Snapshots from Anthology Island

[Sheando]

Welcome to the island of Anthology!

I've been playing New Horizons since release, but somehow I've never found the time to start my own Island Journal. That changes today!

Meet Ballad, the Island Representative!

She loves fishing, rock music, anything blue, running at top speed, taking sneaky photographs, watching fireworks, crafting with seashells, stomping through the snow, and seeing the residents of her favorite island wearing her custom-made color-coded Anthology sweaters. She hates diving, rolling perfect snowballs, wearing the same clothes for more than two days, and remembering the flower situation on the beach (which has gotten a little out of hand).

Will more human residents be joining her? Possibly! Keep an eye out for Haiku, Elegy, and Sonnet one of these days . . .

So far, Anthology boasts a makers' market full of handmade goods, a community garden, an outdoor astronomy museum, a crowded fishing dock, a waterfall campground overlooking a cliff, and a winding woods full of mysterious bugs.

Current Villagers:

Antonio, Bubbles, Huck, Stella, Nate, Cherry, Boots, Yuka, Cesar, and Benedict.

I don't have "dreamies," but I'm happy with this roster for now, and I think most of them will be sticking around. Antonio, Bubbles, Huck, and Benedict have been residents since the earliest days of Anthology!

Stay tuned for some landscaping highlights, followed by . . . realistically just screenshots of my villagers doing and saying weird things, day after day.

 

[Sheando]

Me: I wish I could see some new dialogue, something I haven’t read a hundred times before.

The new dialogue:

He asked me about my favorite kind of TV.

Ballad doesn’t share Huck’s commitment to networking, but she respects it.

She also respects Stella’s commitment to brutal honesty.

 

[Sheando]

My phone and my Switch haven’t wanted to communicate lately. So I haven’t been able to access all my screenshots. But tonight I was in luck! An update at last.

A few days ago, Boots asked to move. I love all my villagers, so I deliberated for a long time, but in the end, he wanted new experiences and so did I.

I did feel extremely guilty for breaking up the workout squad.

I’m sorry, Antonio! I see Huck and Stella lifting weights a lot; maybe you could talk to them?…

I had some guests to The Roost trying to decide who should replace him.

I couldn’t decide! I love so many villagers. I had five Nook Mile Tickets left over from the last time I went hopping, so I decided to use those up first. And guess who showed up on island three?

In the end, I just couldn’t pass up those little glowing paws. She’s the only new (non-returning) villager I was seriously interested in, as I love astronomy, and I enjoy finding villagers organically. Here’s hoping the rest of Anthology likes her too.

 

[Sheando]

Thanks to the new update, my villagers have acquired a new pastime: barging in on me while I’m trying to change clothes and sitting in the middle of my fish rug.

Thanks, guys!

 

[Sheando]

That’s the bleakest thing I’ve ever heard.

Was that……optional?

Yuka is serious about her new hobby of three days.

I admit that does raise some questions.

This bench has been tucked away at the back of my island for well over a year now. I think Cherry is the first to use it.

And finally, Antonio’s Piano Portrait: A Tragedy in Three Parts.

 

[Sheando]

I have a lot of downtime at work (mostly sitting at the desk in the teen department of a library) so I like to plan out my island in a notebook on slow nights when I run out of work-related tasks. My last planning session reinvigorated my enthusiasm for island design, and I’m finally doing a slow overhaul of my half-finished island. I’ll be sure to post some screenshots as areas are completed!

I think I’ll be keeping Ione around for a long time. I haven’t been a fan of the saccharine sweetness and utterly bland demeanor of Normal types in NH, but Ione’s more serious expressions and less animated delivery makes the dialogue feel a little more thoughtful and considered. Liking her a lot so far!

I’m sure she’s also liking me a lot. Nothing more charming than to have your town’s de facto mayor barge in and use your gaming computer while you’re standing in the middle of your living room, right?

Hid behind a tree to watch this impromptu performance.

This performance was a lot less impromptu.

The other day at my library job, a teenager asked me if I was a famous TikTok user. So now I’ve disappointed her AND Ione.

Tis the season, I guess?

We startled poor Benedict….

…….then applauded him to make up for it.

Finally, I visited Cherry. But I’m not sure we use our kitchens the same way.

 

[Sheando]

The holidays are in full swing here, complete with spontaneous concerts.

Brewster warms my heart and hands.

My vegetable garden is growing nicely.

I was so pleased to see a rare aurora borealis over Anthology.

Huck has embraced materialism this Christmas.

And Ballad made a tentative foray into baking. Don’t get used to it!

She finished off the evening sharing a view of the gorgeous night sky with a friend. Bubbles is probably imagining the swirling colors as stage lights signaling the opening night of her hard rock tour…..

 

[Sheando]

Hey, that doesn’t seem fair. It’s like a horoscope—accurate all the time, no matter what. Try harder!

FINALLY. (He wasn’t kidding. It’s the size of a house.)

The plaza was bustling last night.

I’m here for Ione’s solo singer/songwriter career.

I’m also here for Cesar’s blind enthusiasm.

After staring at me for several minutes doing nothing….

I guess she wanted to talk about the numbers 6 and 7, then leave.

A year and a half ago, Antonio asked for a new catchphrase. I provided “snuffle,” as he is an anteater. Ever since that day, at least half the island says “snuffle.” I can’t remember most of their original catchphrases. Villagers come and go, but everyone snuffles eventually. Tonight Antonio claimed another victim.

My eyes are conveying to Cherry “blink if you need help.”

My partner stopped by to pick up the heap of recipes I’ve been accumulating for him. We’ve been playing together since release day.

 

[Sheando]

Once again I’ve been unable to update as my phone and switch do not like to communicate, but here at last are some candid portraits of vacationers enjoying my Happy Home Paradise island.

Walt was with me for 5 years in New Leaf, so it’s always good to see him again.

I absolutely adore Zoe and her vacant eyes.

Bones is the face of the cafe.

Skye is the muscle.

Sydney discovers global warming.

Bonus: Robin would prefer all portraits include her, thank you very much.

 

[Sheando]

After two years of languishing in a bare white box, my starter jock, Antonio, finally upgraded to a less tragic home. I’m loving designing personalized homes for all my island residents!

I like to keep a few existing items—the exercise bike and panda were gifts he had displayed, and the blue wooden furniture is another color of his default furniture.

 

[Sheando]

After much deliberation, I decided to let one of my dear friends depart. He kept insisting he was thirsty for adventure.

He was replaced by an unpopular little mouse I happen to like very much. Welcome to Anthology, Limberg!

Despite rumors of a cranky personality, he seems pretty sociable and polite.

He even accompanied Stella in a very public duet. I think he enjoyed it, though some of the photos suggest otherwise.

He asked me to take a sepia photo for his old-school picture album. I barely squeezed in a happy-looking shot before their singing drew a crowd!

 

[Sheando]

Yuka and Antonio spent an afternoon playing some kind of complicated plaza game involving running with leaves.

And speaking of those two, I gave Antonio a new hat (do we like it?) . . .

. . . And Yuka played me for a fool.

At least Benedict was the exact right audience for my pineapple hat.

Bonus: Surprised Nate looks a lot scarier than regular Nate. Where are the whites of his eyes hiding the rest of the time?

 

[Sheando]

My island is a lot lovelier in the fog.

Yuka and Limberg wandered the plaza, lost in thought under a steady drizzle.

Bubbles modeled one of the sweaters I made shortly after release, sweaters that still hang on the wall of Able’s. She certainly knows how to pose.

(Not her best angle.)

 

[Sheando]

Also, does anybody know what I’m doing wrong so that screenshots are occasionally showing up as attachments at the bottom of the post all of a sudden? I’m not actually choosing to “add attachment” ever. I went into my last post to try to edit out the attachment and all it did was attach a second screenshot without my changing anything!

 

[Sheando]

I appreciate all the extra work Limberg is putting in on my behalf.

Sunset is the nicest time for solo performances.

The Roost was hopping! (Daisy Mae is obscured for legal reasons, as she is too young to consent to public-facing photography.)

I love Huck, but I’m not surprised.

If only.

 

[Sheando]

This little park was one of the first things I built on Anthology, back in spring of 2020. I still like it.

I would love to meet the most knowledgeable sheep on the subject of basketball.

Ione is too sweet to consciously dislike a gift.

(Dun dun dun…)

I recently redid Ione’s house. No photos yet, but here’s one of Bubbles enjoying her remodel. I enjoy seeing my handiwork in my own town.

Huck’s home has moved to the center of town so he can really flex on everybody else.

Spent some time appreciating the museum after I (lost a year of my life) chased a giant isopod through the waves for half an hour. At least Stella showered me with praise.

 

[Sheando]

Haven’t posted in ages! I took some screenshots today, appreciating Anthology in its overcast wintry state.

My two best friends were hanging out today. A classic “sharing one brain cell” duo.

Ione is so dang cute in her little hat. Then she gave me flooring. Hey, I recognize this carpet from the low-budget mall by my house!

It’s always nice to see my villagers thriving in every season. Be free, Yuka!

And finally, after making the anguished decision to let Cherry try something new, I went on a hunt for a new neighbor. I’m not picky, I swear! But after seeing four ducks in my first ten tickets, the last campsite visiter to Anthology from less than a week ago, and a bunch of orange versions of species already in my town (hello Timbra, Faith, Drift….) I was starting to lose hope. Then I stumbled on this beautiful friend!

Already can’t wait to give him a home makeover.

 

[Sheando]

After a much-needed hiatus from Animal Crossing, I returned to my island a few days ago, only to find that I suddenly had ideas for how to fix portions of the island that have plagued me for literal years. A smarter player would have taken some Before photos, but alas.

I moved Ione’s house elsewhere and decided to incorporate a botanical garden into my outdoor museum exhibits.

Three of my blue friends were hanging out on the plaza.

Ione, did you, uh…..want something?

The INSTANT I got up, she snagged my seat. Yeesh.

Bonus: the fourth and final blue villager passed by.

Huck has mastered the veiled threat. Big yikes. I did not stick around.

I love the needless melodrama Antonio brings to all things.

Statistics aren’t his strong point.

I also love his characteristic bluntness. Not too much fun, not too little. The perfect amount. Gotta quit while we still like each other.

After playing in Anthology since the day this game released, planting and rearranging an ungodly amount of flowers, distributing trees and bushes across the entire island, redecorating every home……at last, when l least expected it.

Five stars.