Back to the Dawn All Characters
Written by Michael Owen | Back to the Dawn
Back to the Dawn features over 100 unique characters, including prisoners, staff, gang leaders, and outside allies. Each one has set roles, quest involvement, or Bond Skill interactions.
Note: This guide is a work-in-progress now that 1.0 has dropped and Bob now has his own arc.
Table of Contents:
Major Characters
Thomas (Fox)
Thomas is prisoner #1220 and the main playable character. He was a reporter at Woodpecker TV who got framed by the mayor for drug possession. His goal is to escape Boulderton and expose government corruption. He has strong Charisma, Agility, and Intelligence. Only Thomas can use the Tarot system or access the full ending set.
Bob (Black Panther)
Bob is prisoner #2124 and becomes playable in the full release. He’s looking for a wolf named Fenrir who holds a secret worth millions. His backstory involves illegal street racing and a violent arrest. Bob is part of the Sharp Tooth Gang but only joined to find Fenrir. His Bond skill, Night Owl, removes Body drain from sleepiness. Night Owl+ adds +1 Agility after nightfall.
Prisoners
Alex (Lion)
Leader of the Sharp Tooth Gang.
Bam (Gray Cat)
Paranormal investigator looking for ghost evidence.
Bernard (Capybara)
A former detective with a grudge against criminals.
Bill (Buffalo)
Big Foot Gang enforcer and Jumbo’s second-in-command.
Ceasar (Chimp)
Leader of the Black Claw Gang.
Chris (Lynx)
Master flirt and expert in Charisma tactics.
Crunchy (Crocodile)
Hotheaded fighter. Dislikes John.
Diego (Alpaca)
Claims to see fairies. Mellow and eccentric.
Eddie (Opossum)
Turned himself in after rejecting an arranged marriage.
Evan (Rhino)
Strong enforcer under Jumbo’s crew.
Fernando (Anteater)
Former surgeon, now works in the infirmary.
Frank (Hippo)
Son of a mafia hitman. Follows the family business.
Franklin (Zebra)
Obsessed with machines and gadgets.
Gray (Tree Frog)
Poisonous skin and talks about fathering 100 kids.
Hakuna (Warthog)
Proud of his ugliness. Best friends with Teddy.
Henry (Black Bear)
Always hungry. That’s his only trait.
Jimmy (Giraffe)
Former software engineer with brains but no brawn.
John (Tiger)
Cold and antisocial. Keeps his distance.
Joseph (Kangaroo)
Former professional boxer.
Jumbo (Elephant)
Boss of the Big Foot Gang.
Kevin (Koala)
Deeply in debt to everyone.
Lin (Pangolin)
Paranoid about people stealing his scales.
Max (Honey Badger)
Violent and explosive. Nicknamed Landmine.
Miguel (Tapir)
Hypnotist with strange charisma.
Old Lee (Panda)
Speaks in riddles and proverbs. Real name is Lee Zhong.
Perry (Platypus)
Obsessed with shady investment schemes.
Phil (Otter)
Former gang member. Addicted to scratch-offs.
Pickman (Iguana)
Sadistic artist who paints disturbing work.
Raphael (Mandrill)
Accountant for the Black Claw Gang.
Ray (Racehorse)
Non-binary inmate. Dresses like a unicorn.
Richard (Babirusa)
Living with painful tusks. Wants peace and quiet.
Robert (Ring-tailed Lemur)
Gaming addict and aspiring dev.
Rudolph (Reindeer)
Former actor trying to stay relevant.
Sam (Donkey)
Thomas’ first cellmate. Obsessed with his girlfriend.
Teddy (Meerkat)
Hyperactive. Hakuna’s closest friend.
Tim (Sloth)
Sleepy accountant who barely functions.
Tony (Camel)
Expert in smuggling and the prison black market.
Vincent (Hyena)
Rapper with real bars and attitude.
Vladimir (Polar Bear)
Ex-wrestler known as The Iceberg. Loves cold puns.
Walter (Skunk)
Chemist who makes drugs with his own stink.
Whitey (Rabbit)
Magician. Nobody knows why he’s in prison.
Wilbur (Goat)
Obsessed with mysticism and omens.
William (Tortoise)
Oldest inmate. Speaks and moves slowly.
Winston (Walrus)
Suffers from the dry prison air.
Prison Staff
Anderson (Collie)
Former priest and prison chaplain.
Beth (Poodle)
Infirmary doctor during the day shift.
Billy (Bull Terrier)
Deputy warden. Acts friendly when it helps him.
Bran (Golden Retriever)
Daytime infirmary guard. Has some medical training.
Bruce (Mastiff)
Captain of the guards. Handles daily operations.
Clark (Rooster)
The warden. Leaves everything to Bruce.
Enrique (Heeler)
Replaces Anderson as chaplain later in the story.
Fred (Golden Retriever)
Visitation room guard.
Kid (Bull Terrier)
Works night shift. Nicknamed by Lester.
Lester (St. Bernard)
Night guard in the central garden.
Mans (Boxer)
Handles the segregation unit.
Owen (Husky)
Mailroom and storeroom guard.
Paul (Mountain Dog)
Rooftop trainee guard.
Rob (Shiba Inu)
Chapel guard. Brother of Shibata.
Shibata (Shiba Inu)
Kitchen storage guard. Rob’s brother.
Tes (Pharaoh Hound)
Roof guard who hands out cold beers.
The Cook Brothers (Pig)
Sticks, Straw, and Bricks run the kitchen.
Young Ben (Boar)
Delivers food around the prison.
Antagonists
Angelo (Wolf)
The mayor’s campaign manager. Frames Thomas using planted drugs.
Kong (Silverback Gorilla)
Angelo’s personal bodyguard.
Bulk and Skull (Coyote)
Henchmen who do the dirty work.
Mayor (Human)
Ordered the frame job on Thomas. Reelection happens on Day 21.
Other Characters
Adam (Monkey)
Top male dancer at Fallen Angel.
Barbara (Chameleon)
Criminal contact who deals with Alex.
Devil (Shark)
Friend of Gomez.
Gomez the Ghost (Bat)
Barbershop owner.
Judy (Rabbit)
Thomas’ college crush. Still lingers in his thoughts.
Lisa (Antelope)
Deceased. Backstory only.
Maggie (Ferret)
Thomas’ ex-girlfriend. Broke up six months ago.
Miranda (Tasmanian Devil)
Trains male dancers in the back of Fallen Angel.
Pilar (Sheep)
Bartender at Fallen Angel.
Rona (Leopard)
Immigrant from Aslovia. Runs the Fallen Angel strip club.
Selina (Cat)
Reed’s secretary.
Final Blurb
That’s every character in Back to the Dawn, sorted by role. Regardless of if you're managing Bond Skills, advancing side quests, or navigating factions, knowing who’s who gives you an edge. For guides on escape routes, endings, and skill setups, check the related pages.
FAQ
Who is the main character in Back to the Dawn?
Thomas the Fox is the main character. Bob the Panther becomes playable in the full release.
Which characters give Bond Skills?
Nearly all named prisoners have Bond Skills. Raise Rapport and complete their story events.
Are all characters tied to the story?
No. Some are just for flavor, background, or minor side quests.
Who are the gang leaders?
Alex leads the Sharp Tooth Gang. Jumbo leads the Big Foot Gang. Caesar leads the Black Claw Gang.
Is Bob playable now?
Bob is confirmed as playable starting July 18, 2025. Until then, he's an NPC with Bond and questlines.
Portions of this guide use material from the “Characters” page on the Back to the Dawn Wiki at https://back-to-the-dawn.fandom.com/wiki/Characters. The text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) license (CC BY-SA 3.0). Changes were made. This version is shared under the same license. You can view the license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
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