Tom Nook

This article is about the shop owner. For the cranky cat villager, see Tom.

“I'll be there with bells on! Ho ho!”
― Tom Nook, Wild World

“"I'll be there with bells on! Ho ho!"”
― Picture quote, Wild World

Tom Nook (たぬきち, Tanukichi) is a special 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 owns 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.

In Wild World he will give out his picture if you give him the safe from the Golden Axe Trading Event.

Appearance

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 is dark brown and his hands, feet, and his tail are also dark brown. The apron he wears over his lower half is inferred to be for modesty; a reference to the legends of the tanuki, as male tanuki are said to have gigantic testicles.

In New Leaf, Nook now 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.

Services and General Information

File:Tom NookThing.png

In most games Tom Nook initially takes the player "under his wing" at the start of the game in order to pay off the debt of the first house. At other times he manages the village shop, with the exception of New Leaf where he focuses his attention on home renovation.

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 amongst 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.

In Animal Forest e+ you 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 you 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 you are only allowed to either sell or buy what is on display. The catalog and other options will not be available either.

Timmy and Tommy are Nook's nephews that appear in the final expansion of the shop, Nookington's, as assistants on the second floor. They assist him in his buisiness. All three make a cameo in the Smashville stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Game Guide

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!"

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

“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

In New Leaf Tom Nook has a new role at Nook's Homes, a shop that supplies customization for player houses. On the first meeting he will provides a tent to new players while home construction begins at your selected plot. His clothing differs from previous games, now wearing a suit that switches between golden colored suit in the first moments of the game and later a green sweather with a red tie. His role as store manager has been left to his nephews.

Shop

Main article: Tom Nook's Store

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:

Nook's Cranny
Nook 'n' Go
Nookway
Nookington's
Nook's Homes (NL-does not upgrade)

Nook's Cranny, the original Tom Nook store
Inside Nook's Cranny
Nook 'n' Go after the 1st upgrade
Nookway after the second expansion
Nookington's, the third and final expansion with a second floor and Shampoodle
Tom Nook talking about turnip prices in City Folk.

After a period of time with Nookingtons, Tom Nook will ask you a question to better serve his customers. Based on the answer you give, Nookingtons 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 his or her 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.

Gekijōban Dōbutsu no Mori

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

Housewarming Party — Villager's final smash in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS

Tom Nook is set to appear in the fourth installment of the Super Smash Bros. series. He will appear 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.

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."

Aliases

Redd refers to him as a "raccoon in an apron."

In Animal Crossing, Pelly refers to him as "Mr. Nook" when you chose to pay your loan.

In New Leaf, Isabelle refers to Nook as the Real Estate Agent.

Also in New Leaf, Saharah calls Tom Nook "King Nook" when you interact with Saharah.

His English name is derived from "Tanuki" (often written as Tanooki in English), whereas his Japanese name, Tanukichi, is a mix between Tanuki and the Japanese word, kechi , meaning "stingy."