Zipper T. Bunny has all the energy of an exhausted “essential business” worker in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Zipper is the official mascot of Animal Crossing’s signature Bunny Day event. Bunny Day is a rough approximation of Easter in-game, and follows the franchise’s trend of taking holidays and stripping away the more divisive religious aspects to them. Zipper will dole out special little treats for the player that only happen once a year - or any time if you’re a time-travelling heathen.
But beneath the happy, celebratory veneer lies a broken, defeated man. One Twitter user discovered a hidden animation in New Horizons that’s, well, more than a little heartbreaking.
Yes, once you leave Zipper’s line of sight, he lets out a soft, defeated sigh and slumps over. This is a stark contrast to his usual, bouncy demeanor and persistent, almost creepy dancing. The truth is out: Zipper hates his job, hates dancing, and quite possibly hates you.
— bennie (@andthejets) April 1, 2020
Of course, we can’t blame him. Imagine being stranded on a backwater island with barely anyone there, only to have a whole holiday foisted on you. Suddenly, you’re tasked with entertaining the small handful of talking animals and a random human by yourself. It has to be draining!
This is a bit of a learning moment, though! Animal Crossing: New Horizons is helping players to learn to treat retail workers like actual human beings, especially during this global pandemic.
