“I'll be there with Bells on! Ho ho!”
― Picture quote, Wild World
Tom Nook (たぬきち,Tanukichi?) is a character who plays the most important role in all of the games. He is termed a raccoon in the western versions of the game but a tanuki in the Japanese version. In all games leading to New Leaf, he is the manager of the town shop. After the final expansion, Nookington's, he will employ his "nephews" Timmy and Tommy, who work on the second floor in every Animal Crossing series game except Animal Crossing: New Leaf. However, in New Leaf, Nook has taken his interest in real estate to a whole new level, opening Nook's Homes, whilst Timmy and Tommy run the town shop.
“GL-L-L-KSK! KEH-KEEH!♫ FST! FST! RrrrrrrrrrrrKLAGH!♪ CH-CH-ch-ch-mmmMMMmmm!♫ Oh, well, it is very old and in the language of my ancestors, which happens to be Raccoonish, yes, yes.”
― Tom Nook, New Leaf
Tom Nook is a tanuki (a raccoon in Western versions) with brown fur. His eye area has a dark brown mask-like shape for his raccoon eye characteristics. His nose tip, his hands, feet, and his tail are dark brown. The apron he wears over his lower half is inferred to be for modesty, a reference to the legends of the tanuki.
In New Leaf, Nook wears a white shirt with a red necktie and a green sweater vest over it. His sweater has a left sided pocket protector with a pen sticking out. He also wears black pants. Whenever outside of Nook's Homes, such as the player selecting their new home spot or at The Roost, Nook is seen with a yellow jacket over his sweater.
In Animal Crossing, Wild World and City Folk, When the player first arrives in town, Tom Nook will greet them and introduce them to their new house. He will give a quote to them on the initial mortgage of the home. Tom will hire the player to work part-time at his shop to help pay off the loan. Eventually, he will run out of tasks for the player and will lay them off, letting them free to find other methods to make Bells, in order to pay off the rest of the debt. Following the job, the player can shop at Tom Nook's store, and can sell items to him, for which he will pay for in full value.
In New Leaf, however, Tom Nook has become a real estate agent, leaving the management of his store, now known as Nookling stores, to his "nephews," Timmy and Tommy. The responsibility of welcoming new players has been given to Isabelle. Like in previous games, Tom will be responsible for orchestrating the construction of the player's house and providing the mortgage the player pays off via the ABD machine in the Post Office. Tom Nook runs a real estate agency called Nook's Homes, which also provides house customization and renovation services. The office also functions as the headquarters of the home inspection organization, the Happy Home Academy, ran by Lyle. Tom Nook also assists the player in searching for a plot to build their house when the first move in. Once a plot has been chosen, he will pitch his tent for the player to use as temporary housing while they are gathering funds to pay off their first home loan. Tom Nook's agency is also responsible for building the houses neighbors live in, as well as assisting them with moving in and out.
Tom is noted to be very work-driven, and many years ago he left behind his friends, most importantly Sable, to travel to the big city. His dreams of success are quickly broken by the harsh life there. After making nothing of himself, he returns to the player's town to set up his store. Nook no longer appears to be as good of friends with Sable as he used to be, though the two often mention each other to the player.
Nook seems to have a varied reputation among the villagers, with some speculating that he is, in fact, a man in a suit. In fact, when asking Dr. Shrunk about one emotion, he talks about how we all wear masks, and then says that Tom Nook "wears a raccoon suit, but it serves the same general purpose". Many will say that he has a checkered past, hinting at illicit activities - the fact that he seems to have a history with Redd (who describes Tom as a "raccoon in an apron" and treats him as something of a business rival) supports this, this is further hinted in Happy Home Designer as talking to Tom in his house he says he worked with a fox in the past and it was a horrible experience.
In Animal Forest e+, the player can wake up Tom Nook after hours by banging on the doors three times with the shovel. He will be in his pajamas and allow you to shop, but he will move much slower. Not only this, anything the player sell to him will be lowered from its base price by 30%. Similarly, prices of items in the shop will be inflated by 17%, and the player is only allowed to either sell or buy what is on display. The catalog and other options will not be available either.
In the City Folk's game guide this description is given:
"A kind raccoon with a heart of gold (well, pockets of gold even though he only owns a shop, if ya know what I mean), Tom Nook helps you get started when you first move to town by loaning you a home to live in. Tom also runs a little supply shop in town that sells all the basics, including furniture, tools, and gardening supplies. Tom will help you in a variety of ways as your life unfolds, and you'll help him as well: keep shopping at the store and it'll get bigger and bigger. Eventually, old Tom will even need to hire his two nephews, Timmy and Tommy, just to keep his business running!"
In all games except New Leaf, Nook starts out with Nook's Cranny, expanding after the player buys enough from him. There are a total of four expansions for his shop:
After a period of time with Nookington's, Tom Nook will ask you a question to better serve his customers. Based on the answer you give, Nookington's can close and reopen as a previous store to better suit your needs. Periodically, after the first questioning, Tom Nook will ask again, and the player can change their store again. This event only happens in City Folk.
Other Appearances
Warning: Non-canon information starts here.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Tom Nook appears as a Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, using his in-game model from Animal Forest (evidenced by the Japanese character on his apron).
Description:
"This guy's the friendly neighborhood shopkeeper who kindly helps the player set up their first house. He has a nose for business, and his customer service is second to none. During the course of the game, his store starts as a corner shop, expands to become a convenience store, and finally becomes a thriving supermarket and stalk market."
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Tom Nook also appears in the sequel to Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, in the background of the Animal Crossing themed stage Smashville.
Tom Nook appeared in Gekijōban Dōbutsu no Mori as the town shop owner, just as he does in the games. Like also in the games he helped Ai settle into town by making her work.
Monopoly
Tom Nook also appears in the 2010 Nintendo Collector's Edition of Monopoly with K.K. Slider and Rosie in the light blue grids. He is worth 120 US dollars on the game board, the highest of the Animal Crossing characters that appear in the game.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS
Villager's final smash in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS
Tom Nook appears in the fourth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series. He appears alongside his nephews Timmy and Tommy as part of the Villager's final smash, which sees Nook construct a house on top of other fighters causing massive damage.
Taiko Drum Master: Atsumete Tomodachi Daisakusen
Isabelle, Tom Nook, and Resetti appear in the background for choosing the Animal Crossing soundtracks.
In Taiko Drum Master: Atsumete Tomodachi Daisakusen, Isabelle, Resetti, and Tom Nook are unlockable by using their respective amiibos to listen to the Animal Crossing: New Leaf Melody (とびだせ どうぶつの森 メドレー).
Warning: Non-canon information ends here.
Stories
Sometimes, upon entering his store, he will appear in thought, and may tell you a story when approached:
"...Well, actually, I was just thinking about the good old days, hm? I know it seems that the world is my oyster, what with my fine shop... But in my childhood, I lived the kind of life you couldn't even imagine! Yes, yes, but this was all some time ago, but this was all some time ago, before I moved to this town, hm? Of course, I was born in our lovely <Town Name>, but I moved away for a time... Yes, yes, the city years, I like to call them. I was a raccoon of action, hm? The big city certainly had its charms...but it had its pitfalls, as well. Indeed, I had to endure certain hardships that I've never spoken of, hm? ...Hard to believe, yes? You're probably asking yourself, what the heck is Nook talking about, hm? For now, <player name>, maybe it's best that we forget we ever talked about this."
Also in New Leaf, Saharah calls Tom Nook "King Nook" when you interact with her.
His English name is derived from "tanuki" (often written as "Tanooki" in English) and his last name is likely a pun based on a myth about the Tanuki. His Japanese name, Tanukichi, is a mix between Tanuki and the Japanese word, kechi , meaning "stingy."
Tom Nook fancies himself to be quite the financial genius. He owns the town store and dabbles in real estate. He'll out you a deal on your first home, but you'll owe him, and he won't let you forget it.
Tom Nook has been feeling mighty pleased with himself ever since he remodeled Nook's Cranny into the Nook 'n' Go. He has to work longer hours- seven A.M. until eleven P.M.- but hey! That's big business!
No matter how big his store gets, Tom Nook still makes a point of maintaining his "paws-on" sales approach. It doesn't matter where you go in the store -he'll always be one step begind you!
Tom Nook is a huge fan of the monthly raffle. Not only does he get a day of relative leisure -all he has to do is turn a wheel- but the desire for prizes really drives furniture sales. People buy stuff just for tickets!
Tom Nook is "The Man." Everybody relies on him for basic supplies and a steady income. And after you become a Nook regular, your shopping trips will become shopping extravaganzas!
In New Leaf, Tom Nook has the voice of a lazy villager.
In Happy Home Designer, talking to Tom Nook in his home, he debunks the claims of him being a corrupt businessman (which was a popular theory amongst fans) though he adds that he'll willingly embrace the idea of people thinking him as "scary" if it encourages them to pay off their debt.
He also mentions that he donates 90 percent of his proceeds to an orphanage three towns over and has a wing named after him there.
In the 2003 Annual Nintendo Power Awards, Tom Nook was nominated as one of the top villains in a Nintendo game, despite his not actually being a villain.
He also shares the same birthday with Hamlet (May 30th)
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