K.K. Slider

K.K. Slider was first introduced in the franchise's debut title Animal Crossing for the Nintendo GameCube. His role within the game is as a guitarist who performs songs for the player and townsfolk if requested, and, once finished, gives the player a virtual copy of the song that can be played on a radio in their home.[6] This role remains virtually the same throughout every main series Animal Crossing title with minor changes, up until Animal Crossing: New Leaf, in which he also takes the role of a DJ under the pseudonym DJ K.K.[7] He also has minor roles in Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, Amiibo Festival with an amiibo figurine, Pocket Camp, New Horizons,[8] and in the 2006 film Dōbutsu no Mori. K.K. Slider also opened for a Splatoon concert in Japan in the form of a hologram,[9] and appeared at Nintendo Live in Tokyo.[10] K.K. Slider has also received a costume for the player's Mii Fighter in the crossover fighting games Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,[3][4][5] as well as his own amiibo.[11]

UGO.com named him the second best Animal Crossing character.[6] On separate occasions, Kotaku considered the character to be one of the "most awesome video game dog companions"[12] and described him as "the most influential musician of our generation".[13] Nintendo Life wanted K.K. Slider to appear in the then-upcoming video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons.[14] Polygon described K.K. Slider as a "fan fave".[15] Thegamer ranked K.K. Slider as their favorite Animal Crossing character and said that "We love K.K. for so many things, including his laid-back persona, boppin' music, and his overall groovy vibes."[16] Softonic.com listed K.K. Slider as one of the "10 coolest dogs in video games".[17] K.K. Slider came in first place in a "popularity poll" by Nintendo Japan.[18]