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In older Animal Crossing games, grass could wear down over time, eventually creating paths that marked your most popular routes. Initially, some players found this deterioration annoying, partially because you couldn’t control it, and partially because it introduced a few issues. But with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, The Path has hit a wave of nostalgia.
In early June, Japanese New Horizons creator @Denim2_mori uploaded a pattern that mimicked the traditional path found in older games — except this time, you could decide exactly where this route appears.
お待たせです。旧作っぽさのある「けものみち」を投稿しました。島クリの道が直角過ぎてモヤってた方は是非ご利用下さい。作者ID:MA-6647-9230-4716 #どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #マイデザイン #マイデザ配布 pic.twitter.com/lHWdUNAMa5
— Denim2（森） (@Denim2_mori) June 10, 2020
The post exploded, and it’s easy to see why — there’s something pleasing about its worn and overgrown aesthetic. Since then, folks have started developing all sorts of variations on The Path, allowing for different takes on colors, seasons, textures, and width. Some even add minor details to spruce up the basic dirt pathway, like tiny flowers or mushrooms. The top image in this post, for example, hails from Twitter user blossomyfairy and it strives to give The Path a more ethereal feel. The core idea remains the same: finding a way to depict some sort of natural-looking grass deterioration. If you’re not using The Path, chances are extremely good that you know someone who is, or know someone who has tinkered with it.
It’s the rare trend that has taken over hardcore circles and evolved into new forms while always maintaining the original authorship. Most folks who take inspiration from @Denim2_mori cite them by name, if not append specific hashtags on social media sites like Twitter (#thepathacnh, #thepath.) This is a marked difference from how popular ideas in the New Horizons community usually work — once something gets big enough, the original creator tends to get lost in the mix. Ideas start to feel like they belong to the wider community, and not a specific author. This tendency in turn has created tension and arguments within the fandom, as people fight for recognition or try to intellectually “copyright” specific design choices to no avail.
The Path has undoubtedly become grander than any single person — Denim2_mori even acknowledges on Twitter that other people have had the same basic idea — but it’s heartening to see people still pay homage to its origins. A month later, ‘The Path’ is still going strong, with fans crafting new takes on it nearly every day. Here are some of our favorites takes on The Path and its many variations, along with helpful creator codes for you to download and remix.
「けものみち」の寒色Ver作った。普通のヤツより彩度明度が薄くなってます。秋～冬にオススメ。上書き保存でそのまま流用できます（2枚目がノーマルけものみち。このままでも悪くないが…）作者ID:MA-6647-9230-4716 #どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #マイデザイン #マイデザ配布 pic.twitter.com/AGK2gp9dDR
— Denim2（森） (@Denim2_mori) June 16, 2020
The path code pic.twitter.com/ikljbQ2Cgi
— ⌖ ˖° ପ(ू ᴗ͈ ˬ ᴗ͈ू ⑅)ଓ ˖˚˳⌖ (@blossomyfairy) July 6, 2020
過去に作ったピンコロ石を
— しゅんや@こんぺい島 (@shun_acnh) July 4, 2020
色んな場所に合うようにリメイクしました。
Denim2さん(@Denim2_mori)の
マイデザインの考え方をお借りしてますので、
気分を変えたい時にお使い下さい〜#あつ森 #どうぶつの森 #あつ森写真部 #マイデザイン配布 pic.twitter.com/NG0kwg2Tsu
Thanks for the amazing road of @Denim2_mori @clay_acnh .
— yunian513 (@yuiii_yh) July 12, 2020
Based on it, I tried to draw a stone pavement with wild flowers.
It needs 9-13 grids to make a more flexible road.#どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #ACNHDesign #マイデザ配布 pic.twitter.com/8Zfeka5l0z
Created an expansion to the lovely @Yuan_ACNH 's cobblestone path! I really loved the style of the cobble in older games and was inspired by @Denim2_mori 's 'The Path', so I kind of merged them together! Thank you so much for letting me recreate this! #ThePathACNH #ACNHDesign pic.twitter.com/AB63t0AliE
— vee ✿ comms closed :( (@veebiejeebies) July 11, 2020
i think i want to redo massive chunks of my island with “the path” but i can’t decide which one i like more which one should i choooose? ✨ #acnh #animalcrossing #ThePathACNH pic.twitter.com/R31AeaaQU9
— ✨ Meeshee | GIVEAWAY! (@MeesheeCrossing) July 12, 2020
本日はDenim(@Denim2_mori )さんの島にお邪魔してきました！
— Yuika (@moon__acnh) July 13, 2020
THE森ってかんじの素敵な景観で
なにより"本物のけもの道"も見れたしで
楽しかったです
ありがとうございました！
島クリ意欲湧きました⛏笑笑
SS4枠じゃ足りないー！ pic.twitter.com/tZzyG8kuUB
So I made a path based on @Denim2_mori 's amazing path, and the color palette of the path made by @osakana_nemumi, but wanted something more autumn themed, didnt think it would turn out well, but it did, so, here we are! #ACNHpath #acnhthepath #ThePath #ACNHDesigns pic.twitter.com/XMxMDB2NkO
— 【Ｌａｚｕｌｉｂａｙ】 (@lizzissippi) July 7, 2020
Take a stroll through the forest
— Inge (@Dobiestan) July 8, 2020
I finally tried The Path and I love it so much! Definitely feel like it gave my island the forest vibe I want.
Featuring my outside library. #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #cottagecore #THEpathacnh pic.twitter.com/LME8SpjNjq
ちょいダークな不思議な森を作りたくて、Denim2(@Denim2_mori )様のけものみちを参考に、夜空の道描いてみた
— (@hana___ac) July 10, 2020
適当に配置したのにいい感じになるのほんとすごい ありがとうございます 足音鳴らないのがまた不思議感出ていい感じ...#ThePathACNH pic.twitter.com/P1tvcIwSJE
続・遊んでみた。#ThePathACNH #どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/SZcfRGMsru
— みない (@minai_1317) July 12, 2020
けものみちのデザインで遊んでみた。#ThePathACNH #どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/XUEnpooKcm
— みない (@minai_1317) July 9, 2020
Gravedirt Path
— sᴋᴇʟᴇᴛᴏɴ ᴛᴀᴘᴇ (@skeletontape) June 29, 2020
Inspired by the amazing work of @Denim2_mori , I give you
25 tiles to choose from:
9 standard tiles
4 alternate corners
2 dirt patches
2 single width paths
4 end caps
4 alternate centers (featuring: skulls!) pic.twitter.com/ncGdAtqr6p
Some redecorating with #ThePathACNH by @Denim2_mori #AnimalCrossing #ACNH pic.twitter.com/JIFaATGRdi
— ACNHvibe (@ACNHvibe) June 25, 2020
#あつ森 #ACNH #ThePathACNH #マイデザイン
— ルナさん (@yousaba29) July 13, 2020
@Dobutunomori_G 様の記事に特集されていた@Denim2_mori 様の神作品「けものみち」
記事を参考に自分の島にあいそうな
黒土っぽい苔ダークトーンのものを作ってみました♪ pic.twitter.com/ysXEEy7mdl
Denim2 (@Denim2_mori) 様のけものみちを参考にかせきみちを作成いたしました。恐竜の足跡や化石入りのパーツもあります。 #どうぶつの森 #AnimalCrossing #ThePathACNH #NintendoSwitch #あつ森 #マイデザ pic.twitter.com/uNnk2CiJvB
— れぷす (@NZRSm7MQ4RygYEq) July 12, 2020
Reconstructed my entrance and campsite using #ThePath by @Denim2_mori and the fairy magic version by @deity_nya! #AnimalCrossing #ACNH pic.twitter.com/S04PPJr9G1
— ♥ ♥ (@SakuraHarlequin) June 17, 2020
岩場の使い方タイプすぎた
— Yuika (@moon__acnh) July 13, 2020
アポロと おしのびプチデートも出来たし満足や笑 pic.twitter.com/AHzhSwXAdQ
✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼
— . (@mal__jp) June 30, 2020
Garden❁⃘*.ﾟ#あつまれどうぶつの森 #あつ森 #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #あつ森写真部
✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ pic.twitter.com/0oymEKYDU8
