I’ve heard a lot about Animal Crossing and have been tempted to obtain it, however the very last thing I want is yet one more cell app to get hooked on. I’m curious if it entails CAROMING SNAILS or RAM-CASING LIONS, although.

(Anagrams dropped at you courtesy of the Internet Anagram Server.)

“Animal Hybrids” and CROSS BREEDS are each hints to the theme: animal triplets in every clue are scrambled to kind the grid entry. Some newer solvers — particularly these not already struggling anagram fatigue — can in all probability use all of the hints they will get!

Although straight-up anagrams aren’t my factor anymore, I nonetheless appreciated this clear up, as a themelesses. Ori and Will properly infused the themer clues with heavy wordplay. Even in case you do not need to hassle checking that [carp, pig, snake] anagram to PARKING SPACE, you possibly can benefit from the amusing [A little of a (parking) lot?] clue.

For these curious concerning the means of discovering anagrams, this theme might be programmatically addressed by first assembling an inventory of animals to contemplate, then stepping by every distinctive trio by way of nested for loops, then since you have stopped listening to my technobabble, I’ll cease.

(It’s not trivial, but it surely’s not tough both.)

I had a number of pauses. UMAR regarded odd within the grid, however since so many names are transliterations, it is smart to have a non-OMAR spelling. Then there was ON EASY and GO LEFT … are these stable phrases or disguised partials? As with so many subjective choices, I’VE NO IDEA.

Ari labored in so many improbable bonuses; THAT’S (not) A LIE! He properly spaced them all through the grid, each in Across and Down instructions, however extra importantly, he held himself to 8-10 letter bonuses. This size is such a candy spot, permitting you to attain many bonuses that may usually sing as effectively and even higher than for much longer entries. For instance, I’d fortunately deal DEAL ME IN in a themeless crossword.

This is not a theme for the anagram-weary, however Ari’s execution was robust sufficient that this puzzle entertained me greater than a number of the NYT Sunday themelesses.