With the museum expansion in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players were also introduced to a character well-known for his previous appearances in the franchise. Redd, the sly fox with his very own black market business, will now appear on the island on a regular basis to sell real (and fake) art.
Redd is best known for his trawler in the back of the island, docked on the secret beach. He’ll approach the player initially by offering to sell some art for an obstinate amount of bells, but can be talked out of it. While he might seem like any old con artist, there’s actually quite a bit that most haven’t noticed or realized about Redd the fox.
10 He Has A Past With Tom Nook
Given that both Redd and Tom Nook are involved in business one way or another, it’s not at all surprising to realize that they’re bitter rivals. Both refer to each other in very dismissive ways, which suggests there’s some bad blood between them.
While it’s unclear why they might feel that way, Tom Nook has stated in the past that when he initially moved to the city to pursue his dreams of starting his own business, he had a bad experience with a certain fox. It could be that the of them were partners, but Redd then betrayed Tom Nook.
9 He’s In His Thirties
Like with most special and regular villager characters in Animal Crossing, there’s always the question of how old they might be. There’s nothing to really mark the passing of time, not very accurately at least, which is why small hints are all players have.
Redd, however, was suggested to be around his mid-thirties in Animal Crossing: Wild World. This was revealed in a password of sorts that was given to the player, which was explained to be Redd’s actual age.
8 His Items Are Special
In New Horizons, Redd is known for selling both art as well as a few regular pieces of furniture. Sometimes all his art is fake, and sometimes it’s all authentic. It’s completely randomized every time he comes back around to sell his wares.
One cool fact is that the Happy Room Academy found in a few past Animal Crossing games would actually grant the player a small bonus rating if they had an item in their house that was bought from Redd. It’s unclear whether this is the case in New Horizons, however.
7 He’s A Libra
Although Redd’s birthday can’t exactly be celebrated, fans know his birthday simply thanks to his amiibo card. He’s born on the 18th of October, which in zodiac types would make him a special Libra villager.
Libras are known for being extremely diplomatic and fair in their decisions, hence why their sign refers to a balance. Ironically, Redd is none of those things. In fact, it’s almost as if this zodiac type was given to him as a joke by the developers rather than as something that would genuinely fit his personality.
6 He’s Obsessed With Money
Everyone’s been on Tom Nook’s back all this time about how greedy he is with his house loans. That being said, no one’s been willing to talk about Redd and his extremely questionable and greedy business practices, which he tries to hide under a kind surface.
In past games, Redd has even been known to demand players pay an entrance fee for his businesses. In New Horizons he’s also seen asking an inflated price for the first painting he sells to the player, which only goes to show he cares about profit above everything.
5 He Makes A Cameo
Like many special Animal Crossing characters that have become somewhat iconic, Redd also makes a few cameos in other games. He can be seen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, even if he’s not a playable character.
Redd will not only be a trophy within the game, but players can also spot him in Smashville along with a bunch of other Animal Crossing favorites, watching the fight that’s happening in front of him.
4 His Symbol Is An Actual Tree Leaf
Tom Nook’s simple leaf with a small hole on the side has become the very symbol of Animal Crossing. This leaf can be seen on just about anything related to the Nook family, and particularly in any of the Nook collection items in New Horizons.
Redd is similar to Tom Nook in the sense that he, too, has a leaf as the symbol of his business, though his is slightly different in shape and appearance. It’s actually a Ginkgo tree leaf, which is a common symbol used in Japan.
3 He Has Many References
Redd is a very classic, stereotypical character. Tons of folklore tales tell of foxes being untrustworthy, but there are a few direct references that may have inspired him. One example is Dante’s Inferno, where a swindling character is called Rubicante, or Crazyred.
He could also have been modeled after Keaton, the fox in The Legend of Zelda, or even after the famous conman Redd Foxx from a classic sitcom, Sanford and Son. In Pinocchio, the character Honest John may have also served as inspiration for Redd.
2 His Catchphrase Is A Reference, Too
Not only is Redd’s entire character pretty much a huge reference to a ton of other pop culture characters, his catchphrase is something to consider as well. Redd will often refer to the player as “cousin” as a way to make them feel closer to him than they actually are.
This catchphrase is used in an old tale titled Reynard the Fox, in which the titular character also uses the term “cousin” when trying to trick someone into believing and trusting them.
1 He Wanted To Replace Joan
Through New Horizons, players finally found out that Joan, the originally maintainer of the Stalk Market, did actually retire. Her follower ended up being Daisy-Mae.
Originally, when Joan mentioned she wanted to retire, it was Redd who insisted on taking over the business for her. Thankfully, Joan could see what a suspicious character he was and declined. One can only imagine what kind of financial peril the player would be in if Redd of all characters was in charge of selling turnips!
NEXT: Animal Crossing: 10 Hidden Details Everyone Missed About The Island
