Animal Crossing: Animal Forest is a social simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64, and then ported to the Nintendo GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. Animal Crossing is an open-ended game in which the player character lives in a small village inhabited by anthropomorphic animals (also known as “villagers”). The player can freely explore their town and interact with the animal residents. Animal Crossing is a social game that emphasizes communication between players.
The Animal Crossing series has been handled by various developers and closely collaborates with Nintendo EAD. Animal Forest was handled by Tokyo-based software developer Jupia, Inc., led by Hisashi Nogami of Creatures Inc., who also designed Animal Forest’s world and characters. Animal Crossing was headed by game director Takao Nogami, who then went on to direct Animal Forest e+. Animal Crossing: Wild World was developed by Nintendo EAD2, with supervision from the original team. Animal Crossing: City Folk was developed primarily by Nintendo EAD3 under Chin Hong Tan and Animal Crossing: New Leaf was developed by Nintendo EAD4 under Aya Kyogoku. Animal Crossing (film) is a 2009 film adaptation of Animal Forest and Animal Forest e+, directed by Isao Takahata and co-produced by Studio Ghibli for Walt Disney Pictures and Dentsu.