Tom Nook

"I'll be there with bells on! Ho ho!"

- Tom Nook

Tom Nook (たぬきち, Tanukichi) owns the town shop. After the player buys or sells certain amounts of money in his shop he will expand his shop, after which a larger range of items will be available to the player each day. After the final expansion, Nookington's department store, if playing Animal Crossing: Wild World, he will employ Harriet, who runs the hair salon, Shampoodle, and Timmy and Tommy, his nephews, in every game, excluding, who work on the second floor. Although he appears to be a raccoon, he is actually a tanuki, a Japanese raccoon dog that is commonly mistaken or translated to raccoon. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Tom Nook no longer runs the town store (this role is taken by Timmy and Tommy), and instead runs Nook's Homes.

After the player moves in, Tom Nook takes the player under his wing and has the player work at his shop to pay off their debt.

Tom is very money-driven, and many years ago left behind his friends, most importantly Sable, to travel to the big city. While there, he has dreams of success which 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 friends with Sable, though the two often mention each other to the player. In New Leaf, he even appears to have a slight crush on her, as shown when he blushes when Lyle mentions her and her sisters.

Nook seems to have a varied reputation amongst the villagers, with some speculating that he is, in fact, a man in a suit. His large, bushy tail seems popular amongst lazy people. Many will say that he has a checkered past, hinting at illicit activities. He is openly derided by Redd as a "raccoon in an apron." His picture quote is "I'll be there with bells on! Ho ho!"

Timmy and Tommy are Nook's assistants. All three make a cameo in the Smashville stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Tom Nook's description in the City Folk's game guide is:

''A kind raccoon with a heart of gold, 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!''

Shop
At the beginning of all games, save New Leaf, Tom Nook owns a small wooden shack. As the player buys items from him, the store will expand, eventually into a two-story supermarket. There are a total of four expansions, beginning with Nook's Cranny, which upgrades to Nook 'n' Go, then to Nookway, and lastly Nookington's.

After a period of time with Nookington's in City Folk, Tom Nook will ask the player a question to "better serve his customers". Based on the answer given, Nookington's can close and reopen as a previous store to better suit the player's needs. Periodically, after the first questioning, Tom Nook will ask again, and the player can once more change the store.

The suggestions and answers are:


 * Variety- Nookington's
 * Balance- Nookway
 * Good Hours- Nook 'n' Go
 * Nothing much- Nook's Cranny

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Tom Nook appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

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 as the town shop owner, just as he does in the games.

Stories
Sometimes, upon entering his store, he will appear in thought, and may tell the player 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, before I moved to this town, hm?
 * Of course, I was born in our lovely , 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, , maybe it's best that we forget we ever talked about this."

Trivia

 * Tom Nook makes a cameo appearance in the first E3 trailer of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.