Animal Crossing's Poetic Horizons

(cont.) A poem that comes to mind for me as I consider this phenomenon of embracing the happiness that we can is “What A Gift it is to be Kind,” part of the Pandemic Poems project. In this poem, Kate Belew and Viannah lean away from an all-consuming darkness and toward the light:

When I said the earth was crumbling, what I meant was

my vision shredded against the cliffs of possibilities

like a heartbeat against the ribcage of the world

Which at one point was a tender one 

I tossed daisies, roses, and lilacs over the cliffs

and debated following their bodies, but 

then turned and showered my heartache with kisses

what a gift it is to be kind, I know now 

This beautiful image of “shower[ing] [their] heartache with kisses” exemplifies what I mean. These days, it is so easy to feel one’s “vision shredded against the cliffs of possibilities,” but Kate Belew and Viannah urge us to be kind with ourselves even in these difficult moments and take a step back in a gesture not unlike the one accomplished by the Animal Crossing franchise.

Like this pandemic poem, Animal Crossing provides us with an opportunity to reground ourselves in the comfort of the island life we share with villager friends. A soothing sense of routine and reliability predominates the game, even as we watch the seasons turn. Back in March of 2020, I started every Animal Crossing day by checking the new clothing and furniture offerings in my shops, collecting seashells along the beach, and talking to my villagers — in February of this year, I start off with the same tasks, except now while listening to the delicate crunch of my character’s boots against snow.

The value of both Animal Crossing and poetry, however, is not purely escapist. Just as poets constantly engage with our world and politics through their work, this desire to push for tangible change has also trickled into Animal Crossing — and in ways we might not expect. In August and October, Hellmann’s Canada (yes, the mayonnaise brand!) encouraged players to visit the official Hellmann’s Animal Crossing island to drop off spoiled turnips (which are otherwise used to invest in the game’s stock market, one of the primary ways to become rich). For every turnip received, Hellmann’s promised to donate a meal to the organization Second Harvest, an effort that resulted in a donation of 25,000 real meals. 

As another example, Joe Biden’s campaign surprised Animal Crossing players with the launch of “Biden HQ,” an official island where players could visit and learn about how to vote and volunteer for Biden’s text and phone bank. While electoral politics does not solve all issues, it is interesting to see how the Biden campaign — as well as Hellmann’s Canada and others — have used a game like Animal Crossing to do work whose effects surpass the digital realm. From these two examples, we can see how the game is not just a fun island getaway in the same way that poetry is not just words strung together. Much like poets who use their craft for activism and to explore the intersection of personal and political, Animal Crossing players can use the platform of the game to call other players’ attention to real world issues and even encourage them to take action.     

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