One Animal Crossing New Horizons fan shared a screenshot of their villager, Vivian, stating a rhyme: "How many books could Tom Nook cook if Tom Nook cooked his books?" While Vivian likely doesn't know what Tom's practices are, this could be a way the developers hint at his unscrupulous nature. Vivian's remark about Tom Nook "cooking the books" alludes to real-world financial terms, where a person manipulates accounting records to create a more favorable picture of a company's financial health.
The caption, "Love when the villagers spill some lore about Tom Nook," shows the poster who believes there's more truth to that rhyme than whimsy. The fact that Tom Nook is a tanuki in Japan, but a raccoon internationally also feeds into this idea. The Tanuki has a long history of trickery in Japanese folklore, and raccoons are associated with thievery. This small line seems more than a simple joke, as the theory that Tom Nook isn't honest has been present since the first game.
Vivian From Animal Crossing Seems Tired Of Tom Nooks Antics
There's Something Fishy About That Raccoon
Many players jokingly agreed with the sentiment, referencing Tom Nook's reputation for being a somewhat unscrupulous businessman in Animal Crossing due to his role as the main loan provider in the game. Some users commented that this was a veiled comment on Tom Nook's potential for tax evasion, with user Witty-Krait saying, "As many as it takes to evade paying taxes." Others played on the idea of the implications, with user Big_Green_Piccolo saying, "Timmy and Tommy are gonna have to bust some kneecaps." These reactions highlight how much of a character Tom Nook is in the community, with plenty of players not liking the bell loaner.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has some of the worst features that players regularly have to deal with, but the next game can learn from its mistakes.
While many jokingly accused Nook of misconduct, some did defend him; user Kinnikuboneman said that Nook is "not evil" since he doesn't have a timeframe to pay debts and charges no interest. The lack of interest was part of the case that The Game Theorists made to defend Tom Nook. It's hard to say that a single villager knows if Nook cooks his books, but it wouldn't be surprising.
Our Take: Tom Nook Has Settled Down From Previous Titles, But Is Still Unpopular
I Still Like Him
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
Tom Nook has changed throughout the Animal Crossing games. In earlier titles, his methods were quite aggressive, constantly reminding players of their debts and making them expand their homes so he could charge more. He felt more like a landlord than a benefactor, and the experience of being in debt with him was a central part of the game's loop. However, Tom Nook's appearance in New Horizons is less harsh, providing opportunities rather than imposing pressure, but this old image of him persists with the fanbase.
Despite the changes to his role, many players cannot seem to move past the idea that Tom Nook is a greedy character. Tom Nook's backstory shows that he understands struggles. He is the backbone of the game's economy and progression, and despite his past, I still find him to be more good than bad.
While I understand the desire to joke and poke fun at his potentially shady business practices, I think his role as a motivation for player progression is very important to the overall experience. He's a hero to me, but I see why he's easy to joke about. His role as the capitalist in the game makes him a perfect target for gags about tax evasion, but I see the need for him in the overall system of Animal Crossing.
custom image by Carrie Lambertsen
Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
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