Raccoon, called Araiguma-kun in Japanese, is a young raccoon and one of the main characters of Bonobono. He is a close friend and frequent playmate of the protagonist Bonobono, and he lives with his father in a home built in a large tree. Among his close friends, he is the only one whose mother is still alive, although she is absent for much of the story and does not live with the family; storylines involving his parents and his mother's eventual return form part of his background.

In terms of personality, Raccoon is irritable, hot-tempered, and quick to lash out. He has a very short fuse and often hits or kicks other animals, and his most common target is his friend Shimarisu, whom he bullies on a regular basis; in the first anime series it is even joked that he needs to kick Shimarisu at least once a day or he will not get enough exercise. He also frequently acts as the straight man of the group, bluntly pointing out when Bonobono or Shimarisu say or do something strange. Despite his roughness, he is not cruel at heart. He is bold, direct, and speaks his mind without hesitation, and he reacts with impatience when Bonobono becomes frightened by imaginary dangers. Beneath his harsh manner, he genuinely cares about his friends and will set aside his gruff attitude to help them when they are truly in trouble.

Raccoon is driven largely by impulse and a low tolerance for boredom. He dislikes timidity, indecision, and what he sees as foolishness, and he tends to act first and think later rather than weighing a situation carefully. His decisiveness and courage make him the most action-oriented member of the trio, and his outbursts are a major source of the story's comedy and conflict. In the story he serves as one of the three central figures around whom everyday adventures revolve, providing energy, friction, and common-sense reactions to the more dreamy or anxious behavior of his friends.

His key relationships shape much of his behavior. With Bonobono he shares the closest bond, spending most of his time together with him despite frequently losing patience with Bonobono's gentle and imaginative nature. With Shimarisu he is a constant tormentor, though the two are ultimately friends and can even put on comedy routines together. His relationship with his father is strained, since his father is extremely ornery and quick to anger, often taking out his frustrations on Raccoon and getting him into trouble. His mother is absent for much of the series, but later storylines explore her and her return to the family.

Over the course of the story, Raccoon shows gradual development through his experiences. He experiences romantic crushes, takes on training journeys, and suffers defeats and setbacks that humble him, and through his many interactions with Bonobono and the other forest residents he matures somewhat while remaining fundamentally short-tempered and blunt. He is also the most independent-minded of the three friends, having already developed practical skills for looking after himself.

As for abilities, Raccoon is remarkably strong for a child his age, able to lift a rock considerably larger than himself when he puts his mind to it. He has a sharp sense of smell and an extremely broad appetite, willing to eat almost anything. His combination of physical strength, keen senses, boldness, and practical self-sufficiency makes him the most formidable and self-reliant member of the main group, even if his temper often leads him into trouble.