What made New Girl such an incredible hangout comedy was the disparate personalities and how they interacted with one another. For the most part, these unlikely connections resulted in a ton of heartwarming and hilarious moments. But every now and then, things could get out of hand for the loft.
It’s well worth it, though, to avoid the cookie-cutter format that these hangout shows can often fall into. Because everyone is so different, they all embody different animals of the Chinese Zodiac, as well. Depending on the year of birth that one aligns with, these are the New Girl characters who would also match their personalities.
Rat: Russell
The list begins with Russell, Dermot Mulroney’s recurring character, because he undeniably represents the Year of the Rat. Russell is very quick on his feet and he always has something charming to say.
Sometimes, this kindness leads him astray, but ultimately Russell is a good person at heart. His Rat qualities are two-fold, to be sure, but he’s one of the show’s most versatile supporting players.
Ox: Aly
Aly is the sort of police officer that others should strive to match the ideal of. Not only is she a diligent cop, but she’s also a dependable person.
Aly folds right into the friend group with complete easy and she and Winston are positively adorable together. Aly always has Winston’s back, which shows that she’s as reliable as anyone born in the Year of the Ox.
Tiger: Schmidt
The Years of the Tiger are known for producing some of the most colorful characters. They are often blinded with confidence and the ability to escalate every situation to the nth degree.
Sounds like Schmidt, right? He’s endlessly competitive about every little thing and he’s just a bundle of charm and brash personality. He’s a perfect Tiger.
Rabbit: Reagan
In season five, Megan Fox showed up as Reagan on New Girl to fill a pregnant Zooey Deschanel-sized hole in the show. In her time on the program, she proved herself to be a venerable representative of the Year of the Rabbit.
Reagan had an elegance about her that tended to preclude her from the antics of the friend group. But still, she always led with kindness and a responsible attitude. That’s apt Rabbit behavior.
Dragon: Jess
Jess, the main character of New Girl, is absolutely a symbol for the Year of the Dragon. She’s the easiest one to categorize in all of New Girl.
Dragons are brimming with brains and creativity and Jess has both of those in abundance. Furthermore, Jess is enthusiastic about every aspect of life, which shows that the Dragon spirit lives within her.
Snake: Winston
At the beginning of New Girl, Winston is a fairly standard character without any discerning traits. By the end, however, he is an absolute wack-a-doodle who is obsessed with Ferguson the cat, puzzles, and coming up with goofy aliases for himself.
That’s why Winston is a Snake. Maybe season one Winston isn’t, but by the end, Winston is an absolute enigma. And nothing says “enigmatic” like the Year of the Snake.
Horse: Coach
Coach comes and goes on New Girl, but whenever he shows up, he always has the same m.o. for his life: have fun. A man who is always leaning towards managing, watching, and playing sports, Coach is a surefire Horse.
Horses are always active and filled with tons of energy and that accurately describes Coach. He even spends a great deal of time as a physical education teacher!
Goat: Cece
Cece is probably the character on New Girl that outsiders would trust the most. That’s why she fits the criteria for representing the Year of the Goat.
Cece is a great listener and an even better friend. She’s always willing to lend a hand and a large amount of sympathy for the people she cares about. All of these traits are pure Cece, but they’re also definite matches for Goats.
Monkey: Ruth
Ruth, the daughter of Cece and Schmidt, does not have as much screen time as some of these other characters do, but she still manages to leave a big impression. Ruth is the rare television child character who actually fits in.
This is because she acts like a real child with her endless curiosity. Monkeys are known for being curious and smart as a whip. To be honest, Ruth never had a chance of not being smart with parents like Schmidt and Cece.
Rooster: Bearclaw
Bearclaw is a fairly minor character in the grand scheme of New Girl, but Josh Gad’s delivery man is still an obvious choice for aligning with the Year of the Rooster.
Bearclaw is a bundle of energy that immediately hits it off with Jess. However, he’s also a hard worker who pays attention to his surroundings and his friends. That’s an undeniable slew of Rooster attributes.
Dog: Nick
Nick Miller probably could have been slotted into a number of different Chinese Zodiac signs on this list, but ultimately, he is best-suited to being from the Year of the Dog. For one, he’s loyal, but he’s also honest.
Sometimes, this honesty can be too a fault, but one can never besmirch him for it. Nick also has strong romantic streaks in him that make him a lovable sweetheart, just like a Dog!
Pig: Robby
Lastly, Robby (played by Nelson Franklin) spends a great deal of time on New Girl thanks to his dating of Cece and Jess. He’s also a big, lovable sweetheart!
A generous soul who never has a bad thing to say about anybody, Robby is exceedingly nice, which makes him a perfect contender for the Year of the Pig. Robby even reads “The Pepperwood Chronicles” and writes fan fiction about it! That’s just a good guy, right there.
