Raymond: The Animal Crossing New Horizons Star in 2024

Raymond sitting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Raymond is a prominent character in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which was released on March 20, 2020. It became a worldwide phenomenon in the early pandemic era. Having sold over 45 million copies, both old and new fans welcomed the cozy island setting for the title. One of the enduring aspects of the Animal Crossing franchise is its sense of community and quirky cast of characters. From the penny-pinching Tom Nook to the sly Redd, the world is filled with lively NPCs. The player can also recruit villagers to live on their island to enhance their experience. Perhaps the most popular villager one can seek out is of course the infamous Raymond.

Who Is Raymond?

Raymond, a debuting character in New Horizons, is a cat villager of the smug personality type. He also appears in the mobile spin-off game Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. His birthday is October 1, making him a Libra. He initially starts with the catchphrase “crisp” and wears a gray waistcoat. His most unique trait is his heterochromia: His left eye is green while his right is brown. By default, he sports a pair of black eyeglasses, another unique characteristic for a villager. Raymond’s home has an office theme, featuring desks, a whiteboard, and paperwork.

Why Is Raymond Popular?

Raymond from Animal Crossing: New Horizons
(Screenshot: Chase Martin)

From the moment he was unveiled, Raymond garnered a huge following. Fans of the series enjoyed his trendy, modern look that set him apart from other characters. His heterochromia was a big selling point for physical diversity. The smug personality made him cheeky but likable. All of these traits were part of a recipe for success. That ended up being true as Raymond became one of the most beloved villagers. 

But his popularity catapulted when it was revealed that the player could gift villagers clothing. In particular, this led to a viral meme of Raymond donning a maid’s outfit. Social media abounded with fan art and videos of the spiffy, gray feline. Fans of Animal Crossing found it difficult to escape the gravitational pull of the newest cat on the block. With this surge of the bespectacled feline came a heightened demand to have him. The demand spurred a host of controversies in its own right.

Raymond In Boxes

Early in its life cycle, the internal economy of New Horizons revolved around obtaining Raymond. With his exploding popularity came an enthusiasm for him to join the player’s roster. Having him on your island was a sort of status symbol. Users began to purchase Animal Crossing villagers on websites like eBay to capture their favorites. There were claims that Raymond would even sell for upwards of $1k. Community members would haggle resources in auctions to enlist the vaunted kitty. The most common in-game currency would be Nook Miles tickets, and Raymond would set you back a lot. 

The widespread desire for the cat sparked a humorous phrase in the Animal Crossing community: “Raymond in boxes.” A villager being “in boxes” means they are ready to leave an island. Players can arrange to meet up, allowing the visitor to speak to the villager in boxes. This is to convince them to move to their island and is a common method for the player to draft a newcomer. Memes of paying Nook Miles tickets just to get a glance at him began circulating. To some extent, there was a backlash to his initial popularity. Over time, that reaction has subsided as methods of obtaining him have grown.

How To Get Raymond

Thankfully, Animal Crossing players no longer have to strain their wallets to get Raymond. One of the quickest ways to find him is to purchase an Amiibo card featuring his likeness. Once the player has built the Campsite, they can scan the card at the Nook Stop terminal in Resident Services. This will allow Raymond to stay at the Campsite and be invited to live on the island, where he will stay with you.

There are alternative ways to recruit Raymond that do not require real money. The aforementioned Campsite will host a random villager every so often. Speaking to the camping villager will allow the player to play games and ask them to live on the island. New Horizons has over 400 characters to discover, making this tedious to find the villager you desire. Whatever means the player decides to pursue, Raymond is one cool cat who will add a lot of personality to your island paradise.

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