Tom Nook is usually described as a tanuki in the Japanese version of Animal Crossing, which is often localized as a raccoon in English.

Quick Scoop

  • Best short answer: he’s a tanuki.
  • English releases: often call him a raccoon for localization.
  • Why the confusion: tanuki are raccoon dog–like animals, so the label changes by region.

If you want, I can also explain the difference between a tanuki , a raccoon , and a raccoon dog.