Gekijōban Dōbutsu no Mori is a 2006 Japanese animated film directed by Jōji Shimura and based on the Animal Crossing video game series. It was produced by Nintendo, OLM, Inc. and VAP and distributed by Toho. The film opened in theaters in Japan on December 16, 2006, where it went on to earn ¥1.7 billion (approximately $16,216,000) at the box office.
The film retains the theme of the video games, and centers on an 11-year-old girl named Ai who moves into a village populated with animals where she works to make new friends and find her own dreams. Gekijōban Dōbutsu no Mori was not released outside Japan, with Nintendo of America stating in 2007 that they had no plans for an English release.
Storyline
The film opens with Ai, an 11-year-old girl, moving into the Animal Village during the spring. After being put to work by Tanukichi to deliver goods, Ai befriends four of the village's residents: Bouquet, Sally, Albert, and a human boy named Yū, participating in several activities. Ai begins to find a series of anonymous messages in bottles that state that a miracle will occur during the upcoming Winter Festival if pine trees are planted in specific points of the village. Ai complies with the messages and begins planting the trees, half-believing that the messages may have been placed by aliens.
During autumn, Bouquet scolds Ai for not attending Sally's farewell party, which comes as a surprise. Ai becomes heartbroken, learning that Sally has moved away to pursue a career in fashion design. Ai goes to the museum café, and ends up crying when K.K. Bossa plays, as the song reminds her of Sally. Bianca scolds Ai, and tells her that she should be happy as a friend for Sally; Ai responds that she is happy for Sally, but is sad that Sally never told her she was moving, and leaves the café. Sally sends a letter of apology to Ai, explaining that a goodbye would have been too upsetting, and encourages her to embark on her own personal journey. Bouquet apologizes to Ai for her harsh reaction.
Winter comes, and all the pine trees that Ai has planted have fully grown and are decorated with Christmas lights. A spaceship crash-lands in the middle of the forest, and Johnny, a seagull, emerges. Johnny, who had planted the bottles in order to make an entrance dressed as an alien, asks the villagers to help locate some of the pieces that broke off his ship during the descent. Ai, Bouquet, Yū, and Albert head towards a cave, where Yū claims to have seen one of the pieces fall. The entrance is blocked up by a large boulder from a recent event. The team tries to move the boulder, but it proves too heavy for them to move. Sally then appears and helps unseal the cave.
The five retrieve the missing piece and return to Johnny, who they discover had already obtained them all. The missing piece turns out to be an injured UFO, one of a larger group that was attracted to the village due to the pattern formed by Ai's lit-up pine trees. The injured UFO reunites with its group, and as they depart, create a constellation in the night sky resembling Ai. Ai then wins the Winter Festival contest for the best decoration, leaving her feeling for the first time as a true member of the village.
Release Date
December 16, 2006
Sound Effects Used
- Anime Kotsuzumi Sound
- Anime Lovely Magic Sound
- Anime Wobble Sound
- Discovery Sound, CICADA - Cicada-3
- Discovery Sound, CICADA - Cicada-4
- H-B CRASH, CARTOON - BIG CRASH 02
- Hollywoodedge, Bird Woodpecker Chir PE022001
- Hollywoodedge, Bounce Jews Harp CRT015807
- Hollywoodedge, Punch Face Hit 1 Sharp PE100101
- Hollywoodedge, Swish 15 Single PE117401
- Hollywoodedge, Wood Door OCKnob PE180101
- Sound Ideas, BELL, BICYCLE - BICYCLE BELL: DOUBLE RING
- Sound Ideas, BITE, CARTOON - BIG CHOMP
- Sound Ideas, BUBBLE, CARTOON - SKIP'S FLARTLES 02
- Sound Ideas, SPACE, ZAP - LARGE SPUTTERING ZAP, GUN
- Sound Ideas, SWISH, CARTOON - SHARP SWISH
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - BIG WHISTLE ZING OUT
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - QUICK WHISTLE ZIP OUT
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - QUICK WHISTLE ZIP OUT, HIGH
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - SHARP ZIP
Image Gallery