Animal Crossing Informative Statue: Fake & Real Versions Explained

Pesky art-dealer Jolly Redd is determined to cheat players in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. He is always trying to pass forged versions of art off as the real thing. Even statues aren’t safe from this less-than-honest fox. There are two version of Animal Crossing’s Informative Statue that can appear in Redd’s Treasure Trawler, but only one is the genuine article. Here’s how to spot the piece that belongs in a museum.

Based on the real-world Rosetta Stone, Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Informative Statue is a stone-slab covered in writing from different languages. That ‘stone-slab’ part is a huge hint as to how to spot a fake. The real statue has a grey hue and is clearly made from rock. The fake, however, is tinted blue, seemingly carved from ice. The forged version will also give off a glow during the night. It’s not a subtle fake, but the uninformed could still be fooled.

Being knowledgeable about the real-world of art can be a huge boon in Animal Crossing. The art that Blathers wants for the museum is all based off of actual pieces, so having an idea as to how those look in reality can be a huge help when trying to determine if something is legitimate. The “Famous Painting” is based off of the Mona Lisa, for example. It’s an instantly recognizable painting (thus the in-game name) and if players spot a version that seems a little off, it probably is. Similarly uncanny are the new outfits introduced in the Super Mario crossover event – they feel almost like forgeries as well.

Fake Things Are Everywhere In Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Unfortunately, the other citizens of a player’s island aren’t as discerning when it comes to art, and can gift players phonies. Getting a forgery in the mail can be deflating, as there’s not much to do with them but display, re-gift, or trash them. Some of the fakes are pretty wacky, so decorating with them can be fun if players want to get creative with their rooms in Animal Crossing. That said, players looking to complete the museum’s collection are definitely better off searching for the actual thing.

The real-world Rosetta Stone that the Informative Statue is based on is one of the most important archeological finds in history. It greatly contributed to scholar’s ability to understand ancient hieroglyphics. It’s presentation of three languages – Greek, Demotic, and Egyptian – provided a ‘key’ that allowed translation between the dialectics. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons version may not have the same historical impact, but it’s still worth adding to the museum – just don’t get fooled by the fake version.