Meet Isabelle, learn from Blathers, explore the SEA LIFE aquarium and dive into a world of marine life
If you’ve played Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you would know there’s more to the game than making your customisable town. You get to catch fish and bugs, dig up fossils, and collect paintings. Either sell or take them to your trusty owl, Blathers (bug-phobic), museum curator, who displays them in the town’s museum and spits out facts about your latest finds.
That is why the current Animal Crossing: New Horizons Adventure – happening at SEA LIFE Aquarium in Melbourne – is the perfect way to bring your favourite virtual game to life. Plus you’ll learn a thing or two about marine animals.
Dive in and learn about real-life marine fish!
Many of the fish you catch from the ocean or rivers from your virtual island are real marine life, and the facts you learn from Blathers are actually true. This event takes those fish off your screens and brings them to life.
Learn about fish like: sea bass (aka barramundi to us Aussies), the moon jellyfish, and the iconic clown fish.
Fun fact: “The clown fish finds safety in the anemone’s wriggling tentacles, as well as leftover scrap snacks.”
Plus, throughout the aquarium, learn more about marine life through Blathers’ posters. He’ll guide you through the interesting facts of aquatic fish!
Learn from Blathers
While you don’t get to meet real-life Blathers (like you do with Isabelle), you get to meet poster Blathers.
Every time you read one of Blathers’ panels, you’re engaging with marine biology and zoology. This time, you’re right there in the aquarium, learning about different species, their habitats, their behaviours, and their importance in the ecosystem, all while observing real fish in their tanks.
Careers with fish and animals
Aquarium or Museum Curator: Be like Blathers, and become a curator. Their jobs require organisation and research. They manage and oversee exhibits, ensuring the best care for the fish (or fossils), and selecting which collections will be displayed. They tell the stories behind the collections, educate visitors, and help preserve history and nature for future generations.
Aquarist: They’re responsible for the care and well-being of marine life in aquariums, which usually includes feeding, cleaning, monitoring animals’ health and maintaining their ecosystem in their tanks.
Veterinarian: Take care of animal health through treatment, preventative care or rehabilitation. Some veterinarians specialise in aquatic animals, fish and dolphins.
Marine Scientist: The facts that Blathers gives about each fish were discovered by marine biologists. They study not just the fish but all ocean life, including plants, fungi and bacteria. They research their behaviours, habitats and collect data, working both in a lab and diving into the ocean. Learn more about this career through our Marine Scientist job kit: https://issuu.com/refractionmedia/docs/cws_job_kit_marine_scientist
What else is there to discover?
You get to be a part of the infamous stamp rally, walking around the SEA LIFE aquarium collecting stamps of your favourite villagers. Oh dear, Gulliver’s gone overboard again! Get the chance to track him down somewhere in the aquarium – lastly, meet Isabelle, our beloved dog secretary.
So, if you’re in Melbourne, be sure not to miss out on Animal Crossing x SEA LIFE Adventure, as their last day is August 17. While for the Sunshine Coast and Auckland, they’ll be coming soon! It’s your chance to discover a world of STEM and animals, all inspired by your favourite cozy game!
