While monster from Five Nights At Freddy's, and makes spring events a terrifying experience for players.
Animal Crossing's Bunny Day, which occurs for a week in either March or April, was the first large-scale event players could participate in after New Horizons was released in 2020. However, the event was poorly received by fans after flooding islands with hidden eggs and for the two-week-long window the event originally spanned. Additionally, players are forced to contend with the presence of Zipper T. Bunny as he announces the eggs hidden on the island, and then as he heads Bunny Day. Because of this, many have come to dread the approach of Bunny Day, and may even choose to skip it, rather than deal with Zipper and his eggs.
However, Zipper has been a creepy event mascot since before New Horizons. Though he hasn't been around as long as Tom Nook, Zipper has been in numerous Animal Crossing games, leading springtime events. Zipper can be found in City Folk, New Leaf, and the mobile Animal Crossing games Pocket Camp, making him an unfortunate addition to most modern Animal Crossing titles. While it is possible the dislike of Zipper has come from the lackluster event he is a part of, his appearance and overall attitude also play a part in what makes him the worst.
Animal Crossing's Zipper T. Bunny Is Actually A Costume
One of the first things players may notice when encountering Zipper T. Bunny is his unnatural appearance. While many villagers and NPCs in Animal Crossing have interesting designs, Zipper's face is unnaturally still, with eyes and eyebrows that always portray a surprised expression. When compared to other Bunny Villagers, he doesn't share the same head or body shape and lacks the emotions displayed through a range of reactions possible by Villagers. However, this could be due to Zipper potentially being a costume worn by another villager, which is backed by the source of his name - the zipper that runs along his back.
While the idea of Animal Crossing's Zipper being a costume isn't terrible when initially thought about, Zipper goes out of his way to state that he is a real character. This could be a Villager's attempt at taking on the persona of the Bunny Day mascot for the town, or it could potentially point to the more upsetting idea that there is a character living full time in Zipper's T. Bunny's costume, assuming the egg-obsessed bunny. Due to the recent uprising of horror games with similar concepts, like the animatronic monsters of Five Nights At Freddy's or the terrifying toys of Poppy Playtime, Zipper's potential identity could bring similar scary plotlines to mind.
However, Zipper T. Bunny is not the only Animal Crossing character with a questionable background and history. While definitely not wearing a costume, Tom Nook has come under fire for his shady business deals, extortion of the main character, and often aloof personality. Some have even wondered if Animal Crossing's Tom Nook is secretly evil, and uses the town's inhabitants to line his pockets with Bells. However, Tom Nook's greedy personality and desire for wealth and success don't seem to come close to Zipper's creepy expressions and potential secrets, and he has a much less grating personality.
Zipper T. Bunny's Personality Is Worse Than Tom Nook's In ACNH
Tom Nook has always been known for his dreary and sometimes upsetting personality. He tricks players into multi-million Bell house expansions, while also getting the player to build the town's reputation and success while he sits in an office chair. He also tends to be out of touch with the town's needs, putting his own successes and desires first. This can be seen in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, where he defines success as getting his favorite musician, K.K. Slider, to play a concert on the island. However, while these traits are frustrating and annoying, they are an accepted part of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' narrative, and Tom Nook can still have charming moments, like when players invite him to have a drink at The Roost.
However, Zipper T. Bunny does not have the hidden charms of Tom Nook. Instead, he offers players sarcastic and grating commentary as they try to engage in Bunny Day. He continuously requests players to craft garish Bunny Day items with the eggs that saturated their islands, only to reward them with DIY recipes for more Bunny Day-themed furniture. He also has some of the worst dialogue, using rhymes and annoying catchphrases when speaking to the player. Because of this, replacing him with a new mascot for Bunny Day could be beneficial, as he could be an Animal Crossing character worth losing. This is backed by his use of sarcastic or aggressive language in dialogue, like when he tells the player "don't you go snoopin'" when responding to whether his appearance is a costume. Because he lacks the depth and development of characters like Tom Nook, interacting with Zipper can be unpleasant or even abrasive for those trying to complete the Bunny Day event.
Because Zipper T. Bunny is an event mascot in Animal Crossing and not a character that players can interact with regularly, it is unlikely the secrets of his true identity or personality will be revealed in regular gameplay. However, there are a few theories for who Animal Crossing's Zipper character could be. It is possible that under the costume, Zipper is actually a Villager that everyone dislikes, trying to make friends by assuming the role of a fun event provider. It is also possible Zipper is an NPC who doesn't want to be revealed, but who has made a deal with Tom Nook to play the role of the mascot to ensure the town has a Bunny Day event.
There is also the chance Zipper T. Bunny is actually Tom Nook. Both Tom Nook and Zipper are similar in shape and size, adding more credibility to the theory. It would also explain Zipper's adamant denials that he isn't a real bunny, and his upset when asking that no one try to unzip his zipper. While it isn't likely players will ever learn the truth behind Zipper T. Bunny, he remains one of the worst non-villager Animal Crossing characters in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it is unlikely his presence at future Bunny Day events will improve the experience for new or returning players of the game.