Animal Crossing is a series of charming simulation games released for Nintendo consoles since 2001.
The latest title in the series, which was released in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch, is Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a game that has won the hearts of players worldwide.
All titles in this franchise allow players to embody a cute, slightly Mii-like character of their own creation, which they can customize at any point in the game. Our avatar lives in a village or on an island populated by anthropomorphic animals and creatures, where they complete simple tasks given by NPCs, as well as engage in relaxing gameplay centred around building and decorating a home, farming, fishing, and uncovering the mysteries of their new home.
Although the game was released a few years ago, and you’ve surely already spent many hours in the world of AC:NH, we’re certain you still haven’t discovered all its secrets and hidden Easter Eggs. And there are plenty! Today, we’re going to introduce you to some of the most interesting secrets in Animal Crossing New Horizons!
Amphibians Don’t Need Rain Protection
Players love Animal Crossing for its extensive (and real-time) day and night cycles, seasonal changes, and weather conditions. During gameplay, you can experience warm, sunny days, as well as rainy or snowy ones.
You’ve probably noticed that most residents carry umbrellas or wear raincoats during rainy weather… Most, but not all! Amphibians, like frogs (e.g., Diva, Lily, or Henry), enjoy the rainy weather without any extra protection!
Seasonal Decorations And Assortment
Seasonal changes also bring holidays like Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and New Year’s. Depending on the season and associated holidays, you may notice different decorations in key places on the island, especially around Nook’s Cranny.
Approaching Christmas brings colourful lights, snowmen, and a Christmas tree, while Halloween brings decorations like pumpkins. But that’s not all. The shop’s assortment also includes various seasonal decorations and items. This allows you to decorate your home, or even the whole island to capture the spirit of upcoming holidays.
Birds On The Bulletin Board
Besides the Nook’s Cranny shop, another important spot on the island is the Resident Services building, where Tom Nook and Isabelle are stationed. Right next to this building is the Bulletin Board, where you can find interesting notes or create one yourself.
Although it’s a small detail, it’s worth mentioning because it likely escaped many players. During the day, a small yellow bird (or occasionally a few) usually perches on the Board, while at night, owls take their place. This charming touch has been featured in almost all games in the series.
Alien At 3:33 AM
Aliens are also a recurring element in the Animal Crossing universe. In one of the previous titles (2005’s Wild World), you could even shoot down their spaceship with a slingshot! However, they only appeared briefly at 3:33 AM.
In New Horizons, this theme also appears. Like in 2012’s New Leaf, if you turn on the TV at 3:33 AM, you can see a static signal and then… a broadcast straight from a UFO. Will we ever learn more about the aliens visiting the world of cute animals? Maybe…
Pascal The Otter
Pascal is one of the characters who have appeared in many parts of the AC series. He’s a cute red otter wearing suspenders, a beanie, and a shell necklace. Interestingly, his name is a nod to the French philosopher, physicist, and mathematician Blaise Pascal, who studied fluid dynamics, including measuring underwater pressure.
Despite his meaningful name, Pascal remains an otter with otter-like behaviours. When you go swimming to search for underwater treasures, you may encounter Pascal in the water as he snacks on clams, using his shell necklace to open them.
This behaviour references real otters, who carry a favourite rock or sharp shell in a special pocket of fur, which they use to open and crack their underwater treats.
A Very Shady Fox
Another place that is one of the most important locations on the AC island is the Museum, run by Blathers, who constantly tasks your character with finding fossils or bringing insects for display. At some point, the Museum expands to include an art exhibit, where it’s your job to acquire works of art.
When this quest begins, Isabelle will inform the residents that a suspicious character has been spotted around the island. This will be Jolly Redd, a fox who sails around in a boat, smuggling artworks. You can buy real sculptures or paintings from him, but you can also… pay a lot for fake pieces that you can’t resell or gift to other residents. Knowing a bit about art and having a keen eye often comes in handy.
These counterfeit pieces frequently hold hidden secrets. For example, the ‘Academic Painting’ in the game is based on ‘The Vitruvian Man’, a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. If you buy a fake copy from Redd, a key referencing ‘The Da Vinci Code’ book and film will be hidden on the back of the painting. Other fake works seem haunted: the characters in paintings follow the player with their eyes, wink, or the sculptures emit a mystical green glow at night!
Some Decorative Items Actually Affect the Environment
Here’s another small detail that, while not an Easter Egg, makes the world of Animal Crossing feel more alive and dynamic. In the game’s shops, you can buy, or you can craft various functional items, like a stove, chairs, or a bed, but there are also many decorative items that allow you to create a house that feels like a real home.
For example, a toilet that might seem like a simple decoration for the bathroom is actually functional. When your character eats a lot of fruit but doesn’t plan to use the energy gained, using the toilet will lower the energy level, which will be accompanied by the characteristic sound of flushing. Fans, on the other hand, when placed nearby, cause plants to sway as if blown by a breeze.
Godzilla & Mothra
Godzilla is a giant lizard well-known in pop culture, and like the Animal Crossing series, it originated in Japan. If you’re a fan, you can eventually unlock a recipe to craft a large statue resembling this legendary creature. But that’s not all!
Among the hundreds of insects on the island, you can also find a giant moth resembling the nemesis of the water lizard — Mothra. With a keen eye and a little fun with perspective, you can easily recreate the iconic scene from the film where Mothra and Godzilla face off!
Peach & Daisy
Among the various items you can craft or purchase in Animal Crossing is an interesting trinket called the Tulip Surprise Box — a wooden flower containing a little princess doll. This item comes in several colour options, two of which…
…resemble princesses from another Nintendo franchise, Mario: Peach and Daisy. This small Easter Egg is missed by many players, though AC has no shortage of decorations and costumes referencing the Mario Bros. world.
KiKi the Cat
KiKi is another character who has appeared in the AC series from the beginning. She’s a village resident, a cute black cat in a green jumper. Few people know that this character was inspired by one of Studio Ghibli’s animations — ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’.
In this anime, Kiki was the main character, a young girl’s name, and her black cat was named Jiji, but the reference is obvious and fully intentional by the creators!
Conclusion
Animal Crossing is a vast Japanese franchise that has delighted players and cosy game enthusiasts for over two decades. Its latest instalment, New Horizons, like previous titles, is filled with various pop culture references, Easter Eggs, secrets, and interesting details waiting to be discovered! We’ve introduced you to just a few of them, but remember, the game holds many more. Or perhaps you’ve already found something we missed?