You're standing on Redd’s dimly lit boat. The atmosphere is cramped, the music is a bit too shifty, and you’ve got a pocket full of Bells burning a hole in your inventory. Then you see it. The Scary Painting. It looks familiar, right? That’s because it’s based on Toshusai Sharaku’s famous woodblock print of the actor Otani Oniji III. But here’s the kicker: Redd is a crook. If you aren't careful, you'll end up with a worthless piece of canvas that Blathers won't even touch with a ten-foot pole. Deciphering the Animal Crossing scary painting real vs fake dilemma isn't just about saving money; it's about not being the person who gets pranked by a fox in a hawaiian shirt.
Honestly, the "Scary Painting" is one of the most iconic pieces of art in Animal Crossing: New Horizons because the forgery is actually... well, scary. While most fakes in the game just have a subtle color shift or a missing detail, this one feels like it’s watching you. If you buy the wrong one, you’re stuck with a piece of haunted decor that might just ruin the vibe of your living room.
The Dead Giveaway: Look at the Eyebrows
When you’re trying to distinguish the Animal Crossing scary painting real vs fake versions, you need to zoom in. Seriously. Use the camera tool if you have to. The difference is all in the expression of the man depicted. In the real masterpiece, the actor’s eyebrows are slanted downward toward the center of his face. He looks intense. He looks focused. He looks like he’s in the middle of a dramatic kabuki performance.
The fake? It’s trying too hard.
On the forgery, the eyebrows are slanted upward at the inner corners. Instead of looking fierce, the man looks distressed or sad. It’s a "scared" painting rather than a "scary" painting. Think of it like this: the real one wants to start a fight, while the fake one looks like he just realized he left the stove on at home. If the eyebrows form a "V" shape pointing down toward the nose, you’re golden. If they look like they’re flying away from each other in panic, walk away.
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Why the Fake is Actually Cooler (Sometimes)
Redd might be a scammer, but he’s a scammer with a sense of humor. The fake Scary Painting is part of a small group of "haunted" artworks in New Horizons. Most players want the real deal for the museum, but collectors go wild for the forgeries because they change over time.
If you hang the fake version on your wall, wait until the sun goes down. At night, the man’s expression actually changes. His scowl softens, and a ghostly, sinister smirk appears on his face. It is genuinely unsettling. If you’re building a haunted house theme or a secret "cursed" basement, the fake is actually more valuable to you than the real one. Blathers might hate it, but your island’s "spooky" rating will skyrocket.
Don't Let the Size Fool You
People get tripped up by the proportions. Because Sharaku’s original work is a narrow woodblock print, it looks a bit compressed on the canvas. Don't let that distract you. Some players think the "real" one has more space around the edges or a different colored background. Nope. The background in both versions is that signature dark, mottled greyish-green.
Focus entirely on the face. The hands are also a point of contention for some, but they are identical in both the genuine and forged versions. The fingers are curled in that specific, claw-like kabuki gesture. Don’t waste your time staring at the fingernails; the eyebrows are the only "tell" that matters in the Animal Crossing scary painting real vs fake showdown.
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How to Verify Before You Buy
Before you hand over those 4,980 Bells, take a second to breathe. Redd relies on your impulsiveness.
- Use the "Take a closer look" option. This is non-negotiable.
- Pan the camera up until you are eye-to-eye with the painting.
- Compare the brow line.
- Check the mouth. In the real version, the mouth is a tight, downward-curving grimace. In the fake, the mouth sometimes looks a bit more "looped" or slightly altered to match the sadder expression of the eyebrows.
If you’re still unsure, remember that Redd can sell more than one real piece of art at a time—or he can sell four fakes. There is no guarantee that one item in his shop is legitimate. I’ve stepped onto that boat plenty of times only to find a gallery of garbage. It happens.
What to Do With a Fake Painting
So, you messed up. You bought the fake. You ran to the museum, woke up Blathers, and he gave you that disappointing "hoo-hoo" of rejection. Now what?
You can’t sell fakes to Tommy and Timmy at Nook’s Cranny. They’re too smart for that. You have a few options:
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- The Trash Can: Literally. If you have a garbage can furniture item, you can toss the painting away forever.
- The Gift of Spite: Mail it to a villager you don't like. They might even display it in their house, which is a hilarious way to ruin their interior design.
- The Cursed Gallery: As mentioned, the fake Scary Painting is haunted. Keep it. Put it in a graveyard area on your island.
Understanding the Animal Crossing scary painting real vs fake distinction is a rite of passage for every player. Once you nail the eyebrow trick, you’ll never get scammed by that fox again.
Next Steps for Your Island Collection
To ensure your museum reaches 100% completion without wasting hundreds of thousands of Bells, always cross-reference Redd's inventory with a visual guide. Start by checking the "Famous Painting" and the "Wistful Painting" next, as these also feature subtle facial changes that are easy to miss. If you've already accidentally purchased a haunted fake, try placing it in a dimly lit room at 7:00 PM to observe the transformation for yourself before deciding whether to trash it or display it.