Animal Crossing drops you into a small village, or later a deserted island, populated entirely by talking animals. There's no villain and no ending. You fish, catch bugs, pay off a house, decorate it and get to know your neighbours. The characters are what make that loop stick. Some are fixed members of the cast who run the shops and services, and the rest are villagers who move in and out, each with a personality type that shapes how they behave.
Nintendo released the first game in Japan on the Nintendo 64 in 2001, and the series broke out globally with Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch in March 2020. This guide starts with the special characters you meet in nearly every game, then explains the eight villager personality types and lists some of the best-known villagers in each.
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- First game
- 2001 (Japan, Nintendo 64)
- Latest main game
- New Horizons (Switch, 2020)
- Series creators
- Katsuya Eguchi and Hisashi Nogami
- Villager types
- Eight personalities
- Language
- Animalese
Tom Nook, Isabelle and the island staff
These are the characters who greet you, take your money and organise the town. Their jobs change a little between games, but their personalities have stayed remarkably steady for more than two decades.
Tom Nook
Tanuki · Businessman and landlord
Tom Nook sells you your first home, then cheerfully offers to expand it on a new loan as soon as you pay off the last one. That made him a running joke about debt for years, but the games present him as patient and genuinely kind: he never charges interest and never sets a deadline. In New Horizons he runs Resident Services and the whole island getaway package, and he's openly proud of how the place grows.
Isabelle
Shih Tzu · Secretary and announcer
Isabelle joined in New Leaf as the mayor's tireless, sunny assistant, and quickly became the face of the series. In New Horizons she gives the morning announcements and handles complaints, island evaluations and the town flag and tune. She's polite to a fault and occasionally overwhelmed, which is a big part of her charm.
Timmy and Tommy
Tanuki · Shopkeepers
Tom Nook's twin nephews, who run Nook's Cranny together and often finish each other's sentences. They started out as apprentices in the older games and have grown into a proper store, still trading in Nook's slightly over-eager style. Whichever twin you talk to, the other one repeats the end of his line.
Blathers
Owl · Museum curator
A scholarly owl who runs the museum and will lecture at length about any fossil or fish you donate. He's afraid of bugs, which is unlucky for a man whose job includes accepting them, and he's sleepy during the day because, of course, he's an owl. His long speeches are written with real affection for natural history.
Celeste
Owl · Blathers's sister
Blathers's younger sister loves the stars and, in later games, the museum's art and observatory wings. In New Horizons she wanders the island on starry nights and teaches you to make star wands from star fragments. She's more relaxed than her brother and more likely to be awake when you are.
Brewster
Pigeon · Café owner
The quiet proprietor of The Roost, the coffee shop that has appeared in most games and returned to New Horizons in the 2.0 update. He takes his coffee seriously, says very little, and slowly warms to you if you visit often. Players who work part-time shifts for him find out exactly how particular he is about each guest's order.
Orville and Wilbur
Dodos · Dodo Airlines
The two dodos who run the airport in New Horizons. Orville sits at the counter handling visits and mail, while Wilbur pilots the seaplane to mystery islands. That flightless birds run an airline is exactly the kind of gentle joke the series likes.
Digby
Shih Tzu · Isabelle's twin brother
Digby appeared in New Leaf working with Tom Nook at the real-estate office, and later in Happy Home Designer. He looks almost exactly like his sister except for the blue fur and a much more nervous energy. He's a favourite with fans because he gets so little screen time.
Shopkeepers and services
Most games add a high street or plaza of specialist shops. These are the owners you'll talk to most often.
Mabel
Hedgehog · Able Sisters
The friendly younger sister who greets you at the Able Sisters' clothing shop. In New Horizons she first visits as a travelling merchant before opening the store with Sable. She's warm and chatty and keen to show off the day's stock.
Sable
Hedgehog · Seamstress
Mabel's older sister sits at the sewing machine and barely speaks to you at first. If you keep visiting, she slowly opens up about her family and their history, which is one of the series' most quietly rewarding conversations. She also handles custom design patterns.
Label
Hedgehog · Fashion designer
The youngest Able sister went off to be a designer and runs the Gracie Grace fashion connection. In New Horizons she visits the island with style challenges, setting you a theme and rewarding you for putting an outfit together. She looks up to the fashion icon Gracie.
Reese and Cyrus
Alpacas · Re-Tail
A married couple who run the recycling shop Re-Tail in New Leaf. Reese is cheerful and handles the buying and selling, while Cyrus is gruff and does the furniture customisation. They're one of the few married couples in the cast, and the game lets their affection show.
Leif
Sloth · Gardener
An earnest sloth who loves plants and sells seeds, saplings and shrubs. He ran his own garden shop in New Leaf and visits the plaza with his stall in New Horizons. He's gentle and a little slow to finish a thought, which fits.
Harvey
Dog · Photo studio owner
A laid-back, hippie-ish dog who once lived alone on a small island in New Leaf. New Horizons gives him Photopia, a studio where you can pose villagers. Later updates put his island at the centre of a market district where other characters set up permanent stalls.
Lottie
Otter · Interior designer
An energetic young designer who first appeared in Happy Home Designer, the spin-off about decorating homes for clients. She returned in the Happy Home Paradise expansion for New Horizons, guiding you through building holiday villas. She's eager to please and gets very invested in each project.
Lyle
Otter · Happy Home Academy
Lyle works for the Happy Home Academy (or Network), whose inspectors grade your home's decorating. He began as a pushy insurance salesman in Wild World and has mellowed with each appearance. Lottie is his niece.
Travelling visitors and event hosts
Some characters only appear on certain days or nights. Part of the series' charm is never quite knowing who will turn up.
K.K. Slider
Dog · Travelling musician
The white dog with a guitar who plays a live set and hands you a copy of the song. He's the series' biggest celebrity, and his songs were written by Nintendo composer Kazumi Totaka. In New Horizons he plays every Saturday evening once your island is established.
Redd
Fox · Art dealer
Called Crazy Redd or Jolly Redd depending on the game, he sells art from his boat or tent, and some of it is forged. He's a smooth talker and a fox in the trickster tradition, a deliberate rival to Tom Nook. Spotting his fakes is one of the series' best small puzzles.
Daisy Mae
Boar · Turnip seller
She sells turnips on Sunday mornings in New Horizons, taking over the family business from her grandmother Joan, who did the job in earlier games. Turnip prices change twice a day all week, so her visits kick off the game's tiny stock market.
Kapp'n
Kappa · Boat captain
A turtle-like kappa from Japanese folklore who sings sea shanties while ferrying you somewhere, whether by taxi, bus or boat. In New Horizons he takes you on boat tours to unusual islands. His songs are improvised, cheerful and often about his family.
Gulliver
Seagull · Lost sailor
A sailor who keeps washing up on your beach after falling overboard. If you help him find his phone parts, he sends you a souvenir from the country he was trying to reach. Sometimes he turns up as Gullivarrr the pirate instead.
Wisp
Ghost · Night visitor
A small, nervous ghost who appears at night and asks you to catch the spirit pieces that scattered when he got spooked. It's a short, sweet errand with a reward at the end.
Saharah
Camel · Rug merchant
A mysterious camel who trades in rugs, wallpaper and flooring. She has visited in nearly every game, usually with stock you can't find anywhere else.
Flick and C.J.
Chameleon and beaver · Collectors
New Horizons' bug collector and fishing streamer. Flick turns bugs into sculptures and C.J. turns fish into models, and both host tournaments. Before them, Nat and Chip ran the Bug-Off and the Fishing Tourney.
Pascal
Sea otter · Philosopher
A sea otter who surfaces when you catch scallops, swaps one for a reward and delivers a short, gently philosophical speech. He's beloved for how odd he is.
Luna
Tapir · Dream guide
Luna appears when you sleep and lets you visit other players' towns in dreams. Tapirs are linked to dream-eating in Japanese folklore, which explains the casting.
Mr. Resetti
Mole · Reset Surveillance Center
The angry mole who lectured you for quitting without saving in the earlier games. In New Horizons he's retired from scolding and runs a recovery service instead.
Gyroids and Lloid
Clay figures · Helpers
Gyroids are singing clay figures you dig up and display. Lloid is the talkative one in New Horizons who collects money for bridges and inclines.
Villager personality types
Hundreds of villagers have appeared across the series, but each belongs to one of eight personality types. The type decides how they talk to you, what they do during the day, who they get along with and what kind of gifts they like. Once you know the types, you can guess a lot about a villager from one conversation.
| Type | Usually | What they're like | Well-known villagers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Female | Kind, polite, slightly worried about others; early risers who love tidying and cooking | Maple, Fauna, Lily, Marina, Poppy, Goldie |
| Peppy | Female | Bubbly and dramatic, dreaming of stardom; easily excited and quick to forgive | Rosie, Bunnie, Ruby, Bluebear, Audie, Chrissy |
| Snooty | Female | Fashion-conscious and a bit aloof at first; warm and loyal once you're friends | Diana, Whitney, Ankha, Tasha, Judy, Francine |
| Sisterly (uchi) | Female | Blunt, protective, tough-talking; treats you like a younger sibling | Cherry, Mira, Phoebe, Agnes, Tammy |
| Lazy | Male | Easy-going, sleepy and obsessed with snacks; harmless and very sweet | Sherb, Stitches, Lucky, Bob, Beau, Zucker |
| Jock | Male | Fitness-mad, competitive and loud; always talking about workouts | Dom, Bill, Rudy, Sly |
| Cranky | Male | Grumpy and set in his ways; softens into a loyal friend with time | Apollo, Wolfgang, Ike, Fang |
| Smug | Male | Charming, polished and a little vain; flirts and compliments freely | Raymond, Marshal, Julian, Kyle |
Villagers fans talk about most
Because villagers come and go at random, some have built huge fan followings. These come up again and again when players compare islands.
Raymond
Cat · Smug
Raymond debuted in New Horizons and became one of its most sought-after villagers almost overnight. He wears an office outfit, has different-coloured eyes and talks like a polite salaryman who really likes his job. His popularity says a lot about how much a design detail can matter.
Marshal
Squirrel · Smug
A small, pale squirrel with a permanently unimpressed expression. That mix of cute design and smug personality made him a fan favourite in New Leaf, and he has stayed near the top of popularity lists since.
Judy
Cub · Snooty
A pastel bear cub with starry eyes who arrived in New Horizons. Her design is softer than most snooty villagers, but she still has the type's mix of attitude and loyalty.
Sherb
Goat · Lazy
A pale blue goat with a dreamy expression and a gentle, sleepy way of talking. Like most lazy villagers, he's mostly thinking about his next snack.
Ankha
Cat · Snooty
A cat styled after an ancient Egyptian queen, a regal look that has made her a long-running favourite. She's proud and a little distant, which suits the costume perfectly.
Lucky
Dog · Lazy
A dog wrapped in bandages like a mummy. He hints at a mysterious past that he never explains. He's an old-school villager who has been in many of the games.
Audie
Wolf · Peppy
A sunny orange wolf with sunglasses and a beach-ready look, introduced in New Horizons. She brings peppy energy to an animal that's usually cast as cranky.
Maple
Cub · Normal
One of the original villagers from the first game. She's soft-spoken and kind, the very model of a normal villager. Long-time players often remember her as one of their first neighbours.
The main games at a glance
Each main game reshuffles the cast slightly, adding new characters and giving old ones new jobs.
| Game | Platform | Characters it introduced or changed |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Crossing (Dōbutsu no Mori) | Nintendo 64, then GameCube | Tom Nook, K.K. Slider, Blathers, Mr. Resetti, the Able Sisters |
| Wild World | Nintendo DS | Celeste, Lyle, online visits between towns |
| City Folk (Let's Go to the City) | Wii | A city area with Shampoodle, Redd's shop and the GracieGrace boutique |
| New Leaf | Nintendo 3DS | Isabelle, Digby, Reese and Cyrus, Leif's shop; you become mayor |
| Happy Home Designer | Nintendo 3DS (spin-off) | Lottie and the Nook's Homes office |
| Pocket Camp | Mobile (spin-off) | A campsite version of the series, with familiar faces dropping by |
| New Horizons | Nintendo Switch | Orville, Wilbur, Daisy Mae, Flick, C.J., Lloid; island life |
Where to start
If you've never played, New Horizons is the easiest way in. It's the most complete game in the series, it has most of the special characters, and its free updates added Brewster, Kapp'n's boat tours, Harvey's market and the Happy Home Paradise expansion (which is paid). New Leaf is still worth playing on 3DS if you want to be mayor and see a busier main street.
- Talk to everyone every day — The special characters drop small bits of backstory over time, and villagers remember what you've talked about.
- Learn the types first — Knowing the eight personalities makes it much easier to decide which villagers to keep.
- Let villagers surprise you — The ones you didn't pick often turn out to be the ones players remember most.
Animal Crossing sits alongside other Nintendo casts like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, and Isabelle and the Villager both fight in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If you like building at your own pace, Minecraft scratches a similar itch with a very different cast. Fans of round, gentle character design will find plenty to like in Sanrio and Hello Kitty, too.
Animal Crossing character names A–Z
A–B
- Agnes — Sisterly pig
- Ankha — Snooty cat
- Apollo — Cranky eagle
- Audie — Peppy wolf
- Blathers — Museum
- Brewster — The Roost
- Bunnie — Peppy rabbit
C–D
- C.J. — Fish collector
- Celeste — Owl, stars
- Cherry — Sisterly dog
- Cyrus — Re-Tail
- Daisy Mae — Turnips
- Diana — Snooty deer
- Digby — Isabelle's brother
- Dom — Jock sheep
F–H
- Fauna — Normal deer
- Flick — Bug collector
- Gulliver — Lost sailor
- Harvey — Photopia
I–K
- Isabelle — Resident Services
- Joan — Turnips (older games)
- Judy — Snooty cub
- Julian — Smug unicorn
- K.K. Slider — Musician
- Kapp'n — Boat captain
L
- Label — Able Sisters
- Leif — Gardener
- Lloid — Gyroid
- Lottie — Designer
- Lucky — Lazy dog
- Luna — Dreams
- Lyle — Happy Home
M–O
- Mabel — Able Sisters
- Maple — Normal cub
- Marshal — Smug squirrel
- Mira — Sisterly rabbit
- Mr. Resetti — Rescue service
- Orville — Dodo Airlines
P–R
- Pascal — Scallops
- Phoebe — Sisterly ostrich
- Raymond — Smug cat
- Redd — Art dealer
- Reese — Re-Tail
- Rosie — Peppy cat
S–T
- Sable — Able Sisters
- Saharah — Rugs
- Sherb — Lazy goat
- Stitches — Lazy cub
- Timmy — Nook's Cranny
- Tom Nook — Resident Services
- Tommy — Nook's Cranny
W–Z
- Whitney — Snooty wolf
- Wilbur — Dodo pilot
- Wisp — Ghost
- Wolfgang — Cranky wolf
- Zucker — Lazy octopus
Frequently asked questions
What kind of animal is Tom Nook?
Tom Nook is a tanuki, the Japanese raccoon dog, though English-speaking players often call him a raccoon. Tanuki in Japanese folklore are tricksters associated with money and good fortune, which suits a character who sells you a house and then a bigger loan to go with it.
What are the eight villager personality types?
Four are usually female: normal, peppy, snooty and sisterly (also called uchi). Four are usually male: lazy, jock, cranky and smug. Each type has its own way of talking, its own daily routine, and its own set of friends and grudges among the other types.
Is Isabelle in every Animal Crossing game?
No. Isabelle first appeared in Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012 in Japan), where she was the mayor's secretary. She has been central ever since, running Resident Services in New Horizons and joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a fighter, but the earlier games got by without her.
Who is the most popular Animal Crossing villager?
There's no official ranking, but a handful of villagers come up again and again in fan polls and trading communities: Raymond the smug cat, Marshal the smug squirrel, Judy the snooty cub, Sherb the lazy goat, Ankha the snooty cat and Audie the peppy wolf. Popularity also shifts with each new game.
What language do Animal Crossing characters speak?
They speak Animalese, a sped-up babble generated from the letters of each line of text. Each villager's voice is pitched differently, and the special characters have distinctive versions of it, so long-time players can recognise Tom Nook or K.K. Slider just from the sound.
How do you get Brewster and The Roost in New Horizons?
The Roost café came to New Horizons with the free 2.0 update in November 2021. Once your museum is fully built, Blathers mentions an old friend, and Brewster sets up shop in a room off the museum's main hall. Talk to him every day and he'll eventually let you work shifts behind the counter.