To build a thriving community in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Players must hand over a large sum of money to real estate raccoon Tom Nook, although it is not clear what he will do with the bells he collects. Tom Nook has played a major role as manager of the city store in every Animal Crossing title until New Leaf when he takes on a bigger role in the city’s development. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, he’s the head of Nook Incorporated and collects bundles of bells in exchange for house and town upgrades.
It’s easy to think of Tom Nook as a seedy and possibly scheming character. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set on a desert island, where the main character has bought into an escape package with Nook Incorporated that they owe heavily. Every step the player takes to upgrade their New Horizons home will have to take out a loan from Tom Nook, and each upgrade will cost more than the last.
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However, an IGN interview with Animal Crossing creators Aya Kyogoku and Hisashi Nogami reveals another side of Tom Nook. During the interview, it is stated that Tom Nook is constantly working to improve the city and has earned the bells from residents through Nook Incorporated to improve Resident Services, the development center for the community. It’s not known why Tom Nook dedicated his earned profits to this cause, but it can make it less painful to give up the bells on a new project as it doesn’t just go into his pocket.
Animal Crossing’s Tom Nook donates to an orphanage
Tom Nook also showed a gentler side during Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. In conversation with Tom Nook, the player learns that he is donating 90% of his personal income to an orphanage in several cities. However, he states that he is aware of his reputation in the town of Animal Crossing as a brutal businessman and does not want the news of his true behavior to get around. This revelation shows that Tom Nook’s investment in the community and desire to provide paid services may not be done with villainous intent, and helps make him a more relatable character in Animal Crossing history.
tf yall tom nook donates 90% of his money to an orphanage and purposely hides the fact ……. never call him greedy again
(Screencaps from Karnevalsphantasma on tumblr) pic.twitter.com/6aEQlbJ7Xt
– lyn 🔸 vtuber (@MAMETCHl) February 4, 2020
Despite his vaunted generosity, many fans may argue that this doesn’t excuse the inflated prices Tom Nook charges for developing a New Horizons city. Tom Nook wields great power in Animal Crossing: New Horizons as the player and every villager who lives on the island are committed to their company. It seems unlikely that giving the bulk of his income to charity or island improvements would cover the amount of money Tom Nook makes from debt collection. Because no one saw evidence of Tom Nook’s spending habits in Animal Crossing: New Horizonswhat he does with his remaining winnings is likely to remain a mystery.
Source: IGN
About the author
Laura gray
(498 published articles)
Laura Gray is a writer, illustrator, and gamer based in cozy Boise Idaho. They have had a wild nerd freelance career, spending time traveling as a professional cosplayer and becoming published illustrators while working as an IT technician at night. Laura is currently a content writer for D&D campaigns and screenrant while working on personal writing projects for publication. They are also busy welcoming their first child into their life, which was the best adventure life has ever existed.
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