Animal Parade allows players to choose the gender and style of the protagonist. You can play as the original Tree of Tranquility characters, or select one of the new styles. The game plays exactly the same no matter what main character is chosen.
Another change is the child system. In Harvest Moon Animal Parade, the spouse you choose will reflect on the looks of the children; if your spouse has blonde hair and green eyes, your children will also have the same traits. You can have two children instead of just one. Your spouse and children can help you with your farm work or other tasks that you assign.
It is also easier to befriend the animals, whether they're the livestock you purchase for your farm or the wild animals you can convert into house pets. Besides just the Horse and Ostrich, you can now ride the Cow, Sheep, and Goat livestock animals. The Sheep can produce Milk as well as the standard Wool. Animal Parade also has a seasonal circus run by Theodore from Harvest Moon Magical Melody. The circus animals will help you navigate Castanet if you help Theodore with his problem.
The passage of time has been slowed down. An hour in game takes about 3 minutes real time. Time also pauses when you go inside of buildings.