Aniimo walkthrough and story chapter list

Following this Aniimo walkthrough for the main storyline is your ticket to unlocking a lot of key features.

It may have a focus on catching and hatching cute critters to flesh out your Aniilog as you explore its dense open-world, but there is a main story that I recommend focusing on first, as unlocking features such as daily tasks, increased storage limits, the Holo-Battle Sim are all up for grabs.

This Aniimo guide features our in-progress Aniimo walkthrough and list of story chapters, including what unlocks and when.

Update (22nd September): I've added Chapter 6 to the (now complete) Aniimo walkthrough below. Have a pawsome time!

Aniimo walkthrough and story chapter list

Here is an in-progress list of quest steps, chapter-by-chapter, with a short summary of what's involved, with sub-objectives and unlocks noted as indented bullet points.

Prologue

Here's what to expect from Aniimo's Prologue:

An Idyllic Trip

• Catch the Emberpup
• Burn the vines blocking the path and enter the valley

Aniimo Catching Journey

• Catch a Hummin, Skippy, and Celestis
• Talk to Nicole
• Catch up to BINI

The Mysterious Cavern

• Keep going forward to explore the mysterious cavern
• Choose Helion or Lunara as your starter Aniimo
• Follow Helion and Lunara to see what's happening
• Defeat the Summoned Helgon
• Defeat the Summoned Infergon
  • You can now evolve your starter Aniimo in battle
  • Twining with Aniimo unlocked

Institute Initiation

• Follow Nicole on a tour of the Institute
  • Character menu unlocks
• (Optional) Talk to Bohr by the Holographic Discovery Booth
• Report to Dr. Lewis
• Use the nearby teleporter to go to Idyll
• Upload your catch results at the Research Console
  • Aniimo Management menu unlocked
  • Aniilog unlocked
• Talk to Dr. Lewis about the results
• Follow Dr. Lewis out of the Outpost

Setting Out Again

• Follow Nicole down to the Bloom
  • Map unlocked
• Collect Lumin Amber before heading to the Branch (2)
  • Collect a Blessed Budclaw to collect Lumin Amber
  • Follow Nicole to the river
  • Gather Lumin Amber from the river
• (Optional) Explore the Idyll ruins
• Go to the Branch and activate it
• Talk to Dr. Lewis
• Follow Helion/Lunara up the nearby hill and touch the feather

Chasing the Clouds

• Jump off the hill and glide to the grassland
• Activate the Bloom
• Talk to Senior Sheepy (Bespectacled Nimbi)
• Twine with an Emberpup and blend in with the Emberpup family
• Follow the Emberpup family
• Enter the giant cube and pass the Sanctum's trial
  • Collect chests, reach the depths of the Sanctum, and repair the Vein
• Catch a Flutternym and Iris
• Talk to Senior Sheepy
• Defeat the Alpha Turbo
• (Optional) Pick an Aniipod and claim your rewards
• Go back to Senior Sheepy
  • Promotion to 'Beginner Student'
  • Aniimo level cap raised to 25
  • Elite Training tasks unlocked
  • Events menu unlocked
  • Institute Guide menu unlocked (including daily activities)
  • Shop unlocked
  • Season Hub menu unlocked (including 'Companion Handbook' battle pass)

Chapter 1 - First Steps With Aniimo: Forest of Falling Stars

Here's what to expect from Aniimo Chapter 1:

Go to Bloomville

• Follow the marker to the outskirts of Bloomville
• (Optional) Catch three sleeping Aniimo
• Proceed to Bloomville
• Find the source of the fragrance

Ceremony Preparations

• Enter Bloomville and activate the Bloom
• Talk to Sunia
• Visit the plaza and inspect the stone statues
• (Optional) Talk to Jessica
• Greet the elder
• Talk to Selene
• Catch a Dewy
• Twine with Dewy and gather Duskwhispers
• Fly back to the nest and craft Duskwhisper Aromathysts
• Go to Arlo to process the Aromathysts
• Learn how to make perfumes from Sunia
• Craft the perfume with Sunia's help.
  • Use ethanol as a solvent
  • Stir the mixture
  • I picked Flutternym scales here and made Dreamy Mystery
• Go to the elder's house
• Set the time to night and go to the second floor to rest
• Go to the mirror and claim the Bloomville-themed outfit
• Go to the Bloom Festival outside

The Unbegun Ceremony

• Look for Sunia

Fragrant Colors (Part 1)

• Complete Elite Training - Chapter 1 tasks (4)
  • Go to the Bloom Festival
  • Activate the Bloom in the Forest of Falling Stars
  • Catch 1 Eko and 1 Pomegg in Forest of Falling Stars
  • Level 2 Aniimo up to Level 25
  • Catch and report 30 Aniimo in total
  • Defeat the Alpha in Forest of Falling Stars: Stellarys
  • Earn the Bronze Collection Badge in Forest of Falling Stars
• Reach Level 25

Dewdrop Crystals of the Sea of Flowers

• Go to the Sea of Flowers and talk to Wally
• Defeat Wally
• Return to the Outpost and report to Dr. Lewis
• Take the 'Intermediate Student' promotion test:
  • Answer 1 - All of the above
  • Answer 2 - All of the above
  • Answer 3 - All of the above
• Promoted to 'Grade II Student'
  • Aniimo level cap increased to 35

Chapter 2 - Charge Into Battle!

Here's what to expect from Aniimo Chapter 2:

Fragrant Colors (Part 2)

• Go to the Sea of Flowers
• Look for where the Irises gather
  • Twine with an Iris and dance with the Irises
• Find the Irisal
  • Battle the Irisal
• Look for where the Flutternyms gather
  • Catch a Flutternym
• Go to the marker and craft the fragrance
• Head to Lumenfly Valley

The Land of Dancing Illusions

• Light the Incense and open the barrier to Lumenfly Valley
• Twine with an Aniimo in the Fluternym family and venture deeper into Lumenfly Valley
• Bring Sunia back

The Land Where Dreams Come True

• Talk to Snowy
• Gather the Butterfly Shadows scattered by the dream blossom
• Follow the Flutternym shadows to gather the next dream blossom
• Keep going up to gather more Bufferfly Shadows
• Go to the Somniwing's throne at the top
  • Don't forget to activate the Bloom on your way!
• Defeat Velouria

Ancient Sacred Fragrance (Part 1)

• Talk to Velouria
• Complete tasks in Elite Training - Chapter 2 (4)
  • Visit the place where dreams come true
  • Earn the Bronze Collection Badge in Beast Fang Ridge
  • Own your Homeland (Complete 'Prologue: The Wondrous RV' quest)
  • Own 1 Aniimo with Resonance raised to Gamma Stage
  • Challenge the Alpha of Argent Strait: Tubster
  • Defeat the Alpha in Beast Fang Ridge: Scorchhowl
  • Spend 150 Primegy in total
• Reach Level 35
  • Answer Dr. Lewis' call
  • Go to Beast Fang Ridge and talk to Jilly
  • Defeat Jilly in battle
• Return to the Outpost and report to Dr. Lewis
• Advance to 'Veteran Student' by taking the promotion test:
  • Answer 1 - All of the above
  • Answer 2 - Defeating Alpha Aniimo
  • Answer 3 - All of the above
• Promoted to 'Grade III Student'
  • Aniimo level cap increased to 40

Chapter 3 - Vein's Power: Song of the Echobacks

Here's what to expect from Aniimo Chapter 3:

Ancient Sacred Fragrance (Part 2)

• Learn about Held Items from Dr. Lewis
• Go to the Mistwoods entrance
• Search for the Super Truffle
• Defeat Tucking to get the Super Truffle
• Give the Super Truffle to Sunia
• Go to Echoback Landing
• Gather the Incense of Tolerance at Echoback Landing
  • Defeat Aged Omega Sherro to obtain the spice
• Give the salt to Sunia
• Complete tasks in Elite Training - Chapter 3 (4)
  • Equip 1 Epic Held Item on an Aniimo
  • Venture deeper into the Mistwoods and obtain the Super Truffle
  • Earn the Bronze Collection Badge in Echoback Landing
  • Infuse Energy into the Branch in Breezy Plains a total of 15 times
  • Nurture the ecosystem once in Breezy Plains
  • Earn the Silver Collection Badge in Mistwoods
  • Defeat the Alpha of Echoback Landing: Panpanta
• Reach Level 40

Astranite of Berylline Vale

• Answer Dr. Lewis' call
• Go to Berylline Vale
• Change to nighttime and talk to Loulla
• Join the midnight concert
• Defeat Loulla
• Go to the Outpost and talk to Dr. Lewis
• Advance to 'Beginner Wayfarer' by taking the promotion test:
  • Answer 1 - Defeat the Alpha Aniimo
  • Answer 2 - Glacy
  • Answer 3 - Throw a Sparkling Cube at any Aniimo
• Promoted to 'Wayfarer I'
  • Aniimo level cap increased to 45
• Talk to Dr. Lewis

Chapter 4 - Potential Awakened: Pulse of the Berylline Vale

Here's what to expect from Aniimo Chapter 4:

Ancient Sacred Fragrance (Part 3)

• Complete tasks in Elite Training - Chapter 4 (4)
  • Go to Echoback Landing and search for salt
  • Perform Capability Awakening for Aniimo 5 times
  • Earn the Bronze Collection Badge in Berylline Vale
  • Complete 5 Pathfinder Challenges in total
  • Spend a total of 200,000 Credits
  • Catch the Alpha in Berylline Vale: Bouldus
  • Earn the Silver Collection Badge in Blitzwood
• Reach Level 45

Rosetower Woods' Core Radiance

• Answer Dr. Lewis' call
• Talk to Senior Xiaochen/Aster in Rosewater Woods
• Defeat Aster
• Return to the Outpost and talk to Dr. Lewis
• Advance to 'Wayfarer II' by taking the promotion test:
  • Answer 1 - Wait for special weather
  • Answer 2 - Pathfinder Challenge
  • Answer 3 - Defeating Alpha Aniimo
• Promoted to 'Wayfarer II'
  • Aniimo level cap increased to 50
  • Holo-Battle Sim unlocked

Chapter 5 - Proof of Trials: Dance of Flowers and Thorns

Here's what to expect from Aniimo Chapter 5:

Ancient Sacred Fragrance (Part 4)

• Go to the Russet Highlands and search for the Incense of Courage
• Complete the 'Warrior' Journey side quest
  • Talk to painter Sorora
  • Follow the marker to find clues in the Russet Highlands
  • Twine with Helmut and shatter the Dragonclaw Stone
  • Defeat the Infergon and revive Pawney's legend
  • Pick up the Flame Flower in the middle of the boss arena
  • Return to Sorora
• Talk to Sunia
• Visit Velouria
• Watch Sunia create the Aeon incense

Rainbow of the Ground (Part 1)

• Complete tasks in Elite Training - Chapter 5 (4)
  • Obtain the Flameheart Stone and give it to Sunia
  • Earn the Bronze Collection Badge in Rosewater Woods
  • Use Nurture 5 times in total in Breezy Plains
  • Use Nurture 20 times in total in Breezy Plains
  • Complete 1 Easy Holo-Battle Sim
  • Upgrade any Held Item to level 5
  • Earn the Silver Collection Badge in Russet Highlands
• Reach Level 50

The Secret on the Wind at Zephyrus Landbridge

• Answer Dr Lewis's Call
• Visit Wendell in Zephyrus Landbridge
• Defeat Wendell
• Defeat the Mysterious Figure
• Ask the Mysterious Figure about their intentions
• Return to the Outpost and report to Dr. Lewis
• Advance to 'Wayfarer III' by taking the promotion test:
  • Answer 1 - All of the above
  • Answer 2 - Defeat Alpha Aniimo
  • Answer 3 - All of the above
• Promoted to 'Wayfarer III'
  • Aniimo level cap increased to 55
  • Operation: Egg Heist unlocked
• Talk to Dr. Lewis

Chapter 6 - To Distant Horizons: Echo of the Mysterious Keep

Here's what to expect from Aniimo Chapter 6:

Rainbow of the Ground (Part 2)

• Head to Tideblossom Coast to visit Irelia
• Follow Velouria to the Amethyst Tree
• Check what's wrong with the Amethyst Tree
• Sprinkle fragrance in front of the seedlings
• Enter the Amethyst Tree (recommended Level 55)
• Investigate Irelia's condition
• Defeat Irelia
  • Break the three mechanisms while battling Irelia

A New Journey

• Talk to Nicole
• Return to Bloomville
• Go to the perfumery and look for for Sunia
• Find Sunia at the square

Venture Into to the Unknown

This is where the main story of Aniimo ends for now, with a generic 'Explore Idyll!' task as placeholder until the game's next story update.

In the meantime, you can earn a lot of Safari EXP by completing these tasks in Elite Training - Chapter 6:

• Witness the rainbow of the ground
• Earn the Bronze Collection Badge in Zephyrus Landbridge
• Earn the Silver Collection Badge in Driftwise 
• Participate in Operation: Egg Heist Team Mode once
• Equip Lunara or Helion with a Pact Held Item
• Catch 1 Alpha Aniimo
• Catch a Prismana Aniimo

Hope you enjoy Aniimo's story!

Looking for more help? We have a range of Aniimo guides for the opening Helion or Lunara choice, an Aniimo creatures list of what you can catch, an Aniimo type chart, and list of active Aniimo codes.