This page explains in detail the interactions between the Animal Crossing series and the Zelda series.
Dobutsu no Mori[]
April 14, 2001
Animal Crossing
Zelda
The player finding 100 Rupees.
In Dobutsu no Mori when inspecting a cabinet a message will sometimes pop up saying to the player that they found 100 Rupees, but unluckly they're useless in this game. Rupees are in fact the currency used in Zelda games.
Additionally Gulliver, a gull that can be found lying on the beach will sometimes wonder what happened to "heartbroken Helen in Hyrule", but will immediatly specify that she's actually his pet goldfish whom he had to leave behind.
Only these two references are considered to indicate elments from the Zelda series to actually exist in the game, but there also are other references in the form of items or characters quotes:
- One of the forniture items in the game is a reproduction of the Master Sword in its pedestal from the Zelda series, and specifically is based on its appearance from Ocarina of Time.
- There are clothes called Anju's Shirt and Kafei's Shirt, based respectively on Anju's and Kafei's clothes from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Note: Kafei's name was transliterated as "Kaffe" in Animal Crossing)
- Inside the tent of the fortune teller Katrina there's the symbol of the Triforce on the wall. It's even possible that the whole tent was inspired by the fortune teller's from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, since it has a very similar table.
- In another occasional dialogue, Gulliver references a scene from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask by saying "Or when I fought the sea snakes at Pinnacle Rock! Wait a minute... That wasn't me!" Since he also tells of being used to spend nights playing videogames, it's implied that he played the game and confused its events with reality.
- When Gracie is wearing an official Gracie design shirt, she sometimes say that it's part of last year's Hyrulean line, again referring to Hyrule.
(Note that the images are actually taken from Animal Crossing, but the references have been verified in the original game)
Dobutsu no Mori+[]
Kapp'n referencing Hyrule. (screenshot from Animal Crossing)
The Legend of Zelda hacked into the game.(screenshot from Animal Crossing)
December 14, 2001
Animal Crossing
Zelda
In the GameCube update of Dobutsu no Mori all references to the Zelda series are kept, but some more were added:
While traveling the player to the island (a location only accessable by linking the console to a Game Boy Advance), Kapp'n will sometimes ask if the player ever spent a night in a Hyrulean prison, Hyrule being the kingdom from the Zelda series.
This counts as a type 1 link because it implies Hyrule to also exist in this game's universe.
Additionally the Famicom Disk System version of The Legend of Zelda was originally planned to be unlockable in the game, but was ultimately removed. The game however is still present in the game's code and can be accessed through hacking.
Animal Crossing[]
September 15, 2002
Animal Crossing
Zelda
In the international version of Dobutsu no Mori+ all references to the Zelda series are kept, but one more was added: after catching a loach a message will pop up asking if it's Hylian. This references the Hylian Loach from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, that was the rarest and most difficult fish to catch in the game. (Note that the Loach could also be caught in previous versions of the game, but the Zelda reference was added after translating the game to English.)
This only counts as a type 2 link because the sentence doesn't imply Hyrule to actually exist, it might just be fictional.
Additionally the Famicom Disk System game The Legend of Zelda was replaced by its Famicom/NES version, but was still left unused, so it was ultimately removed in Dobutsu no Mori e+.
Animal Crossing-e[]
March 2003
Animal Crossing
Zelda
Two cards in the third series of the e-Reader cards used to unlock special designs in Animal Crossing are based on the Zelda series. An additional promotional NES Link card was released later in Nintendo Power. They are specifically:
- D07 - Hero's Tunic is based on the design of Link's clothes from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and can be applied to clothes and accessories.
- D08 - Triforce Tile is based on the Triforce logo and can be applied on walls.
- PR02 - NES Link, a sprite of Link holding up the Triforce from The Legend of Zelda that can be applied on clothes and accessories.
Animal Crossing: Wild World[]
The player finding 10 Rupees.
November 23, 2005
Animal Crossing
Zelda
The Rupee easter egg returns in this game, though the quantity is decreased to 10.
The game also features two forniture items based on Zelda objects:
- The Triforce, that when activated plays the Great Fairy/File Select theme, while its three triangles will spin.
- The Master Sword, that when activated plays the Zelda item fanfare. It was only available in limited edition.
Additionally, peppy characters might occasionally tell the player that while jurneying to a far away land they met "A cute boy in green clothes who could knock items out of the sky with his boomerang." This obviously references Link from the Zelda series.
Animal Crossing: City Folk[]
November 16, 2008
Animal Crossing
Zelda
A Villager dressed as Link.
This game once again features items and clothes based on the Zelda series, specifically:
- Triforce: returning from the previous game, it can only be bought at Redd's store.
- Master Sword: returning from the previous game, it's now based on its appearance from Twilight Princess.
- Hero's Clothes: based on Link's tunic from the Zelda games, specifically from Twilight Princess. It can only be obtained from Tom Nook Point System.
- Hero's Hat: based on Link's hat from the Zelda series, it includes Link's ears and part of his hair, based on his appearance from Twilight Princess. It can only be obtained from Tom Nook Point System.
- Majora's Mask: the titular Mask from the Nintendo 64 game. It can only be obtained from Tom Nook Point System.
- Midna's Mask: based on Midna's headgear from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. It can only be obtained from Tom Nook Point System.
Additionally, text written in what appears to be Hylian can be seen on the dashboard of Kapp'n's bus.
A little reference was also added in the International versions of the game, where during the Flea Market one of the villagers might say "Buy somethin' will you?", referencing the quote from The Legend of Zelda, "Buy somethin' will ya?"
Animal Crossing: New Leaf[]
A villager dressed as Link.
November 8, 2012
Animal Crossing
Zelda
All the Zelda-themed items from the previous game return in this one, though the Master Sword, Hero's Clothes and Hero's hat have been redesigned to represent their appearance in Skyward Sword. Midna's Mask is also darker. The game also features some new Zelda items:
- Hero's pants: Link's pants from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Hero's boots: Link's boots from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Fi's Mask: Representing Fi from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Tingle Hood: Tingle's headgear from the Zelda series.
- Makar's Mask: A mask made out of a leaf, resembling the face of Makar from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
Additionally, on October 1, 2013 a QR code was released for a shirt based on Link's at the beginning of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, called Outset Shirt. Note that while QR codes are for items created by players and therefore not official, this one was created by an official Nintendo artist to promote The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.
Also one of the special tree stump designs is based on the Triforce logo.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo[]
November 2, 2016
Animal Crossing
Zelda
This update to Animal Crossing: New Leaf adds amiibo functionality, allowing the player to summon the respective character into their town by talking to Wisp. Each character shows up in an RV and once inside it's possible to buy exclusive items.
A villager with Sheik mask and Sheik outfit near the Zelda-themed RV.
While the game focuses mainly on Animal Crossing amiibo, amiibo based on Zelda characters are also compatible, including both ones from the Zelda series as well as ones from the Super Smash Bros. line, and once scanned summon specific animal characters from the Zelda series. All Zelda amiibo released at the time are compatible, as are ones from the first wave of Breath of the Wild amiibo (released on March 3, 2017) and the three "The Legend of Zelda" amiibo (released on June 22, 2017). The effect is assigned to each amiibo based on the character's game of origin or role.
Beside Zelda characters the game is also compatible with certain amiibo from the Splatoon series, and ones from the Monster Hunter series. (see here and here for details)
Zelda characters appearing in the game and the amiibo used to obtain them are specifically:
- Wolf Link from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: scan Link (Super Smash Bros. series), Zelda (Super Smash Bros. series), Wolf Link, Link (Archer), Link - Twilight Princess, or Link - Skyward Sword.
- Medli from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: scan Toon Link (Super Smash Bros. series), Toon Link - The Wind Waker, Zelda - The Wind Waker, or Zelda (Zelda series).
- Epona from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and other games in the series: scan Sheik, Link - Ocarina of Time, Link (Rider), or Link - Majora's Mask.
- Ganon from The Legend of Zelda and other 2D games in the series: scan Ganondorf, Link - The Legend of Zelda, Guardian, or Bokoblin.
The Young Link amiibo released in the Super Smash Bros. line on April 12, 2019, and the Link - Link's Awakening amiibo released on September 20, 2019 are also compatible and summon Wolf Link, but given how late they were released it's most likely that they're simply recognized as generic Link amiibo and their compatibility is just incidental.
Each of these characters will show up in a green RV with the Royal Crest of Hyrule on its door, sprites of Link and Zelda holding pieces of the Triforce from the original The Legend of Zelda on its side, and a Fairy sprite from the same game on its roof.
The interior is decorated with the "Hyrule wall" and "Zelda floor" and a few of the furniture items that can be bought from them. These are all Zelda-themed items new to the series.
Wolf Link[]
Link's wolf alter-ego from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, actually called W. Link in the game, like every other villager he appears in this game with anthropomorphic features, unlike the original game where he has the appearance of a regular wolf. He has a Smug personality and his birthday is December 2nd, corresponding to the Japanese release date of Twilight Princess. His favorite song is "K.K. Western", possibly because of it sounding similar to the Hidden Village theme from Twilight Princess.
RV Description: "It's about time this hero came around. He's known for being strong but silent, but here he's starting to open up a bit. Just don't ask about his past..."
Items that can be bought from his RV are: Hyrule wall, Zelda floor, Heart, Heart Container, Hylian Shield, Hyrulean treasure, Link hat, Link outfit, new hero wig, new hero's outfit, Princess Zelda dress, Wolf Link outfit, Zelda wig.
If W.Link moves into the player's village his house interior is designed like a dungeon or prison, possibly based on the one from Twilight Princess where he finds himself in. It includes the Hyrulean treasure and Master Sword items.
When Wisp initially transforms into W.Link he imitates him saying "Feels nice to have Midna off my back for once." referencing how Midna rides on Wolf Link's back for the majority of Twilight Princess.
Medli[]
A secondary character from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, while in the original game she's part of the Rito race of people with bird-like features, she appears as a Bird villager in this game. She has a Normal personality and her birthday is December 13th, corresponding to the Japanese release date of The Wind Waker. Her favorite song is "K.K. Island", referencing how she lives on an island in the original game.
RV Description: "Fresh from Dragon Roost Island, it's Medli of the Rito tribe! Her flight skills are a little shaky, so she gets from dungeon to dungeon with her camper van."
Items that can be bought from her RV are: Hyrule wall, Zelda floor, Cucco ornament, fairy bottle, Heart, Hero of Time scroll, Link hat, Link outfit, Medli outfit, new hero wig, new hero's outfit
If Medli moves into the player's village her house is somewhat styled after the Zelda series, including pots similar to the ones found in Zelda games, the Hero of Time scroll on the wall, and a bottled ship item, referencing the sea setting of The Wind Waker.
Epona[]
Link's horse from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time onward, like every other villager she appears in this game with anthropomorphic appearance, unlike the original games where she always just appeared as a regular horse. She has a Peppy personality and her birthday is November 21st, corresponding to the Japanese release date of Ocarina of Time. Her favorite song is "Wandering".
RV Description: "Clear the streets because the legendary Epona is thundering into town from Lon Lon Ranch! Does anybody have an ocarina handy to calm her down?"
Items that can be bought from her RV are: Hyrule wall, Zelda floor, Epona outfit, Gossip Stone, Link hat, Link outfit, Lon Lon milk, New hero wig, New hero's outfit, Piece of Heart, Sheik mask, Sheik outfit, Sheik pants, Termina's moon.
If Epona moves into the player's village her house is styled like a ranch, including grassy floor, a cucco, and a Lon Lon milk item.
When Wisp initially transforms into Epona he imitates her saying "Ugh! I swear, that Link! Would it kill him to be gentler in the saddle?" referencing her role as Link's horse in the original games and possibly how Link can whip her to get a boost.
Ganon[]
The main villain from the Zelda series appears here in his pig form from 2D Zelda games. He has a Cranky personality and his birthday is February 21st, corresponding to the Japanese release date of the original The Legend of Zelda. His favorite song is the ominous "K.K. Dirge".
RV Description: "There goes the neighborhood! A manifestation of absolute evil has moved in! Yikes! This game just got dark... Maybe he'll play nice with everyone this time?"
Items that can be bought from his RV are: Hyrule wall, Zelda floor, bomb, Ganon outfit, Ganondorf outfit, Ganondorf pants, Ganondorf wig, Hyrulean treasure, Link hat, Link outfit, new hero wig, new hero's outfit, Rupee.
If Ganon moves into the player's village his house is decorated with the Hyrule wall and Zelda floor, and includes bombs, two thrones, and a pile of bones, referencing his role as the evil boss of the Zelda series.
Items[]
All the new Zelda items added with the update are:
- Hyrule wall: wallpaper depicting a gameplay scene from the original The Legend of Zelda, featuring Moblins.
- Zelda floor: floor showing a Fairy fountain from the original The Legend of Zelda
- Rupee: the single unit of currency from the series, the player can walk over it and it reproduces the sound and animation of picking it up.
- Heart: the common item used to restore health, the player can walk over it and it reproduces the sound and animation of picking it up.
- Piece of Heart: piece of a Heart container looking specifically like it does in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, when activated it plays the "Small Item Catch" jingle from said games.
- Heart Container: recurring item from the series, looking specifically like it does in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, when activated it plays the "Get Heart Container" jingle from said games.
- Fairy bottle: the item used to restore full health in most Zelda games, based specifically on its appearance from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, when activated it makes the respective sound from said games.
- Lon Lon milk: the healing item from the series, when activated it makes the sound of filling various health hearts.
- Cucco ornament: based on the recurring animal from the series, when activated it makes the cucco's clucking sound.
- Bomb: the recurring weapon from the Zelda series, when activated it starts flashing like its about to explode.
- Hyrulean treasure: a chest looking specifically like a Boss Key chest from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, when activated it opens up revealing a rupee inside and plays the "Item Get" jingle.
- Gossip Stone: the stone from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, like in the original games it gives advice when activated and like in Majora's Mask it can also give the current time.
- Termina's moon: reproduction of the moon about to fall on Termina in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.
- Hylian Shield: the recurring shield from the series, it can be hung on the wall.
- Hero of Time scroll: a page from the scroll telling the story of the Hero of Time, shown in the introduction of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it can be hung on the wall.
- Wolf Link outfit: shirt vaguely patterned after the character, worn by his counterpart in this game.
- Medli outfit: clothes based on the respective character and worn by her in this game.
- Epona outfit: clothes based on the respective character and worn by her in this game.
- Ganon outfit: Ganon's clothes from 2D games in the series, also worn by him in this game.
- Link hat: Link's hair and hat based on his appearance from 2D games in the series, and A Link Between Worlds.
- Link outfit: Link's clothes based on his appearance from 2D games in the series, and A Link Between Worlds.
- New hero wig: Link's hair from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- New hero's outfit: Link's clothes from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Zelda wig: wig based specifically on Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
- Princess Zelda dress: dress based specifically on Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
- Sheik mask: mask based on Sheik from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Sheik outfit: shirt based on Sheik from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Sheik pants: pants based on Sheik from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Ganondorf outfit: Ganondorf's shirt from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
- Ganondorf pants: Ganondorf's pants from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
- Ganondorf wig: Ganondorf's hair from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Update 1.3.0[]
July 03, 2020
Animal Crossing
Zelda
A new character added with this update is Captain Gullivarrr, and when refusing one of his requests he says:
- "ARRR! I haven't felt this betrayed since I loaned me best jacket to that hornswaggler, Linebeck..."
This is a reference to Linebeck, the supporting character from The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Track, and the line implies him to be real in the game's universe.
Accepting Gullivarrr's requests instead results in a reference to Captain Syrup from the Wario series.
License[]
Copyrights for both series are held by Nintendo.