Changing skin colour

[UglyMonsterFace]

So I'm Asian but not super light skinned so I usually play with a medium light skin tone in ACNH (first colour on the bottom row). However, sometimes, I really want a darker character cuz I think some outfits would be very pretty on a darker skin tone. However, I find it weird or fake for me to change my skin colour to something it isn't in real life. But I sometimes see people with characters who are darker and I keep thinking how pretty and adorable they look and I get kinda sad that I can't make my character look like that because it's not me.

Do you guys play as a character with your own skin tone and do you ever change your skin tone in the game? Do you think it's okay for someone to use a different skin tone other than their real one? It's just been a thing that I've been thinking about lately and would like to hear what other's have to say about it. I don't know if this is going to be a controversial topic, but please be respectful and kind to each other when discussing this!

 

[astoria]

I think it’s fine to change your character. If you visit other people’s islands they don’t know you so it won’t matter to them. Your character doesn’t exactly have to be yourself in real life.

 

[brockbrock]

There aren't many rules in Animal Crossing with creativity and expression (I mean I guess that's not technically true when playing with people online as one should be respectful of others and participate in respectful and appropriate behavior, especially with strangers). You have the creative freedom to play the game and express yourself however you want! If you want your character to have a different skin tone, I think there's nothing wrong with that but maybe it's not so one dimensional and depends more on the situation? Some people don't use their villager as a realistic representation of who they are, for example, and that's okay, too.

I am... quite white, and in quarantine am just... slowly becoming more and more ghost-like with each passing day. But my character is a bit tanner than I am IRL. It hasn't crossed my mind at all, but I guess I'll be thinking about this more.

 

[zola]

it does rub me the wrong way when non-dark skinned people use dark skin tones. dark skin isn't an aesthetic and shouldn't be treated like one - in real life, people with dark skin can't just close the game and be done being dark-skinned. they have to face the unfortunate realities of colorism, racism, etc. that come with having dark skin. for a lot of people with dark skin, it's exhausting to see people using their skin tone as an aesthetic and not having to face the real-life consequences of actually having dark skin.

i know it's "just a game" and people are ultimately free to do what they want with their characters, but just my two cents.

 

[Hedgehugs]

Since this is my first playthrough, I try to make my character look close to me by having the same skin tone as me irl. I'm black. I'm thankful for FINALLY having dark skin tones but my only complaint is that I don't have a skin tone that perfectly suits me. The darkest skin tone is too dark and the 2nd darkest is too light.

If I really wanted to I could make my character white. Nothing wrong with portraying your character as something that isn't you. It's your character and you brought the game, no one's forcing you to play a certain way.

 

[Raz]

Don't restrict yourself.

That's one of the things that makes video games appealing: reality is boring and we take control of someone or something else.

I'm not a ninja, but I sure love playing Ninja Gaiden.

I'm not a robot, but Mega Man is one of my favorite games of all time.

I don't know how to drive a car, but I love playing Forza, Gran Turismo and Mario Kart.

One of the most interesting aspects of AC is that the game allows players to express themselves. It's a fantasy game, you talk to animals. Why can't you change your skin color? Do it!

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

it does rub me the wrong way when non-dark skinned people use dark skin tones. dark skin isn't an aesthetic and shouldn't be treated like one - in real life, people with dark skin can't just close the game and be done being dark-skinned. they have to face the unfortunate realities of colorism, racism, etc. that come with having dark skin. for a lot of people with dark skin, it's exhausting to see people using their skin tone as an aesthetic and not having to face the real-life consequences of actually having dark skin.

i know it's "just a game" and people are ultimately free to do what they want with their characters, but just my two cents.

I don't think it's harmful for non-dark people to find a darker skin tone beautiful for their aesthetic. I find dark skin tones beautiful and same with pale ethereal skin. I find that skin tone is a part of aesthetic beauty, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that? I'm a bit on the medium skin tone for Asians and I know a lot of people like to be a bit more tan like me, but I wouldn't get offended with them trying to have my skin colour in a game, even though they haven't experienced the racism that I have. And trust me, I've experienced a lot of it. I wouldn't wish anyone to have to experience any of that for them to be able to appreciate and mimic it in game.

Although it is this mind set that I find to be very common among people that makes me feel like it's wrong for me to, even though I don't see it as immoral. Just offensive to some. But I respect your opinion and I understand what you mean.

 

[Dormire]

TBH, I don't associate my self-insert characters as a carbon copy of me IRL, Hime (my island rep) is pale. (I'm a southeast asian in a tropical island so I'm naturally more tanned.)
I don't get the gatekeeping of skin tones, it's there, available to choose for whoever wants to. As long as you don't do caricatures or racist stuff, be free who you want to be, your OC, your other self, or just be different. You're free to be whoever you want as long as you're respectful.

In a world where we never get to choose whoever we are or whatever you look, go crazy in Animal Crossing. It's one of the only place where freedom of how you look happens. (MMOs and other customized games included)

 

[Xara]

i, personally, have a bit of a problem with it, but it all entirely depends on the situation. for example, if you’re ‘ghostly white’ irl and want to have your character with a more tanned skin tone, that’s entirely fine. however, i don’t think being white and having a black-skinned character is cool - idk, but it just kind of rubs me the wrong way aha

i don’t find it offensive or anything and would like to have a darker-skinned character at some point but i don’t feel like it’s my place to do that? idk ;w;

 

[EtchaSketch]

my character in game has absolutely nothing to do with me! They're a separate entity completely. In my head, they're not human, but a shapeshifting being, and so they often change hair, faces, skintones, outfits, "gender", etc.

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

my character in game has absolutely nothing to do with me! They're a separate entity completely. In my head, they're not human, but a shapeshifting being, and so they often change hair, faces, skintones, outfits, "gender", etc.

Ooh that's kinda of a good way of looking at it I'd like to think of my character as a shape shifting alien XD

 

[Stereokay]

I wouldn't be so hard on yourself. All games are a couple steps removed from reality and it doesn't matter if it's a mirror or an escape. I know people on the opposite end playing characters with skin lighter than themselves. If you're honest with yourself and aren't trying to deceive others then play as you will.

 

[zola]

I don't think it's harmful for non-dark people to find a darker skin tone beautiful for their aesthetic. I find dark skin tones beautiful and same with pale ethereal skin. I find that skin tone is a part of aesthetic beauty, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that? I'm a bit on the medium skin tone for Asians and I know a lot of people like to be a bit more tan like me, but I wouldn't get offended with them trying to have my skin colour in a game, even though they haven't experienced the racism that I have. And trust me, I've experienced a lot of it. I wouldn't wish anyone to have to experience any of that for them to be able to appreciate and mimic it in game.

Although it is this mind set that I find to be very common among people that makes me feel like it's wrong for me to, even though I don't see it as immoral. Just offensive to some. But I respect your opinion and I understand what you mean.

i understand where you're coming from. there's definitely nothing wrong with finding other skin tones beautiful! but for a lot of people, their skin color is a source of trauma and it can be a slap in the face to see other people use it as an aesthetic. again, this isn't to say that you can't use dark skin tones. at the end of the day, this isn't real life, it's a kid's game about shaking trees and hanging out with animals. but i still think it's important to be mindful and sensitive about topics that have a deeper history, which i think you're doing a great job of ( :

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

Thanks everyone <3 I love how respectful and kind and understanding everyone was with their replies <3 I love you all ^_^

 

[Fey]

I think there’s a lot of nuance to a subject like this—there’s no single, right answer. An Asian or European perspective would be very different from a North American one, for example.

I can understand an argument for skin tone being an aesthetic, but also know that in my own social-political environment it’s not that simple. In the US a person’s skin tone, especially when it’s darker, is unfortunately much more than just a look. Because of that the concept of changing my tone from light to dark feels uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean it’s inherently wrong.

People need to keep others perspectives in mind, and try to see why someone would or wouldn’t have a problem with it.

 

[Chris]

Your in-game avatar doesn't need to be made in your likeness. Many people play as an OC rather than as themselves.

 

[Romaki]

Personally I just try to create myself, but that's something I could always do in Animal Crossing. There are plenty of people who never got to create themselves before Happy Home Designer, so that's a different kind of experience for many players.

It's fine to change your in-game skin color as long as you don't do it as a mockery. Lots of people make their villager into a character, it's fun to play around with these things.

 

[naranjita]

I think there’s a lot of nuance to a subject like this—there’s no single, right answer. An Asian or European perspective would be very different from a North American one, for example.

I can understand an argument for skin tone being an aesthetic, but also know that in my own social-political environment it’s not that simple. In the US a person’s skin tone, especially when it’s darker, is unfortunately much more than just a look. Because of that the concept of changing my tone from light to dark feels uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean it’s inherently wrong.

People need to keep others perspectives in mind, and try to see why someone would or wouldn’t have a problem with it.

as a white European, I'd like to point out that skin color matters as much here as it does in the US. we just don't admit that it does. we like to believe that colorism is a US-only phenomenon, but it's really, really not. the only difference between white racism in the US and in Europe is that at least in the US there's a chance that people will rightfully call it out. and white people are increasingly co-opting black fashion and black aesthetics in Europe, so that's definitely not a US-only problem either. when it comes to the issue of white people appropriating blackness in Europe, I'd listen to a black American before a white European any time.

sorry if this is veering too much into irl politics, I just think that this idea that racism is relative and doesn't manifest in Europe in the same way as it does in the US is very, very dangerous. Europe has a problem with calling out racism as it is, we don't need to encourage white Europeans to think that they shouldn't think critically about how they see race.

 

[cheezu]

The character in the game doesn't have to be YOU so do what YOU like.
I mean this is a game that sells you all kinds of clothing from different regions as well as egg hats and dog noses to wear for goodness sake!
Let's not be too harsh on ourselves. I don't see why it should be offensive for me to have a darker-skinned character if I'm white or vice versa just the same way I'd be completely fine with a male being a female character in the game or vice versa.

 

[BigZombieMonkey]

I think skin tone can be a sensitive subject but this is a game where animals talk and a racoon is a business genius who forces you into debt lol
Ultimately this is a game and it's for enjoyment, you do what you enjoy.

I like all of the skin tones but tend to make my character look like myself, yet my daughter's characters look nothing like them, they just enjoy experiementing