We've previously covered manga legend Gosho Aoyama (the mastermind behind hits like 'Magic Kaito,' 'Yaiba,' and 'Detective Conan'), and his love for 'Kantai Collection.' But did you know he's also a huge fan of Nintendo's 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons'? So much so, he's been dropping major intel about his works right on his in-game island!
Recently, Japanese X (formerly Twitter) blew up with discussions about Aoyama's 'Animal Crossing' island, with users hilariously dubbing it the 'Gosho Aoyama Direct.' Turns out, many hardcore fans make it a weekly pilgrimage to his island to catch up on his latest projects and messages.
The tweet that sparked the frenzy revealed that Aoyama-sensei's publicly accessible 'Animal Crossing' island gets regular updates on 'Conan' works and his personal life. Even new movie info drops there first, prompting fans to visit religiously every week. The original poster couldn't help but exclaim, "This is wild! Releasing movie news via Animal Crossing? Absolutely unheard of!"
But for 'Detective Conan' fans, this isn't exactly breaking news. Ever since his personal 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' island, 'Mr. Naga' (Dream Address: DA7579-5566-8828), went public in July 2021, it's been continuously updated. The island is packed with original manga Easter eggs, and visitors are constantly immersed in a rich 'Conan' atmosphere.
It's since become a regular pilgrimage spot for fans seeking intel. Aoyama-sensei uses in-game designs to display character pixel art, subtly hides Easter eggs, and even has characters drop hints about his current work status and progress during dialogues, keeping fans in the loop.
For those unaware, the idea of an author using a game to foster such an interactive community, almost like a mini-Discord, is truly mind-boggling. Many netizens only just found out about this unique setup.
Many fans chuckled, pointing out that this "secretly dropping info in-game for fans to discover" method actually started way back with 'Animal Crossing: New Leaf' on the 3DS. "It's just how the fandom operates," they quipped.
Regarding this unique "promo channel," netizens had a field day with witty remarks: "It's basically Gosho Aoyama's own Nintendo Direct!" and "Do staff calendars even have a note saying: 'Animal Crossing info drop on [date]'?" Of course, some also ribbed, "Conan has an official app, but its updates can't even hold a candle to Aoyama-sensei's 'Animal Crossing' island!"
Others marveled, "Is this the secret to a monster IP that rakes in billions at the box office every year?" and "It's like media outlets glued to Tom Cruise's social media, waiting for him to speak."
While fans are having a blast, some jokingly asked, "The real biggest mystery in 'Conan' is: How does Aoyama-sensei even find the time to build this island? He's also busy playing 'Kantai Collection'!"
Regardless, Aoyama-sensei's 'Animal Crossing' island has cemented itself as a unique "intel hub" within the 'Conan' fandom, almost like a mini-metaverse. It just goes to show that Gosho Aoyama isn't just a creative genius; his promotional savvy is also in a league of its own!
via： togetter