Blathers

"Our main purpose is to provide a place for the exhibition of items we feel have some significant paleontological, artistic, and/or zoological importance, the collection and classification of which..."

- Blathers

Blathers (フータ, Fūta) is an owl scholar, who first appeared in and has appeared in every  game since. He is the curator for the museum, and accepts donations such as fish, bugs, fossils and paintings. Blathers can also give the player information on the museum, such as exhibitions, what has been donated and by who. 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. As an owl, he sleeps during the daylight hours, but can still accept donations by talking to him.

He has a distinct dislike for bugs, and won't hesitate to mention this when one is donated to him. As an owl, it is very odd that he is so afraid of and disgusted by insects, considering that owls usually eat insects. He has a sister named Celeste who appears in and, who manages the observatory. Blathers was seen on the cover of, standing on the roof.

History
Blathers has a surprisingly 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 Wild World, in his mid-twenties.

,, and
Due to the museum being added in, and being absent in the original , Blathers does not appear until the former. 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 and bugs, which go on show in aquariums and insect exhibits, respectively.

In Wild World, Blathers has completed his course in fossil identification and can now identify fossils without having to send them to be identified, giving an immediate result. He still continues to accept fish and bugs, but now accepts paintings which are put up in a painting exhibit. If they are forgeries, he will simply turn them down. His sister, Celeste, was also introduced in Wild World, having an office in the attic of the museum.

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. If the player donates a bug that has been donated previously, he will reject it, and beg the player to keep the cage closed until the player has left the building.

When fish are donated, Blathers usually talks about how the fish tastes, similar to Chip, the host of the fishing tourney.

Conversations
In Wild World, on certain days of the year, Blathers will reveal various background information about himself. These days can be determined easily, as he will be awake for all twenty-four hours of those select days. In addition to his consciousness, he will occasionally appear depressed. During these conversations, the player can talk, either choosing to go along with the conversation or to tell Blathers to stop talking.

"This... Upon close perusal, I see this is most certainly NOT the original! It is a vile, shameless forgery!"

- Blathers Blathers has the same role as he did in Wild World - accepting donations such as fish, insects, fossils and paintings, as well as identifying forgeries. He usually makes jokes and comments on fish and bugs, and will bluntly tell the player of his qualification in identifying fossils.

In City Folk, the root of Blathers' entomophobia (also known as insectophobia) is revealed: when he was younger, a mantis egg case ruptured on his writing desk, causing thousands of mantises to fly out. To hear this anecdote, a mantis must be donated to the museum.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Blathers, along with Celeste, appear as a trophy and sometimes appear in the background of the Smashville stage.