Transportation
In theAnimal Crossing series,transportation refers to any means of moving theplayer from one location to another without the need for active player input. Forms of transportation include vehicles that the player uses to initially reach theirtown during character creation, as well as all means of leaving their town to access other areas, such as visiting other players' towns throughmultiplayer.
In most cases, using transportation will instantaneously take the player to their destination, skipping the travel period and only showing a brief cutscene at the start and end of their trip.
Appearances[edit]
InAnimal Crossing[edit]
The primary mode of transportation infirst-generationAnimal Crossing is thetrain. Upon creating a new save file, the player will begin their game on the train bound for their town, accompanied byRover, who guides the player through character creation. After this intro sequence, thetrain station is used to visit the towns of other players, provided there is a memory card with another town's save data stored on it inserted into the console alongside one with the visitor's save data. The train station is run byPorter, whom the player must speak to in order to use the train when attempting to visit other towns. The station is also given a random appearance upon a save file's creation, coming in three different styles and five colors, for a total of 15 possible station designs.
Starting inDoubutsu no Mori+,Kapp'n was added and offers to take the player on a boat ride toAnimal Island. On the way there, Kapp'n will singKapp'n's Song, a series of songs with varying lyrics related to his life.
The train departing from the station.
Rover talking to the player in the train.
Kapp'n at the dock.
Kapp'n singing one of his songs to the player.
InWild World[edit]
The intro sequence ofAnimal Crossing: Wild World takes place in a small, black taxi driven by Kapp'n, who asks the introductory questions that affect theplayer's appearance, name, and gender, as well as the town name and layout. After the intro sequence, the player may talk toCopper at thecheckpoint to ride the taxi to other players' towns. Unlike the bus or the train, it cannot be seen or boarded except when moving. It drops or picks up the player from in front of the town hall.
The taxi has a very simplistic design. There is a glass partition between the front of the taxi, where Kapp'n sits and the back part, where the player sits. Most of the back part is never seen by the player. The front has all the typical trappings of a car and also has a small figurine featuring Kapp'n in his boat from the firstAnimal Crossing.
The taxi also makes an appearance inSmashville inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, where it can be seen driving past the town hall periodically.
The interior of the taxi.
The exterior of the taxi.
InCity Folk[edit]
InAnimal Crossing: City Folk, thebus is used as the setting of the intro sequence, and is used as the primary mode of transport to visit thecity. The bus is driven by Kapp'n, who operates the bus at all hours of the day and will take the player to the city free of charge.
Unlike all other games in the series, multiplayer inAnimal Crossing: City Folk does not show the player making use of any particular mode of transport when visiting other towns. Rather, they simply exit through their own town's gates and arrive through the checkpoint of the town they're visiting.
The inside of the bus.
Rover talkling to the player inside the bus.
The player inside the bus at thebus stop.
InNew Leaf[edit]
Animal Crossing: New Leaf's two modes of transport are the train and Kapp'n boat rides, both returning fromAnimal Crossing. The intro toNew Leaf plays out similar toAnimal Crossing, taking place on a train bound for the player's town, with Rover there to facilitate character creation. The train station is run by Porter, and now contains a locker that the player can use as astorage unit.
Kapp'n, having returned to his roots as a sailor, will once again offer boat rides to the player, this time toTortimer Island. On the way there, Kapp'n will singKapp'n's Song, a series of songs with varying lyrics.
Rover talking to the player in the train.
A train passes by.
Kapp'n at the dock.
A player listening to Kapp'n's song.
InNew Horizons[edit]
Due to the game's island setting, the player's primary mode of transport inNew Horizons is viaDodo Airlines, rather than the land-based means of previous entries in the series. By speaking toOrville behind the airport counter, the player can haveWilbur fly them to one of several locations. Immediately after character creation, the player rides a plane to their island, provided with a video showcasing island life to watch during the trip. Afterward, they may visit the airport at any time to take a flight. Destinations include another player's island,Harv's Island, or, provided they bring aNook Miles Ticket, a randommystery island. If the player has theHappy Home Paradise DLC installed and has been introduced toLottie, they may also visit thearchipelago.
Since version2.0, the player can take aboat tour once per day by Kapp'n's boat after the Resident Sevices has upgraded to a building. Boat tours function much like Mystery Tours, but cost only
1,000Nook Miles per visit (as opposed to the 2,000 Nook Miles required to buy a Nook Miles Ticket) and can provide the player withgyroid fragment,glowing moss, andvines. As before, Kapp'n will sing sea shanties during boat rides.
Timmy & Tommy talking about the transportation.
The plane's silhouette as it descends to an island.
The inside of the airport.
Wilbur and the plane at a mystery island dock.
Kapp'n at the dock.
Kapp'n ferrying a player.
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