Blathers

"Oh, I beg your pardon! I'm a bit of a night owl, don't you know."

- Blathers

Blathers (フータ, Fūto) is a knowledgable owl scholar, who first appeared in and has appeared in every  game since. He is the curator for the Museum, who accepts donations of fish, insects, fossils and paintings. As an owl, he sleeps during the daylight hours, but can still accept donations by talking to him.

Blathers has entomophobia (the fear of insects) and brings this somewhat ironic trait up frequently. In all games, if the player donates a bug that has been donated previously, he will reject it and plead that the cage is kept closed until the player has left the building.

He can also give the player information on the museum, such as exhibitions, what has been donated and by whom in every game from onward. Blathers was seen on the cover of, standing on the roof. He has reappeared in, running the Museum as usual.

In and, he has a sister named Celeste who manages the observatory. As there was no museuem in the original, Blathers too was not seen seen until.

History
Blathers has a suprisingly detailed history in comparison to many other Animal Crossing' characters. As a child, he was brought up in the city, living in his parent's house. After finishing school, he went on to university, completing a number of degrees until reaching the doctorate level. Before he could complete his studies, he was approached by his professor, who recommended that he take up a post in a country museum, as all the curators of the main Faraway Museum refused to move from their posts. Blathers accepted the offer enthusiastically, and despite occasional homesickness, still remains at his post. As a result of this move, Blathers still has not finished his doctorate. Blathers is, as confirmed in, in his mid-twenties. Also, in game Blathers will say (on the first fossil donation) that only recently has he gotten a license to identify them. In, he will have a problem with bugs sometimes. And in, he will say, KEEP THE BEAST CAGED! and on the other hand, Celeste, has no problem with bugs.

In Animal Crossing
In the original Animal Crossing, Blathers tells the player about a correspondence course in fossil identification that he is participating in (he has expressed wishes of being an archaeologist) which he has not completed, meaning that all fossils have to be sent to the Faraway Museum to be identified.

He will also accept fish, bugs and paintings which go on show in insect exhibitions, aquariums and the gallery.

In Animal Crossing: Wild World
In, he has completed his course in fossil identification and can now identify fossils without having to send them to be identified, giving an immediate identification. If the particular fossil in question has not been yet donated to the museum he will ask for the player to donate the fossil. If you say 'no' then he will let out a sigh and reluctantly hand the fossil back to the player. He still continues to accept fish, bugs and paintings which are put up in a painting exhibit. If they are one of Redd's forgeries, he will notify the player of this and reject them.

Blathers sometimes talks of his encounters with bugs during his studies. He recalls one time in a library, when he opened a book and maggots fell out. He will also mention his fear of cockroaches when one is donated to the museum.

His sister, Celeste, makes her first appearance in the game as a part-time astronomer.

In Animal Crossing: City Folk
"This... Upon close perusal, I see this is most certainly NOT the original! It is a vile, shameless forgery!"

- Blathers

By now, Blathers will simply tell the player of his qualification in identifying fossils.

He has the same roles as he did in, accepting donations such as fish, insects, fossils and paintings - as well as identifying forgeries.

It is revealed that the cause of Blathers' fear is that, when he was younger, a mantis egg case ruptured on his writing desk. This caused thousands of mantis to fly out. To hear this anecdote, the player must donate a mantis.

In, He usually makes jokes and comments on fish and bugs.

In Animal Crossing: New Leaf
"This (bug name) reminds me vaguely of when i was but a chick in my mothers nest..."

- Blathers

In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Blathers is once again the curator of the museum. He will not give commentary on fish or bugs, because information can now be read at any given time by checking the plaquettes next to the exhibits so instead he tells players to revisit later to read it.

However, when donating a single bug, he will say: "This (bug name) reminds me vaguely of when i was but a chick in my mothers nest..." and with a fish: "The (fish name) reminds me of a time when i was still in my baby feathers..." When given a deep sea creature he will say: "The (sea creature name) reminds me of a time when my dear mother tucked me under her wing..." all referencing to his childhood. His fear of bugs is still present when donating a bug and he will tremble and whisper.

In Animal Crossing: The Movie
Blathers appears in the film alongside Celeste in the museum, where they meet Ai for the first time after Ai makes a loud scream after she has unexpectedly seen the fossils in the museum. When Ai speaks to Blathers, he typically begins a lecture on a dinosaur skeleton of a T-rex, while Celeste is seen dragging Ai away from Blathers (who is oblivious to her absence and continues talking to himself) to The Roost to complete a delivery task set by Tom Nook.

Conversation
In, there are certain days during the year in which Blathers will tell you a little about himself. These days are easily noticeable for daytime players, as he is awake all 24 hours of each day, and occasionally will look depressed. During these conversations, the player can talk, either choosing to go along with the conversation or to tell Blathers to stop talking.

20th December
Blathers: Bah...

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: Between you and me, I quite detest them. All of them! The bugs I mean...

Player: Conquer fear!

Blathers: Well. Hm. Hoo. Indeed. Easier said than done, of course. Fear is rather robust... Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, eh wot? ...But I do suppose you have a point, after all. I'm making excuses. After all, I am the curator of the (town's name) museum! A noble office! Such dread is irrational! It's unprofessional! Who fears bugs, really? Well, to begin, I shall talk to my sister, Celeste, about this matter, wot? Oddly enough, she is rather comfortable touching them. Bugs, I mean... I've seen her gazing at butterflies before, completely relaxed.

Player: They're cute!

Blathers: They are most assuredly NOT cute!!! Have you gone quite mad?! Be truthful: have you ever looked really closely at a butterfly's belly? It appears quite squishy! It looks like it's waiting to spew something on you! Ugh! Vile...

24th December
Blathers: Hrmph...

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: You recall that I declared I'd work on conquering my fears of bugs, eh wot? Yes. Well, I've been doing my own special training!

Player: Training?

Blathers: The means to which I have restored are quite extreme, really... Hoo. Yes. Indeed. Just thinking about it makes my belly burble, but... I lay my Giant Dictionary of Insects before me, fight my gag reflex, and... slowly run my talon over each of the foul images! Ugh.. The thought alone of those furtive caresses makes my gorge rise! The other day, I opened the book to a close-up of a green caterpillar's face... I believe I may have pocket-retched a bit... Ugh. So very vile...

10th March
Blathers: Pshhh...

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: I should say, dear Brewster has provided me much entertainment over the years... It's not that the fellow is naive, per se, its just... Well... How to put this?

Blathers: The wonderful pigeon is just rather simple.

Player: Really?

Blathers: Indeed, he is, though I don't mean to say he's daft... He's just innocent.

Blathers: For instance, the other day, a sleazy business-type oozed into the cafe... This wretch was trying to sell Brewster a counterfeit piece of art! Hoo-rrific! "Real Coffee. Real Art. Real Profits. You'd be CRAZY to pass up this deal!"

Blathers: Now of course, most folk would see right through such a charlatan... Not our pigeon, however. Thank goodness I showed up when I did, eh Wot!

Blathers: Indeed, "FAKE!" I cried, and the cad fled from my pique-ruffled feathers!

May 26
Blathers: Hooo...(sighing)

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: Ah. Yes. Were you aware that at this museum, we have our own coffeehouse?

Player: I know!

Blathers: We weren't always so lucky to have that shop here, but I had a clear vision, wot! I desired to get more (town's name) residents to come to the museum... So I called my good friend, Brewster, and he moved with all speed! Yes,hoo! He opened his shop right here in this museum,wouldn't you know! And ever since, even people who never knew where the museum was came in force! Indeed, they became regulars, wot! And now, business now rather booms! I must say, for me, the whole experience has been most uplifting...

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: Well... Sadly,we've noticed an increasing number of... undesirables as well. Yes. In fact, just the other day we had a rather odd guest darken our door. 'Twas a Saturday, and yet this fellow wore a very hot-looking business suit. Yes, Yes, he was rather relentless with his queries, as well... He even went so far as to ask me some personal questions, eh wot? If I'm to be honest, I must admit I tired of these questions quickly. Yes... In the end, the cheeky chap asked if I had insurance and if I wanted to sign up! Why,that tore it! I lost my temper and threw the lout out! The nerve... This is a museum, I said! Why couldn't he glean that fact and be gone?!

May 27
Blathers: Hrrm...(sighing)

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: Yes. Ah. Well. I believe I'd mentioned before that since opening the cafe... we've seen an increase in the number of rather odd customers at the museum... Yes, well, I believe we saw one of the more extreame cases the other day.

Player: Tell me more!

Blathers: Yes. Hoo. Well. At first glance, he appeared to be a driver, or pilot... Ah, yes! The fellow was with a woman, as well, I recall.... Hoo, indeed, this fellow was rather arrogant bent, eh wot? The type that might enjoy fisticuffs with other men.

Player: Hmm...

Blathers: Yes. Hm. Well. In any case, that liverly-looking fellow roamed around... He'd plant himself before each of the exhibits and start ranting, wot? Such madness this chap spewed! "This painting be o' the Chowdwe era." "This be the ancestor o' the modern-day shrimp. " Filthy lies, all of them... And in such lowbrow dialect, as well! Merely watching him pained me. The truly sad part is, I suspect the cretin actually believed he was right...

July 12
Blathers: Hoooo...

Player: What's wrong?

Blathers: Ah. Hoo. I was just thinking about my hometown... Not that this old bird is homesick, mind you.. But there are certain times when I yearn for the neon lights of the big city...

Player: Really?

Blathers: Hoo? What times, you ask? Well, it relates to my univesity years, you see... At the behest of my professor, I often stayed late in the laboratory... So, rather than a flat as I worked on my master's, I lived with my parents. Then I started working on my doctorate, of course... Yes, STARTED, hoo...

Player: Didn't finish?

Blathers: No, not as such... You see, one day, my professor approached me with an idea. He spoke of plans in the offing to build a museum in this town. They were having a most difficult time filling the curator position... 'Twas my understanding that no one from the main Farway Museum would move... And sadly, they were unable to fill the position with local talent... So, they asked the person heading up the project to find a good fit, wot! And that good fit was none other than yours truly! And so it went, hoo!

Player: So that means...

Blathers: Yes. Well, the timing was perfect... I'd just recieved my curator's license, and before I knew it, I was the newest resident of dear old (town's name)! And the rest, as they say, is history, wot wot! Don't misunderstand, it's not as though I regret moving here! Not one jot! It's just that I can't help but get a wee bit nostalgic at times!

Quotes
"No no!"

- Blathers in Animal Crossing

"Hooooo... WHO?!"

- Blathers in New Leaf

"Eeek! A bug...!"

- Blathers in New Leaf

"This here reminds me vaguely of when I was but a chick in my mother's nest..."

- Blathers in New Leaf

"The reminds me of a time when I was still in my baby feathers..."

- Blathers in New Leaf

Appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Blathers makes a cameo appearance in Super Smash Brothers. Brawl. However, he is not a fighter, but appears as a spector Smashville. He is accompanied by Brewster and his sister Celeste with the Museum either just behind them or to the side of them. These three characters are also obtainable in sticker forms respectively.

Name Etymology
His name comes from the word blather, which means to babble or speak rapidly without making much sense. He is very knowledgeable and informative, usually giving information on any object donated to the museum, and he will often apologize for his lengthy explanation. He also tends to have to stop himself going off into anecdotes or stories when given items.

Trivia
As all owls do, he is found sleeping during the day and awake during the night.