Villagers will teach you emotions

[Boccages]

From PAX East, Animal Crossing World reports villagers teaches the player new emotions. RIP Dr Shrunk.

 

[moo-kun]

And Shrunk will teach you complicated emotions? (๑?o?๑)
Like the cute sway and heart bloom Mabel does upon meeting her for the first time in the Able Sisters...

 

[JoJoCan]

Dr. Shrunk better still be in the game, otherwise I will be sad

 

[Paperboy012305]

Dang, this game is killing off special NPCs. First Harriet, then the Alpaca Couple, now him?

 

[Khaelis]

Dang, this game is killing off special NPCs. First Harriet, then the Alpaca Couple, now him?

The special NPCs that don't make it in will likely be added in via free updates, for Photopia or even just free content updates. It's also possible that after you've learned all reactions from your villagers, Shrunk could appear in front of Resident Services and teach you his Shrunk Dance!

 

[Pate and Ketchup]

I prefer talking with my villagers and feel I'm close to them than talk to Shrunk I admit !

 

[Fey]

I prefer talking with my villagers and feel I'm close to them than talk to Shrunk I admit !

I don’t want to sound too mean, but I’d probably prefer almost anything over talking to Shrunk—cringe x 100

Still, I’ll be sad if he’s actually cut from the game.

 

[Aubrey895]

Hmmmm. I mean this gives you more reason to talk to villagers I just hope it’s not random like pwp requests in new leaf lol. It’s sad the characters are being cut off. But who knows. Maybe they have new jobs.

I’m really worried for Brewster now....

 

[John Wick]

#JusticeForShrunk

 

[Hanif1807]

I'm still hoping for his return, even though i no longer talk to him after i got all of the emotions in New Leaf

 

[Xara]

bro what,,,,

why are so many npcs losing their jobs :c

 

[Stevey Queen]

bro what,,,,

why are so many npcs losing their jobs :c

Probably because they decided not to include a shopping district and to put all the shops on the island.

 

[Blood Eclipse]

Don't worry, all the cut off characters will make a triumphant return in the upcoming DLC expansion pack$.

 

[Neechan]

This reminds me of HHD where after you finished a home, you learned an emotion

 

[TheRealWC]

I'm wondering what the plan is for all these unused NPCs. I doubt they're cut fully from the game, but AC:NH seems to streamline a lot of things. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Khaelis]

I'm wondering what the plan is for all these unused NPCs. I doubt they're cut fully from the game, but AC:NH seems to streamline a lot of things. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Likely updates to make their amiibo compatible for Photopia like it was mentioned in the Direct.

 

[John Wick]

Likely updates to make their amiibo compatible for Photopia like it was mentioned in the Direct.

Those missing NPC's deserve better than that.

They were too good and didn't need to be replaced.

 

[jefflomacy]

Dang, this game is killing off special NPCs. First Harriet, then the Alpaca Couple, now him?

Harriet will be dearly missed.

 

[Bosca]

I liked him, but tbh this is definitely better coming from villagers we know better and generally will want to talk to.

I feel like whatever "The Roost" like facility we'll get will have all our fave NPCs at the very least.

 

[Boccages]

I'm still hoping for his return, even though i no longer talk to him after i got all of the emotions in New Leaf

Which shows you devs have chosen to use multiples for no legitimate reason in New Leaf. I say multiples, because what Shrunk did is better handled by the villagers you care for and love, than an NPC that everyone has. Think about it, would you remember fondly that time your favorite villager taught you "joy" or "cold chill" or that time everyone was taught laughter by the same NPC ?

I'm not at all against the streamlining that Nintendo has achieved with New Horizons. They've spent ressources where it counts, like making all these animations and new interactions with villagers (they craft their own stuff, they eat lots of stuff, they sweep the floor with a broom, they pick up wood sticks and interact with bugs, they talk to you about surrounding furniture, etc.) Cutting Shrunk, Harriet, and the two alpacas is a small price to pay for that.