Is your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons missing a wannabe pop star with a mysterious edge? If you speak of the devil, Shino may appear. The Animal Crossing franchise —published by Nintendo, which has American subsidiaries in Washington—harbors a vast ensemble of interesting characters. Villagers are central to the series’ gameplay loop, offering daily tasks and opportunities for friendship. This guide covers what you should know about one of these captivating villagers, Shino.
Shino in Animal Crossing
Shino is a cream-colored deer villager introduced in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. She was first revealed in a New Horizons Nintendo Direct on October 15, 2021. On November 4, 2021, she was finally added to the game as part of the gargantuan 2.0 Free Update alongside several other newcomers. There are many unique traits surrounding her; for instance, she is currently the only deer with the peppy personality. She is also the only female deer with antlers, though they more resemble horns and serve a thematic purpose in her design. Her birthday is on Halloween, October 31, making her a Scorpio. She shares her birthday with the pumpkin-headed czar Jack and fashion icon Label.
Shino’s English name is a shortened version of her Japanese name, Yoshino. While the Japanese name is common for women, it invokes wordplay that taps into the deer’s design. The -no suffix of her name likely references Noh masks; these masks are a central component of classic Japanese Noh theater. Shino’s eyebrows and eyeshadow allude to Hikimayu, an aristocratic practice in pre-modern Japan that involved plucking eyebrows and painting new ones using a type of ink called haizumi. Her red horns are reminiscent of an oni, specifically a female demon called the hannya. The name may also allude to the historical Yoshino town and Mountain in Japan’s Nara prefecture, famous for hosting a festival that embraces oni.
How to Get Shino
Acquiring this demonic deer may require a deal with the devil. One method of obtaining her is the campsite, which occasionally hosts a random villager. Inside the campsite, you can play games with the visiting villager and ask them to join your community. Given how many different characters are in the game, the odds of this being Shino are unfavorable. Should you acquire her Amiibo card in real life, you can scan it at the Nook Stop kiosk in Resident Services. This allows you to directly invite her to the campsite, where the goal will be to craft a specific item for her as a souvenir. This must be done on 3 separate days before she requests to move in.
Another course of action for finding Shino is through a Mystery Island Tour. These Tours require using Nook Miles Tickets and are initiated at the airport. If you have space on your island, you can find a villager wandering on these mystery islands and invite them to your community. Like the campsite, though, the villager will be random. Plausibly, you could deplete your entire Ticket cache without finding your desired character. New Horizons‘s online capabilities allow you to trade for her with another player. Villagers, with permission from the player, will sometimes pack their belongings and want to move. While in boxes, another player can converse with them and ask them to relocate to their island.
The Devil’s Reins
Since her official reveal, Shino has been a wildly popular character within the Animal Crossing community. In popularity polls, she usually places within the top 5 characters and has even ranked in first place. This means her star has shone brighter than some of the series’ stalwarts, including the infamous maid meme cat, Raymond. Her unique, striking design and engaging personality contributed to this rapid rise. While many characters in the game are entrenched in the context of Japanese tradition and culture, our oni-inspired deer may embody them most profoundly. Making her a resident of your island may be difficult given the demand for her. But it is worth it, for this deer reigns supreme.
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