Playful, Sociable, Cute, Quarantined - Interactions with Kawaii Characters in Animal Crossing: New Horizons During COVID-19
Japanese Studies
; 2023.
Article
in English
| Web of Science | ID: covidwho-20242139
ABSTRACT
The implementation of social isolation policies in response to COVID-19 coincided with Nintendo's video game Animal Crossing New Horizons (also known as atsumare dobutsu no mori) gaining popularity. At this time, the game served as a means of escape and comfort for those experiencing loneliness and anxiety. The kawaii animal characters that occupy the players' island in this game are designed to elicit social responses from players as a central part of gameplay, through dialogue, animation, and character design. This article contributes to an emerging body of work that considers the social relations formed between kawaii characters and viewers, through a digital ethnography of English-speaking Animal Crossing fan practices on Twitter, Reddit and Instagram. A key appeal of Animal Crossing during COVID-19 lockdowns resided in its kawaii character design, which elicits caring and playful behaviours in players. Through design, the non-player characters shift between functioning as an object upon which players can act, to a simulated subject that encourages social interactions from the player and stimulates the imagination. Through this flexibility of appearing both 'real' and 'unreal', players could interact with characters according to their needs during social distancing.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
Web of Science
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
Japanese Studies
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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