Optimization and improvements between titles are an important part of different series releases. Nintendo’sAnimal Crossingis a great example of what can be improved between games. What started as a quirky GameCube title about breaking out on one’s own in a world inhabited by talking animal neighbors has become a franchise that allows players to make all sorts of interior designs in any way they want.Animal Crossinghas tackled handheld gaming, exploring a city, becoming the mayor, and running an island over the years, and new characters such as Flick and C.J. have been added to help this world grow with each installment.
Flick was introduced with C.J.inAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsas the newest host of the Bug-Off contest that occurs every in-game summer. The previous host, Nat, is his father, and the two have disagreements about whether bugs are food or worth admiring in art. He tends to think out loud, talking about bugs to himself when approached before apologizing to the player. Compared to his dad, Flick is a popular character withAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsplayers. However, Flick serves to represent two of the growing pains the series has had to deal with since leaving its humble beginnings on the GameCube behind.
Not every set of video games has to tie into one another, butAnimal Crossinghas a sense of continuity between titles. While Isabelle has helped the player throughNew LeafandNew Horizons, some of her duties, like telling the player what holiday it is,used to fall to Tortimer, the previous town mayor who retired in the 3DS entry.New Horizons, in particular, retired three more characters as their children take their place: Nat with Flick, Chip with C.J., and Joan with Daisy Mae. These changes help make the world ofAnimal Crossingfeel far more alive, but the series refuses to fully commit to how things change between games.
It’s clear by the simple fact that each special NPC has a story being told between each title that Nintendo wants fans to care about these characters' lives. Despite that, the only character who shows any sign of aging is Joan, who allows Daisy Mae to take over the turnip business due to her weaker knees. Nat hasn’t aged a day despite the years that have passed, and his son Flick is old enough to take care of the Bug-Off contest in his stead. While fans don’t need an entirely detailedAnimal Crossingtimeline, it wouldn’t hurt to change the designs oficonic characters like Tom Nookto help the time that’s passed feel real.
Flick and C.J. are One Small Step for LGBT Fans
While Flick certainly has a unique style that has many players interested in his character, some have kept their eyes on his relationship with C.J. in particular. Their fathers might not have any connection to each other, but Flick and C.J. live together. The two of them have a strong connection in making models of fish and bugs, respectively, opting to commission the other to make art of their specialties. Flick and C.J. refer to each other as partners, a term most commonly usedbetween LGBT couples. The way the two talk about each other is certainly out of fondness, butAnimal Crossingstops just short of saying they actually have a romantic relationship.
Flick and C.J. are just one example of whatNew Horizonstries to offer LGBT players without calling attention to itself. Fans can dress in any outfits they want in the Switch installment ofAnimal Crossing,regardless of the gender that would be attached to it in other games. It’s great for those experimenting with gender identity, presentation, or who just want to dress up in a specific way for fun. However, for players who don’t seek out this feature, it’s easy not toknow it’s an option inNew Horizonsin the first place. Both Flick and C.J., as well as the clothing options inNew Horizons, seem to be the closest to LGBT representation fans are going to get while also avoiding controversy.
Animal Crossingcertainly enjoys these middle grounds between offering representation without causing a fuss and allowing time to pass in a way that doesn’t take away from the characters themselves. While both the continuity between the games and LGBT themes seem like a case of Nintendo going so close to it yet remaining so far, it can easily be said that staying in these middle groundsdoesn’t ruin theAnimal Crossingexperience. The fact thatAnimal Crossingboth does and doesn’t have continuity and representation is an interesting paradox. In fact, it’s one that Flick represents rather well. He’s part of both paradoxes, but his favorite phrase is “Schrödinger had one cool cat.” The Schrödinger’s cat paradox deals with a cat that is both alive and dead at the same time when unobserved in a box, which fits his role in these strange situations almost perfectly.
