An Animal Crossing Tale
| An Animal Crossing Tale | |
|---|---|
| File:Animal Crossing Tale Poster.png | |
| Produced by | Ben Carswell |
| Based on | Dōbutsu no Mori e+ |
| Starring | Ben Carswell
Trelis Skeem Sam Zamora Tommy Dreher Lydia Carswell |
| Music by | Kazumi Totaka |
Production company | Twisted4kStudios |
| Distributed by | Nintendo (Japan) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 6 Minutes |
| Country | United States, Japan |
| Language | English, Japanese |
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An Animal Crossing Tale is a 2014 American Animated short film Written and Directed by Ben Carswell, Based off the popular video game franchise Animal Crossing. The film is based on the Japanese-exclusive Nintendo GameCube game Dōbutsu no Mori e+ released on June 27, 2003. it is the un-cannon prequel to Dōbutsu no Mori (2006), the film stars Ben Carswell and a batch of other cast such as Trelis Skeem, Sam Zamora, Tommy Dreher, and Lydia Carswell. This film was made in the United States, unlike Dōbutsu no Mori which was made in Japan. This film features a mix of well known popular characters and some less well known characters. In the film, Ben goes by his day normally until he denies Rollo who needs to deliver a package and doesn't feel like it, Ben continues his day but when closing his day off, trouble comes when Rollo wants answers on why he didn't do his errands.
Development on the film was not expected at all. nor was it teased. The film started off as just a comic around the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, soon the idea for the movie developed into a storyboard that was considered as a "Quick Joke" as stated by the writer and director, Ben Carswell in the 2014 year end video for the studio. Soon the story kept adding on until it was finally becoming the storyboard to what would become the film. Also stated by the Writer and Director, Ben Carswell was that he played Animal Crossing (GameCube) when he was younger and would be great to see the game come to life. Some of the story has been told in the 2014 Twisted4kStudios year end review.
The film was released on various video websites before being broadcasted on Television. The video websites being YouTube, Newgrounds, etc. and was met with positive feedback from critics, mainly complimenting the Animation, environment, and voice acting. On March 20th, 2020, Nintendo released Animal Crossing: New Horizons after delaying the game in 2019. The game was praised by Millions around the world. Nintendo wanted to celebrate the years end with the New Years Update, but also on November 19, 2020, Nintendo secretly acquired the rights of the film for a Japanese release. Though copyright maybe an issue at first, the characters are licensed by Nintendo and can be claimed by Nintendo to earn money from it. The film aired in the United States on November 30, 2020 on The lol's channel and Japan on December 13, 2020 on TV Tokyo. For the United States, the movie was moved to The Retro Network. During the Japanese release of the film, flyers were given out rarely to advertise the premiere of the film. The 3 flyers had exclusive codes to redeem 3 unique shirts that featured a special design to wear in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the service was started on December 2, 2020 and was discontinued on August 22, 2021.
Plot[edit]
In a nice peaceful Town called Animal Town, populated by anthropomorphic Animals, Ben, A normal average everyday guy, goes by his day like anyone would like going off and greeting people. However one of his fellow neighbors is in a pickle and is looking for someone to deliver a package to Pierce. Ben denies explaining that he was going to go fishing and ask why he can't do it himself, Lazy as Rollo is he states he doesn't feel like doing it. Ben continues to go by his day normally, selling apples, searching for fossils, and talking to his neighbors. Ben decides to close the day by catching beetles and selling them, however Tom Nook has already closed his store for the night. Desperate, Ben ask Tom Nook if he can sell the beetles but Tom Nook refuses stating that he can't hear him and must come back tomorrow. Upset, Ben returns home to let the beetles roam free in his house until the next day. Rollo unexpectedly showing up behind Ben, asking him why he won't do his chores for him and tries to attack Ben, frightened, Ben hits Rollo with his shovel and knocks him out cold. Ben thinking he killed Rollo tries to burry him, not knowing he was alive. Hoping nobody would find out, trouble for Ben would come when Bob the Cat witnesses Ben burying Rollo. Bob being in shock makes a run for it and Ben is determined to tell the truth. Bob not watching where he is going unexpectedly hits a tree and also gets knocked out. Ben, this time knowing Bob isn't to harmed helps Bob back in his house.
Ben still worried about Bob and Rollo gets stopped by Officer Copper, Who ask Ben what was he up to that late. Ben still afraid to tell anyone, manages to keep it together and tell Copper that he was just out for a goodnight stroll. Copper, who is suspicious ask why he is out walking in a thunderstorm. Ben just says "yeah" and lets Ben go. Rollo finally awakes from his long nap to escape the dirt. Ben regrets not telling Copper the truth and feels pressured but is distracted when Paolo the Elephant comes by to return Ben's shovel. Ben sarcastically thanks him and Paolo goes back home. Ben ready to call it a night gets surprised when Rollo breaks open his door and wants revenge on Ben for knocking him out. Failing to get one hit on Ben, Rollo tries to brutally "harm" Ben with an axe. However Ben jumps out the window to escape. Ben makes the run for it and gets cornered at the edge of a cliff. Ben who is scared out of his life tries to convince Rollo that he doesn't want to kill him. Rollo seeking revenge still strikes a hit at a tree and bells hit Rollo on the head knocking him off the cliff. Ben with relief and sadness watches Rollo fall. Upset at his actions Ben tries to forget his horrible night until Bob the Cat returns to tell him about how he doesn't know what happend last night. Thinking he hit his head, Bob ask if Ben could deliver a package to Mitzi the Cat. Ben kind of scared he accepts to help Bob and forget everything. Rollo after falling onto a lower beach wonders what happend last night and remembers he has to deliver the package to Pierce the Eagle.
Cast[edit]
Voice Cast[edit]
- Ben Carswell as Ben: The average normal villager who is hiding from Rollo the Hippo who is trying to get him to deliver his package to Pierce the Eagle.
- Sam Zamora as Rollo the Hippo: an anthropomorphic stubborn Hippopotamus whos main goal is to deliver a package to Pierce the Eagle.
- Trelis Skeem as Bob the Cat: an anthropomorphic lazy cat who likes to relax but can't when he sees Ben burying Rollo thinking he was dead.
- Tommy Dreher as Paolo the Elephant: an anthropomorphic pink elephant who just wanted to return Ben's shovel.
- Ben Carswell as Copper: an anthropomorphic dog police officer who protects Animal Town from criminals, Copper is suspicious of Ben when he is found walking in the rain at night and ask him what he is up to.
- Lydia Carswell as Mitzi the Cat: an anthropomorphic cat who lives in Animal Town, only asking what Ben was up to today.
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
The film was first played out by Ben Carswell. Ben Carswell played Animal Crossing for the Nintendo GameCube a lot and wanted to see how it would work in an animated movie form. The idea was brought up again in 2013 when Ben Carswell wanted to make a movie about Animal Crossing and got to work on writing and storyboarding as just quick drawings of characters and soon started to make a story out of it. Upon making it he considered it to be a joke movie but soon kept adding on to the story and kept developing to what would become An Animal Crossing Tale. In 2014 the film was announced and released.
Writing[edit]
While in the process of developing the film, it was originally going to be similar to Dōbutsu no Mori with how it played out but was soon scrapped to become more of an adventure or a misadventure of the villager. as told by Ben Carswell in the 2014 year end review of the studio seen here.
Casting[edit]
Unlike past Twisted4kStudios movies, this film had a ton of guest cast voicing the characters. Sam Zamora being one of the more well known cast. while other guest voice actors like Trelis Skeem and Tommy Dreher where not big actors but where also well known across the social communities. While Ben Carswell had voiced many characters in past movies.
Music[edit]
The original composer for the Animal Crossing series, Kazumi Totaka (戸高 一生) didn't have an onboard role in the films production or music production but did inspire many song including "Wake Up World!" Which is the Animal Crossing Tale version of the Animal Crossing theme for the first game. Overall, Ben Carswell did most of the music composing and producing. The songs in the film are Digitally Mastered for Dolby 5.1 Surround for TV broadcast which is then added to the credits of the film when being broadcasted on The Retro Network as seen here.
Release[edit]
Marketing[edit]
Upon original release on September 23, 2014 the film was not really advertised nor was anything going to be sold for it. However when the rights where giving to Nintendo for the Japan release, A lot more things came for marketing including Promo codes, Flyers, Posters (which can be found on IMDb), and even plush toys that were not released and have not been found. When the film was being advertised in Japan in 2020, some people handed out 1 version of 3 flyers that featured codes for 3 different in-game shirts you could wear. The service was discontinued on August 22, 2021 due to the Nintendo Switch Online service for the creators got cut off. one side of the "Bob" flyer can be found here.
Critical response[edit]
When first launched, the film was received with very satisfied and positive feedback on the film saying how the animation was revolutionary for a small company and how smooth and accurate the voice acting was. On IMDb the film has a 9.5 /10 rating as of July 2021 which means it is near a 10 Star rating. The film on YouTube has 130K Likes to 2.9K Dislikes. The video has over 5,000,000 views as of August 2021.
Villagers[edit]
Animal Town[edit]
Many villagers appear in Animal Town with some with major roles. Here is the list with all the villagers featured in the film. Antonio did not appear in Animal Crossing for the GameCube which makes the film based on Dōbutsu no Mori e+ which is a Japanese-exclusive Nintendo GameCube game.
- Ben (Main Character)
- Antonio (Cameo)
- Bob (Major Role)
- Mitzi (Cameo)
- Paolo (Semi-Major Role)
- Boots (Cameo)
- Pierce (Mentioned/Cameo)
- Peanut (Cameo)
- Wolfgang (Cameo)
- Rollo (Major Role)
Special Characters[edit]
Not many special characters appear in the film but Blathers makes a cameo appearance while Tom Nook and copper talk in the film, Tom Nook who also previously appeared in Dōbutsu no Mori (2006) once again talks in this film but Copper who didn't appear in the other film makes his speaking debut. Tom Nook's voice actor is also not credited in the film.
- Blathers (Cameo)
- Copper (Major Role)
- Tom Nook (Major Role)
Television Broadcast[edit]
On November 19, 2020 Nintendo of Japan acquired the rights to the film to be broadcast in Japan for the Japanese Audience. Upon doing so the film would also get to be aired on United States broadcasting on November 30, 2020 and December 13, 2020 in Japan. For the films Television premiere, the film would air on The lol's Channel, However the channel was not really set up for broadcasting well and neither was the film itself which later added an extra Nintendo logo and Twisted4kStudios logo after the credits which was first seen upon broadcast on December 16, 2020 which also happens to be the exact day the movie Dōbutsu no Mori released on December 16, 2006 in Japan. The film was later moved to The Retro Network, Originally named "The Right Network" on April 14, 2021 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Animal Crossing franchise. For Japan, the film would be first broadcasted on December 13, 2020 on TV Tokyo along with the 2006 film being broadcasted later. In the United States the film got a TV-PG Rating. The edited version for TV broadcast with the extra logos has been uploaded on YouTube seen here.
Technical Specs[edit]
- The lol's channel, United States (16:9 1080i Widescreen / 4:3 480i Letterbox) NTSC
- The Retro Network United States (16:9 1080i Widescreen / 4:3 480i Letterbox) NTSC
- TV Tokyo Japan (16:9 720p Widescreen / 4:3 480i Letterbox) NTSC-J
Trivia[edit]
- The film features a removed character, Rollo who was removed after the series followed up with Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS.
- Rollo is the second removed character after Champ who was added in Animal Crossing: Wild World and was featured in Dōbutsu no Mori (2006) and was removed from Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
- Mitzi has the least amount of screen time in the entire film.
- The film is only largely based on Dōbutsu no Mori e+ due to Antonio making an appearance.
- Bob and Mitzi and Rosie are now the only three cat villagers to ever be seen in an Animal Crossing film
References[edit]
This article "An Animal Crossing Tale" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:An Animal Crossing Tale. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
