Animal Crossing Was Almost Given a Different Name

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A fresh interview has offered insights into the initial phase of ‘Animal Crossing’, unveiling that the English adaptation nearly bore a distinct title. Despite ‘Animal Crossing’ currently being renowned as an all-time favorite among fans, the development process for the English version presented some exclusive challenges.

The original name of Animal Crossing was Dobutsu no Mori, but in Japan, it still goes by this name. This Japanese title translates to “Animal Forest,” which is quite distinct from the English version’s title. A team member involved in localizing the game has disclosed an entirely different title that it nearly ended up with.

Former Nintendo Localization Manager Talks Animal Crossing

As a dedicated fan, I can share an interesting tidbit about the beloved game Animal Crossing, which was originally named Dobutsu no Mori in Japan. In the western world, it went by the name Animal Crossing, but it almost got another Animal Acres.

Leslie Swan, a former Nintendo localization manager, spilled some fascinating industry insights to Time Extension about her time with the company, including her work on Animal Crossing. Swan mentioned that there were several potential names for the western version of the game’s title, with Animal Acres being her personal favorite due to its connection to the original game’s town grids, which reminded her team of acres.

Swan also pointed out that the team aimed to preserve both “Animal” and “Forest” as elements within the title, but ultimately, it didn’t quite fit together.

The title of the game is quite captivating, but Swan also discussed the hurdles they faced during the game’s localization. To be precise, Animal Crossing presented a more complex task than most games they had tackled previously since the content was incredibly Japan-specific. This meant that the team needed to rename characters, revamp catchphrases, modify game events, and alter items to make it accessible for global audiences. Interestingly, the intricacies of localizing this game were not a secret to Nintendo’s upper management. When Swan was presented with the project by dev Takashi Tezuka from Nintendo, he had already warned that localization would prove challenging. Later, when Satoru Iwata learned about the localization project, he jokingly remarked that he couldn’t fathom how they would manage it.

It’s evident that the effort poured into the initial version of “Animal Crossing” proved fruitful. Although it didn’t immediately achieve grand success in the western regions, it managed to cultivate a dedicated fanbase, which flourished with each subsequent installment. The release of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” catapulted the series into global stardom, breaking sales records and offering solace to gamers amidst the pandemic as a preferred pastime. Despite significant evolution, the groundwork laid in the original GameCube title’s localization has remained relevant up until now.

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2025-09-10 03:09