3 Things Even Animal Crossing Fans Didn’t Know About Tom Nook

Tom Nook is a familiar sight to anyone who’s even dabbled in Animal Crossing. Fans know this savvy business owner well, as he has been asking for Bells since the first Animal Crossing game. The raccoon, who is a Tanuki in the Japanese version of the game, is basically the Animal Crossing mascot alongside the cheerful Isabelle. But how well do you really know the critter keen on taking all your hard-earned Bells?

Since the first Animal Crossing game, Tom Nook has run many businesses. He’s been a shop owner, helped players customize their homes, and most recently got into the housing market as the holder of your home loan in New Horizons. Fans know the basic details about this guy, but the lore goes deeper than you might expect. Here are a few things even seasoned Animal Crossing players might not know about Tom Nook.

3. He’s Not Actually a Racoon

In North America, the Animal Crossing games refer to Tom Nook as a raccoon. So, even dedicated fans of the franchise might not know that he wasn’t originally designed as a raccoon. Instead, Tom Nook is technically a tanuki. These Japanese raccoon dogs are native to Japan, and they have the more brownish coloring we see on Tom Nook, compared with the more greyish coloration of North American raccoons.

Tom Nook’s name in Japan, Tanukichi, is a reference to his tanuki nature. The Westernized “Tom Nook” still sounds a bit like Tanuki, rather than like raccoon, as homage to his true nature.

2. He’s Got a Second Life in Fighting Games

Many devoted Animal Crossing fans have sunk hours into the games, but may not play a lot of other games. When we do, they’re often similar cozy games like Disney Dreamlight Valley or The Sims 4. So, it’s easy for even big fans of Tom Nook not to know about his second life as a recurring character in the Nintendo fighting series, Super Smash Bros.

Tom Nook has been appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series for years, in a variety of roles. He first appeared as one of the trophies you could earn in Super Smash Bros. Melee. He has since reprised the trophy role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 3DS. But that’s not all. Nook has also featured in the background of different battle stages and even plays an assist role, helping out by building a house to slow down opponents. Who says fighting games can’t be a little bit cozy?

1. He Once (Unfairly) Ranked as a Best Nintendo Villain

Tom Nook may be one of Animal Crossing‘s most recognizable figures, but he’s also quite controversial. His role as a capitalist with ever-increasing levels of willingness to put the player into debt caused many to label him as the franchise’s villain. In fact, the March 2003 issue of Nintendo Power ranked him as the best new villain when the first game was released.

But is Nook really so villainous? As players have pointed out, he may give you a massive loan for your home in New Horizons, but he doesn’t even charge interest. And in the Happy Home Designer spinoff, it’s confirmed that Nook donates a significant portion of his wealth to charity. So, his role as the franchise’s villain might not actually be as justified as players think.

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