What makes a villager design likeable?

[myaccount37]

You know, this was something I've wondering for a while now. I know obviously there's variance according to people's personal taste, but I guess that's exactly what I'm curious about: what aspects of a design make a villager design likable to some and not likeable to others?

I started wondering after coming across the Internet's love for Tangy. I never thought she would be as popular as she is. She was my eighth villager and I had no idea who she was when I saw the reserved plot (this is my first AC), and looked up her picture. Online I thought she looked cute and I liked the concept: an actual orange-citrus cat! The image was a little blurry and I was worried about issues with her face. Then she moved in and my worries were realized. To me it looked like she had these pores/craters/serious acne, or like her skin was the actual skin of an orange, or bumpy and weird, or something like that that I have a hard time putting into words. To me it seemed like a case of taking a good idea too far and making her WAY too much like an actual orange and not enough like a cat.

On the other hand, I've seen folks bash the kangaroos, and while they aren't my favorites, I like their designs (I'm not crazy for it, but I find pretty likeable) and wouldn't be able to kick them out of my town if one wandered in. Their long faces just look cute to me, especially Rooney. I love how angry he looks and then how he looks when he smiles. This is why I like Rolf, too, because his default expression is just so grumpy, so it's neat to see him turn around and bust out a big friendly smile.

Or Bella. One of the wikis for this game says something like "Her name means "beautiful" in Italian, which is in contrast with her appearance." But when I first saw her I thought she looked adorable--like a little-sister-from-an-old-T.V.-show-with-the-weird-buck-teeth. That, or she reminded me of Gadget from Rescue Rangers with the teeth and the blonde hair, and who can resist nostalgia? (Of course, when I saw her in-game, the weird blush and pink dots on her cheeks made me pause.)

So, with that overly long post out of the way, I was just wondering what makes a villager design likeable to folks here?

 

[Tahelis]

Personally, I don't like animals with gimmicks. Like, the cat who is an orange, the bunny who is a gyroid, the cat who is a superhero. Any animal like that, I don't like. I just like plain cute animals. I prefer natural coloring over bright unnatural colors, which is why I chose Merry over Rosie.

Now, for species, I don't exactly have a reason. I hate kangaroos (they have a mini-me, creeeepy), I hate alligators, any type of bird, hippos, rhinos. I love deer, but I hate goats. I love cats. I like Marshal, but I don't like any other squirrels. I find some ostriches cute, but I don't want them in my town. No ryhme or reason to what I like, really, that way.

 

[bittermeat]

The main thing that bothers me is when the textures on their face are extremely blurry or when their color schemes honestly look really, really bad. Huge bug eyes are turn offs as well.

 

[myaccount37]

I hate kangaroos (they have a mini-me, creeeepy)

Oooh, I forgot that the female kangaroos are carrying babies! LOL, but I actually love that about them too. I wish the programmers would've let the player interact with their babies; that would have been adorable!

 

[TamaMushroom]

I actually love the Animals that have quote on quote gimmicks. Coco is adorable, honestly if it wasn't for me having her in Wild World I wouldn't like her as much, probably. I like that there are animals that have a Super hero quality to them, Agent S, Rocket, Mira, Kid Cat, etc. I usually like Animals that normal people probably wouldn't. Don't get me wrong Fauna is adorable and I'd love to have her in my town, but I'd rather have Zucker or Coco in my town, due to how they aren't your typical animal. I also have preferences on what animals I do and don't like. I Highly dislike Cats in real life, and on Animal Crossing it isn't any different. I don't like the green animals like Annicotti, and that Goat. I honestly don't like the Zombie/diseased look, though that could just be me. Annicotti is cute, but weirder than what I like. I also base it off of their Personality. I don't usually like the Snooty and Cranky Villagers, they seem a lot older and jsut straight up mean, but that's changed as I have aged.

Over all I do like the "Cute" Villagers I mostly like their appearance and base my liking to that. I also love it when they have a cool house theme such as a Oriental vibe or anything clever, such as Bertha's Dentist Office look. There is so much to like that I just end up accepting all of the villagers for what they are, do, say, have.

 

[CantDeleteThisAccount]

I don't like the majority of the ones with facial hair or stupid looks on their faces, among a ton of other things.

 

[Farobi]

I like the simplistic features in the animals. Kiki, Phoebe, Poncho, Vesta, and Walker are prime examples of which. Gimmicky animals are cool to in the sense that they represent a viable feature in them, like the superheroes. I honestly don't see the hype on oddly-colored animals as well as over-the-top gimmicks like Lucky (which I have on my town, lol) and Mr. Unicorn Julian. I also love the two aforementioned underrated stuff like Poncho (I seriously can't find him in the Villager Exchange Thread lol) and Filbert.

 

[theviolentlolita]

I tend to like the "gimmick" animals, different is great! Even if it's kind of an "ugly" difference, like a uni-brow, I love it!

 

[Lemons]

For species, I don't generally like the elephant design. I don't know, their faces just seem wrong and distorted to me, with the side-mouth.

I don't know all the villagers, but I like the superheroes I've seen, like Mira and Agent S. I just can't like the villagers that look like a 5 year old did the drawing. I've never had her in my town, but Katt's design. Those eyes. Looks worse than when I tried drawing a face for Blanca on the GC. Moe's eyes also bothers me....and clown villagers.
Not that their ugly, but I don't like villagers with wrestling/racing masks either. Sorry Victoria, you are nice and kinda cute, but it just doesn't match your personality. Leave it to the jocks.

 

[Holls]

I love that have unique qualities to them. I got Julian and I was like whoaaa he always starts with 'This needs some dance moves!' and dances. I don't know. Just that redeeming thing about them that make em special.

 

[Saralie]

I don't like the whore-ish looking animals. Diva, Tammy, Monique, Gloria, Maelle, Miranda, Fuschia (she's ok), Gigi, Jambette, Diva, Tiffany- yeah, I just called you out.

I prefer the more realistic looking animals like Molly, Robin, Henry, Lily, Fauna.

I can't stand any gorilla, rhino, or kangaroo.

- - - Post Merge - - -

I love that have unique qualities to them. I got Julian and I was like whoaaa he always starts with 'This needs some dance moves!' and dances. I don't know. Just that redeeming thing about them that make em special.

Totally! When I first got him I was disappointed it wasn't Tangy (my ultimate fave) but he is seriously funny! He's my fave villager that I have.

 

[CantDeleteThisAccount]

I don't like the whore-ish looking animals. Diva, Tammy, Monique, Gloria, Maelle, Miranda, Fuschia (she's ok), Gigi, Jambette, Diva, Tiffany- yeah, I just called you out.

Yeah, I don't like those guys either, except Monique, I friggin' love her, and Fuschia. I hate the ones with big ugly lips too, lol. Like Gigi, Diva, Jambette, Tiffany, and worst of all, Elise.

I don't like the ones with weird hair, either. Maelle is a good example.

 

[twerkstrider]

I don't like the whore-ish looking animals. Diva, Tammy, Monique, Gloria, Maelle, Miranda, Fuschia (she's ok), Gigi, Jambette, Diva, Tiffany- yeah, I just called you out.

whoa there, friend, can we not use slurs to describe women with makeup????

to me, i like characters that are colourful, even if they do clash. i love chrissy with her pink hood and her default colourful spotty dress!! and willow, even though she is a bit blindingly yellow

 

[Karmarsi]

I tend to like those who look adorable ( Cheri, Mitzi, Lopez, etc ) and unusually something Unique to them ( Static's dark purple / green, Julian's unicorness ). If it just appeals to me, it's likeable!

 

[Saralie]

whoa there, friend, can we not use slurs to describe women with makeup????

to me, i like characters that are colourful, even if they do clash. i love chrissy with her pink hood and her default colourful spotty dress!! and willow, even though she is a bit blindingly yellow

I apologize if I offended, but the makeup on some of these animals is overboard! They're animals, not streetwalkers.

 

[Cardboardo]

I had no idea some people hated the kangaroos. I'm really hoping Walt will move in at some point. Either him or Knox.

 

[Isabella]

I don't like the pigs at all..if anything maybe just Gala. I also don't really like the villagers with makeup, not that I have a problem with makeup at all its just their designs make them look rude and stuck up and idk

 

[Sour of Abnaxus]

I just can't like the villagers that look like a 5 year old did the drawing.

This is pretty much what I was going to say.
I like the cute animals, but not when they're too cutesy. I like it when they look just a little bit off, but not too off. It's not an exact science.

 

[KitchenWhisk]

I love the gimmicky animals, as long as they aren't too brightly colored (I'm looking at you, Frita). I also tend to like the taller animals- the shorter ones like the hamsters are to cutesy for me.

 

[meela]

I hate kangaroos and elephants. I just really dislike their base design model. Kangaroos look so damn awkward! I love gimmicky types, like Mira and Snake!