emblazoned with his logo, and Redd's apron features the letter B. Tom Nook's apron in the Japanese version displays the character ''ten'' ('''店'''), meaning "shop".
**The uniforms for Tom Nook's uniform in [[Nook 'n' Go]] and [[Nookway]] were reversed for the international version. His Nook 'n' Go uniform is an apron with a blue and orange color scheme, which is changed to red and green and used for Nookway in the international version. His [[Nookway]] uniform is changed to the opposite. This was most likely done to avoid infringing on the color scheme for {{wp|7-Eleven}}, of which the original Nookway uniform resembles.
**Tom Nook's [[raffle]] uniform in the Japanese version is a red and black Haori with a white Hachimaki tied around his head, while in the international version it is changed to a tricolor apron with a sports visor.
**Redd's uniform during the [[Fireworks Show]] is completely different in both versions. In the Japanese version he wears a red and white Hachimaki with a feather attached, and a deep-blue Haori over his usual apron. In the international version he wears a sports visor and full-length apron with red and white stripes and the letter B emblazoned on it. 
** [[Chip]] in the Japanese version has distinctly brown fur, with narrow eyes, glasses, and a purple vest. In the international version, Chip's eyes were made wider, his vest was changed to blue with green trim, and his glasses were removed.
** On [[New Year's Day]], [[Katrina]] dresses on some occasions in the Japanese version in a traditional Japanese Hakama, with her head fully exposed and a white band on her forehead, as well as sometimes wearing her traditional purple robes. In the international version, Katrina exclusively wears her purple robes.
** [[Copper]] and [[Booker]] have lighter shirts and hats with slightly different texturing. Additionally, the badge on their hats is a different design, and there is no badge on their shirts.
** In the Japanese version, [[Elina]] has a red dot on her forehead that resembles a {{Wp|Bindi (decoration)|bindi}}, a decoration traditionally worn by Hindus and Jains from the Indian subcontinent. It was removed from international releases; however, it still appears on Elina's Game Boy Advance sprite.
** In the Japanese version, [[Jane]] has white fur and brown skin. In international releases, she has purple fur and pink skin.

=====Altered character designs=====
<gallery>
Boy AAB DnM+ Model.png|[[Player]]<br><small>(boy AAB)</small>
Boy ABB DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(boy ABB)</small>
Boy BAA DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(boy BAA)</small>
Boy BAB DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(boy BAB)</small>
Boy BBA DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(boy BBA)</small>
Boy BBB DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(boy BBB)</small>
Girl AAB DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(girl AAB)</small>
Girl ABA DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(girl ABA)</small>
Girl ABB DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(girl ABB)</small>
Girl BAA DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(girl BAA)</small>
Girl BAB DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(girl BAB)</small>
Girl BBA DnM+ Model.png|Player<br><small>(girl BBA)</small>
Booker DnM+ Model.png|[[Booker]]
Chip DnM+ Model.png|[[Chip]]
Copper DnM+ Model.png|[[Copper]]
Don Resetti DnM+ Model.png|[[Don Resetti]]
Elina DnM+ Model.png|[[Elina]]
Katrina (New Year's Day) DnM+ Model.png|[[Katrina]]<br><small>([[New Year's Day]])</small>
Jane DnM+ Model.png|[[Jane]]
Mr. Resetti DnM+ Model.png|[[Mr. Resetti]]
Redd DnM+ Model.png|[[Redd]]
Redd (Fireworks Festival) DnM+ Model.png|Redd<br><small>([[Fireworks Show|Fireworks Festival]])</small>
Tom Nook DnM+ Model.png|[[Tom Nook]]
Tom Nook (Nook 'n' Go) DnM+ Model.png|Tom Nook<br><small>([[Nook 'n' Go]])</small>
Tom Nook (Nookway) DnM+ Model.png|Tom Nook<br><small>([[Nookway]])</small>
Tom Nook (Raffle) DnM+ Model.png|Tom Nook<br><small>([[raffle]])</small>
Tortimer DnM+ Model.png|[[Tortimer]]
</gallery>

====Events====
* Many of the events found in the Japanese version are changed for or removed from the international version. 
** Seven Spring Herbs Day, Coming of Age Day, Bean Throwing Festival, White Day, Festival of the Weaver, Summer Day, and Winter Day are exclusive to the Japanese version. 
** [[Groundhog Day]], [[Valentine's Day]], [[April Fool's Day]], [[Founder's Day]], [[Explorer's Day]], the [[Harvest Festival]], and [[Sale Day]] are all exclusive to the international version.
* In the Japanese version, villagers will wear the Summer Robe and Bamboo Robe during the [[Fireworks Show]] and [[Mushrooming Season]]. They will also wear the Plum Kimono and Somber Robe during certain other events. In ''Animal Crossing'', all of these clothing items are not used or legitimately obtainable, though they still exist in data.
* On [[New Year's Day]], the player shakes a pole in the middle of the shrine to ring the bell. In the international version this is changed to the player tossing a coin in the [[wishing well]]'s fountain.
* During the [[Cherry Blossom Festival]], villagers will picnic on tatami mats at the shrine. In the international version, the mats are changed to picnic tables and the villagers dance around the wishing well.

====Items====
* Several furniture sets are different compared to the international version:
** The [[Public Bath Theme]] is only present in {{DnM|nolink}}, this game's Japanese version, and returns in {{DnMe+|nolink}}. It is completely removed from the international version and is also absent from {{WW|short}}. It returns in games from {{CF|short}} onwards for all regions, but it is no longer a theme. 
** The [[Japanese Theme]] is only present {{DnM|nolink}}, this game's Japanese version, and {{DnMe+|nolink}}. It returns from {{WW|short|nolink}}-onwards under a [[Zen Set|different name]] for all regions but as a set rather than a theme.
** The [[Classroom Theme]] contains different items in the international version.
** The [[Construction Theme]] contains different items in the international version.
** The [[Harvest Series]] and numerous holiday items are absent as they are exclusive to the international version.
** The [[Boxing Theme]], [[Backyard Theme]], and [[Western Theme]] have been added in the international version.
* There are many differences with the availability of [[Famicom Disk System]] (FDS) and [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES) games between versions.
** The Japanese version features the Famicom games ''[[Gomoku Narabe]]'' and ''[[Mahjong]]'', while in the international version these games are changed to the NES games ''[[Soccer]]'' and ''[[Excitebike]]''. 
** ''[[Ice Climber]]'' would be received as a "housewarming gift" after using the service to transfer save data from {{DnM}} to this game's Japanese version. In the international version, it can only be acquired through an ''[[Animal Crossing-e]]'' Series 4 card.
** The Japanese version features the Famicom Disk System version of ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''. The game is changed to the NES version in the international version, though the game is not legitimately obtainable in either version.
* Four [[Clothes/Animal Crossing|shirts]] are unique to the Japanese version, having been redesigned in ''Animal Crossing'':
** '''{{I|I Love GC Shirt|Doubutsu no Mori+}}''' (redesigned as the '''{{I|Cherry Shirt|Animal Crossing}}''' — Worn by [[Paolo]])
** '''{{I|Familiar Shirt|Doubutsu no Mori+}}''' (redesigned as the '''{{I|Fortune Shirt|Animal Crossing}}''' — Worn by [[Rasher]])
** '''{{I|Tomato Juice Shirt|Doubutsu no Mori+}}''' (redesigned as the '''{{I|Fish Bone Shirt|Animal Crossing}}''' — Worn by [[Tabby]])
** '''{{I|W Shirt|Doubutsu no Mori+}}''' (redesigned as the '''{{I|Houndstooth Tee|Animal Crossing}}''' — Worn by [[Grizzly]])
* The Fortune Paper and New Year's Card [[stationery]] have a different visual appearance in the international version.

====Data Moving Service====
The Data Moving Service (データお引越しサービス; Dēta o hikkoshi sābisu) was a service provided by Nintendo in Japan that allowed players to transfer data from {{DnM}} to {{DnM+|nolink}} by sending in a Nintendo 64 Controller Pak and a Nintendo GameCube Memory Card 59 containing data from {{DnM}} and {{DnM+|nolink}} respectively. The service costed ¥630 (approximately $5 USD at the time) and began on January 10, 2002, one month after the release of {{DnM+|nolink}}.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030206212144/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/moving/|title=Animal Forest Data Moving Service!|archive-date=February 6, 2003|retrieved=August 30, 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref> The following data would be transferred to the GameCube title during the Data Moving Service:
*Player name, gender, face, and clothing
*Catalog information (the [[Dreadful Painting]], [[Novel Painting]], {{I|I Love 64 Shirt|Doubutsu no Mori}}, and {{I|N Logo Shirt|Doubutsu no Mori}} are not transferred as they no longer exist in the catalog)
*Items in the player's [[pockets]], with the exception of villager [[favor]] items and letters, which are removed, and the two removed shirts, which turn into Patched Shirts. This was the only way to obtain the Dreadful Painting and Novel Painting in {{DnM+|nolink}}.
*[[Bug]] and [[fish]] encyclopedia
*Letters saved at the [[post office]]
In addition to the data transferred over, the save file would be set to a state after completing Tom Nook's [[part-time job]] and joining the [[Happy Room Academy]], and the Ice Climber furniture item will be placed in the player's house, which was the only way to obtain it in {{DnM+|nolink}}.

The exact date the Data Moving Service was discontinued is unknown; however, its webpage was accessible until at least 2005.{{Note|A capture of webpage as of March 12, 2005 on archive.org shows the page still active, with no mention of the service's discontinuation. The next documented capture on February 22, 2006 shows a "page not found" error, suggesting the service was discontinued between March 2005 and February 2006.}}<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312094829/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/moving/|title=Animal Forest Data Moving Service!|archive-date=March 12, 2005|retrieved=August 30, 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222172721/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/moving/|title=Page Not Found|archive-date=February 22, 2006|retrieved=August 30, 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref> A similar feature is offered by {{DnMe+}} that transfers data between {{DnM+|nolink}} and {{DnMe+}} if data for both games is present on either the same Nintendo GameCube Memory Card or two separate Memory Cards inserted in the same Nintendo GameCube.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gaej/moving/index.html|title=About moving|retrieved=August 30, 2020|language=Japanese}}</ref>

====Miscellaneous====
*The live version of "[[DJ K.K.]]" contains guitar riffs resembling the song "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited. In the international version, this is changed to an original melody.

===North America to Australia and Europe===
Several minor changes were made to {{PG|nolink}} in its Australian and European versions. In addition to these changes, both versions include various bug fixes from the North American version.

====Australia====
*The font for the copyright text on the title screen was changed, and it now reads "&copy;2001-2003 Nintendo" to reflect the game's release date in Australia.
*The {{I|Mario Trophy|Animal Crossing}} and {{I|Luigi Trophy|Animal Crossing}} have shorter bases. This is carried over from {{DnMe+}}.

====Europe====
{{Multiple Image
|align= right
|direction= horizontal
|footer= The North American (left) and European (right) title screens. Note the altered "Press START!" text and copyright dates.
|width= 200

|image1= PG Title Screen.png
|alt1= North American title screen

|image2= PG Title Screen Europe.png
|alt2= European title screen
}}
*French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages are supported, and the language used by the game is dependent on the GameCube's language.
*All [[e-Reader]] functionality (and references to it) has been removed, as the e-Reader was never released in Europe. This means the {{I|Ice Climber|Animal Crossing}} and {{I|Mario Bros|Animal Crossing}} items are unobtainable, though they still exist in the game's code. Despite this, the item names still received translations.
*The "Press START!" text on the title screen now reads "press START", and the font has been changed.
*The font for the copyright text on the title screen was changed, and it now reads "&copy;2001-2004 Nintendo" to reflect the game's release date in Europe.
*The clock uses the 24-hour format rather than the 12-hour format used in the North American version, and all in-game dialog is updated to reflect this.
*Dates use the Day/Month format rather than the Month/Day format used in the North American version.
*''Pounds'', in the context of weight, is replaced by ''kg''.
*Numbers use periods instead of commas as decimal separators (e.g. 1.000 rather than 1,000).
*[[Spring Cleaning Day]] occurs on March 15 instead of May 1.
*[[Labor Day]] occurs on May 1 instead of the first Monday of September.
*The {{I|Chalk Board|Animal Crossing}} reads "English Lesson" instead of "Social Study".
*The Mario Trophy and Luigi Trophy have shorter bases. This is carried over from {{DnMe+|nolink}}.
*The sign in front of the [[dump]] features a fish-bone design in non-English language versions rather than the text "Dump."
{{Clear}}

==Promotion==
===''Animal Crossing'' Pioneers===
On August 7, 2002, Nintendo of America announced a contest whereby 125 teams of two would be selected to receive advance promotional copies of ''Animal Crossing''.<ref name=AC_Early/> The submission deadline for the contest was August 12th. To be considered for selection, applicants had to submit a written response of 50 words or less explaining why they should be chosen as Pioneers. Those selected received a special ''Animal Crossing'' disc marked "for promotional use only", along with a 59 block Memory Card and a promotional ''Animal Crossing'' calendar. Pioneers received the game a month early and were expected to help Nintendo generate online buzz in advance of the title's release. Pioneers were also given exclusive access to a web forum where they could discuss the game amongst themselves as well as provide feedback to Nintendo representatives. At the end of the experience, the Pioneers were invited to an online chat with a few of the members of the game's localization team<ref>{{Cite web|author=MobyGames|url=https://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,8/dgm,63261/|title=Animal Crossing Pioneer}}</ref>. An analysis of the standard and promotional game disc concluded that the two were byte identical<ref>{{Cite web|author=Redump|url=http://redump.org/disc/5169/|title=Animal Crossing}}</ref>, meaning that no changes were made to the final version as a result of Pioneer feedback. The promotional copy and calendar have since become collector's items, with one set selling for over $500 on eBay in March 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024004426/https://www.ebay.com/itm/Animal-Crossing-Pioneer-Disc-Calendar-Reward-Gift-Great-Cond-Ultra-Rare-Promo-/301124433392?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l10137.c10&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true|title=Animal Crossing Pioneer Disc & Calendar Reward Gift Great Cond. Ultra Rare Promo|site=eBay|archive-date=October 24, 2020}}</ref>.
<gallery>
ACGCPioneersProgramLogin.png|Pioneer program login
ACGCPromotionalCopy.png|Promotional disc
ACGCPioneerLetter.png|Calendar letter
ACGCCalendarFront.png|Front of calendar & promo copy
ACGCCalendarBack.png|Back of calendar & promo copy
ACGCCalendarInside.png|Inside calendar
</gallery>

===Sweepstakes===
From August 30 to October 15, 2002, Nintendo of America initiated the {{PG|nolink}} "Deck Out Your Room" Sweepstakes.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020923023614/http://www.animal-crossing.com/sweeps/rules.jsp|title=Official Sweepstakes Rules|site=animal-crossing.com|archive-date=September 23, 2002}}</ref> One grand prize winner received a TV, headphones, and CD player from Panasonic, a Nintendo GameCube, a Game Boy Advance, five GameCube games, five Game Boy Advance Games, two WaveBird controllers, and a one-year subscription to Nintendo Power. Five first prize winners received a Nintendo GameCube, a copy of ''Animal Crossing'', and a one-year subscription to Nintendo Power.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020903184841/http://www.animal-crossing.com/sweeps/index.jsp|title=Enter the Animal Crossing "Deck Out Your Room" Sweepstakes|site=animal-crossing.com|archive-date=September 3, 2002}}</ref> Those who registered for the sweepstakes received a free ''Animal Crossing'' screensaver.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Billy Berghammer|date=September 10, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7734/deck-out-your-room|title=Deck out your room!|site=Nintendo World Report}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Animal Crossing'' was met with mostly positive reviews from critics, with many praising its charming, unique gameplay and long life span. e-Reader connectivity was seen as a welcome addition, although some criticized its outdated graphics and felt that it did not offer much of a single-player experience.{{Citation Needed}}

{{PG|nolink}} was included in many year-end 'best of' lists upon its release in 2002. It has also been featured in several all-time top video game countdowns and has received multiple [[Animal Crossing#Awards_and_nominations|awards and nominations]]. Review aggregator Metacritic notes a Metascore of 87/100 for ''Animal Crossing'',<ref>{{Cite web|author=Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/animal-crossing|title=Animal Crossing for GameCube Reviews}}</ref> which places it just behind {{NL}}'s score of 88. In May 2021, {{PG|nolink}} was inducted into the {{Wp|World Video Game Hall of Fame}}.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Marcus Ramirez|date=May 6, 2021|url=https://nintendowire.com/news/2021/05/06/the-original-animal-crossing-has-been-inducted-into-the-world-video-game-hall-of-fame/|title=The original Animal Crossing has been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame|site=Nintendo Wire|retrieved=May 6, 2021}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{| class="styled color-series"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Result
|-
|rowspan=6|2002
|Game Critic Award
|Best Original Game of E3<ref name=GiantBomb_E3/>
|{{Nom}}
|-
|rowspan=4|GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002
|Game of the Year<ref>{{Cite web|author=GameSpot|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030201105621/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/general1.html|title=GameSpot's Video Game of the Year, Nominees|archive-date=February 1, 2003}}</ref>
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Role-Playing Game on GameCube<ref>{{Cite web|author=GameSpot|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021223103711/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/gc19.html|title=Best Role-Playing Game on GameCube|archive-date=December 23, 2002}}</ref>
|{{Won}}
|-
| Most Innovative Game<ref>{{Cite web|author=GameSpot|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030210083623/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/general6.html|title=Most Innovative Game|archive-date=February 10, 2003}}</ref>
|{{Won}}
|-
| Funniest Game (Purposely)<ref>{{Cite web|author=GameSpot|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021223112403/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/general11.html|title=Funniest Game (Purposely)|archive-date=December 23, 2002}}</ref>
|{{Nom}}
|-
|GameSpy's Best of 2002
|GameCube Game of the Year<ref>{{Cite web|author=GameSpy|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628043605/http://www.gamespy.com/goty2002/gcn/index2.shtml|title=Runners Up|archive-date=June 28, 2003}}</ref>
|{{Nom}}
|-
|rowspan=7|2003
|The Game Developers Choice Awards
|Innovation Award<ref>{{Cite web|author=Game Developers Choice Awards|url=https://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/innovation.html|title=Innovation Archive}}</ref>
|{{Won}}
|-
|rowspan=6|Interactive Achievement Awards
|Innovation in Console Gaming<ref name=IAA>{{Cite web|author=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120906/http://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2003&idGame=339|title=Interactive Achievement Awards By Video Game Details|archive-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref>
|{{Won}}
|-
|Outstanding Achievement in Game Design<ref name=IAA/>
|{{Won}}
|-
|Console Role-Playing Game of the Year<ref name=IAA/>
|{{Won}}
|-
|Console Game of the Year<ref name=IAA/>
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Game of the Year
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering<ref name=IAA/>
|{{Nom}}
|-
|}

===Top lists===
{| class="styled color-series"
|-
!Year
!Source
!List
!Placement
|-
|2003
|Entertainment Weekly
|The 100 Greatest Videogames<ref>{{Cite web|author=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 12, 2003|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/05/12/100-greatest-videogames-no-51-no-100/|title=The 100 greatest videogames: No. 51 - No. 100}}</ref>
|align="center"|72
|-
|rowspan=3 |2006
|Electronic Gaming Monthly
|The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time<ref>{{Cite web|author=Electronic Gaming Monthly|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519133249/http://1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3147448|title=The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time|site=1UP.com|archive-date=May 19, 2006}}</ref>
|align="center"|126
|-
|Nintendo Power
|Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo Wiki|url=https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Nintendo_Power%27s_Top_200_Games|title=Nintendo Power's Top 200 Games|site=Fandom}}</ref>
|align="center"|51
|-
|X-Play
|10 Best GameCube Games Ever<ref>{{Cite web|author=G4|date=July 7, 2006|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309234329/https://g4tv.com/videos/12007/best-gamecube-games-ever-7-5/|title=Best GameCube Games Ever: #7-5|archive-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|Edge
|Top 100 Games of All Time <ref>{{Cite web|author=Edge|date=July 2, 2007|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018205611/http://www.edge-online.com/features/edges-top-100-games-all-time/6/|title=EDGE'S TOP 100 GAMES OF ALL TIME|archive-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref>
|align="center"|49
|-
|ScrewAttack! 
|Top 10 GameCube Games<ref>{{Cite web|author=ScrewAttack!|date=July 19, 2012|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYIPS_LMxh4|title=Top 10 GameCube Games - ScrewAttack.com|site=YouTube}}<sup>[dead link]</sup></ref>
|align="center"|5
|-
|2008
|Nintendo Power
|Best of the Best - Nintendo GameCube (Top 20) <ref>{{Cite web|author=Nintendo Wiki|url=https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Nintendo_Power%27s_Best_of_the_Best|title=Nintendo Power's Best of the Best|site=Fandom}}</ref>
|align="center"|19
|-
|2012
|TIME
|All-TIME 100 Video Games<ref>{{Cite web|author=Lev Grossman|date=November 15, 2012|url=https://techland.time.com/2012/11/15/all-time-100-video-games/slide/animal-crossing-2001|title=Animal Crossing|site=Time}}</ref>
|align="center"|-
|}

==Gallery==
{{Gallery}}
<gallery>
AnimalCrossinglogo.png|Logo
Animal Crossing-title.png|Title screen
PGNook'sCrannyInterior.png|[[Nook's Cranny]]
GCNMuseum.png|The [[museum]]
</gallery>

==Prerelease and unused content==
{{Main|List of prerelease and unused content in Animal Crossing}}

==Names in other languages==
{{Foreignname
|ja=どうぶつの森+
|ja-r=Dōbutsu no Mori+
|ja-m=Animal Forest+
|es=Animal Crossing
|es-m=Animal Crossing
|fr=Animal Crossing
|fr-m=Animal Crossing
|de=Animal Crossing
|de-m=Animal Crossing
|it=Animal Crossing
|it-m=Animal Crossing
}}

==External links==
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/ Official Japanese site]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20021004080450/http://www.animal-crossing.com/index.jsp Official North American site] <small>(archived)</small>
*[http://ms.nintendo-europe.com/animalcrossing/languageselect/index.html Official European site]
*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-GameCube/Animal-Crossing-267719.html Official Nintendo UK page]
*[http://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo/games/gameoverview.php?gameid=422 Official Australian page]

==Notes==
{{Note list}}

==References==
<small>{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}</small>
<references/>

{{Animal Crossing}}
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Animal Crossing series]]