Apollo Justice

Apollo Justice, known as Housuke Odoroki (Japanese: 王泥喜 法介, Hepburn: Odoroki Housuke) in the original Japanese language versions, is a fictional defense attorney in Capcom's Ace Attorney video game series. Apollo is featured as the titular protagonist of the fourth game of the series, as well as a protagonist in the fifth and sixth main Ace Attorney games. The character has also appeared in manga adaptations of the series and crossover video games such as We Love Golf! and Puzzle & Dragons.

This article is about the character. For the video game, see Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney.
Apollo Justice
Ace Attorney character
Apollo Justice as he appears in the fifth main Ace Attorney game; Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies.
First gameApollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Created byShū Takumi
Designed byKazuya Nuri
Voiced by
In-universe information
Full nameApollo Justice
Alias
  • 29003 (attorney's badge number)
Nickname
  • Herr Forehead
  • Polly
  • Son
  • AJ
Occupation
  • Freedom fighter
  • Defense attorney
Affiliation
Family

Conception and creation

Shu Takumi had originally wanted the Ace Attorney series to end with the third game; Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Trials and Tribulations, as he felt that its main character; Phoenix Wright, had been fully explored and that his story had been told. He said that it is important to know when to end a story, that he did not want the series to become a shadow of its former self, and that he did not see any reason to continue it. When it was still decided that a fourth game would be made, Takumi wanted it to have a new main character and a new story; he did not plan to have Phoenix appear in the game, but his colleagues wanted him in the game in some form, which led to him being the accused in the first case in the game.[3]

Justice's Japanese given name, Housuke, can be broken down into "hou" (法) meaning "law", and "suke" (介), which is a common suffix for male Japanese names. This makes the meaning of his first name literally "boy of law" or "law boy". Combined with his surname, "Odoroki", "Apollo Justice" roughly translates as "a surprising man of law".[4]

In English versions, Justice's name was localized to present a similar meaning to English-speaking audiences. His first name is also a mythical reference: to the Roman god of the Sun of the same name, while the surname refers to how Apollo fights for justice. The name "Apollo Justice" was decided in collaboration between the Japanese and American divisions of Capcom; it took them twenty-two meetings to decide on it.[4][5] The nickname "Polly" (used by his partner, Trucy Wright) was chosen based on its believability and as a callback to a parrot going by the same name in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.[4]

Characteristics

At the time of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Apollo is a rookie defense attorney who usually accepts murder cases, attempting to exonerate his clients when there is seemingly incontrovertible evidence and testimony against them.[6] Described as "brash and insecure", which he deals with using a stress-relieving shouting "Chords of Steel" routine, he often encounters unusual situations. Rather than simply arguing his case, Apollo, like his mentor Phoenix Wright, uses detective skills to gather relevant evidence and investigate the crime scene. Apollo additionally has a partially hereditary condition from his mother's side which allows him to "tell" the intents of those around him by reading their body language, which he believes to be related to the tightness of the band he wears around his wrist.[7]

Appearances

Ace Attorney video games

In the fourth game, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Apollo must defend former defense attorney Phoenix Wright, discovering the true perpetrator of the crime Wright is accused of to be Apollo's own mentor, Kristoph Gavin. Throughout the game, Apollo is hired to defend various people of murder after joining the "Wright Anything Agency" alongside its CEO, Wright's adopted daughter Trucy.[8] The game culminates with Apollo facing rival prosecutor and Kristoph's brother Klavier Gavin and revealing Kristoph's role behind Wright having been unjustly disbarred. After the main game's events, Trucy is revealed to be Apollo's younger half-sister, with an amnesiac witness from his second case being their mother, information which remains unknown to both Trucy and Apollo.[9]

Apollo returns as a protagonist in the fifth main series installment; Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Dual Destinies. In this installment, he briefly leaves the Wright Anything Agency to individually investigate the murder of Clay Terran; a crime that he suspects his new coworker Athena Cykes of committing. After Phoenix accuses a spy known as the "phantom" of the murder however, Apollo rejoins the agency.

In the sixth main game; Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Spirit of Justice, Apollo faces off against Nahyuta Sahdmadhi; an international prosecutor and monk from the Kingdom of Khura'in who is later revealed to be his adoptive brother. After defeating Phoenix in a civil case, Apollo goes to Khura'in himself and becomes an instrumental figure in the final days of the conflict between Queen Ga'ran Sigatar Khura'in and the resistance group the Defiant Dragons. As a result of his efforts, the queen is dethroned and the Defense Culpability Act, which states that someone found to be supporting a criminal is to receive the same punishment as them, is nullified. Apollo then leaves the Wright Anything Agency and sets up his own law firm; the Justice Law Offices, in Khura'in.

Other appearances
Apollo Justice in We Love Golf!.

Apollo Justice appears in a Japanese manga adaptation of the fourth game, written and illustrated by You Satsuki and Miho Shimazu, and published by Bros. Comics Ex and Capcom on August 1, 2007. The series has yet to be published outside of Japan.

In the episode "There is Substance in 2-D" of the anime adaptation of Lucky Star, Hiyori Tamura produces a chibi drawing of Minami Iwasaki as Apollo Justice, complete with "Objection!" written beside the picture of Apollo. The episode premiered in Japan on August 12, 2007, four months after the release of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney in Japan.[10]

Apollo Justice appears as an unlockable costume for the character Jack in the Capcom game We Love Golf! on the Nintendo Wii, which is unlocked by winning all gold trophies in tournament mode.

As part of a promotion for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Spirit of Justice in Japan, Apollo Justice appears as a fire-element monster in Puzzle & Dragons.

Reception

References
  1. "Apollo Justice Voices (Ace Attorney)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 21 April 2020. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of the title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  2. "『PROJECT X ZONE 2：BRAVE NEW WORLD（プロジェクト クロスゾーン2：ブレイブニューワールド）』新たな参戦キャラクターを公開!!" (in Japanese). Famitsu. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  3. Gera, Emily (2014-03-14). "Why Phoenix Wright creator did not want the series to continue". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
  4. Fletcher, JC (2008-03-06). "Ace Attorney producer: big announcement at orchestral concert". Joystiq. Archived from the original on 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  5. Spencer (2008-02-01). "Investigation phase, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney interview". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-09-26./
  6. Herold, Charles (2007-01-25). "GAME THEORY; Rough (but Silly) Justice and Striking (Also Silly) Moves". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  7. Rahman, Azizul (2009-03-08). "Law and laughter". The Star. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  8. Capcom (2009-04-12). Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice (Nintendo DS). Capcom. Level/area: Episode 2 − Turnabout Corner. ???: The... Wright Anything Agency? Apollo: A-Anything Agency? Trucy: Yeah! Do you like the new flyer? So, um, this is our defense attorney, Mr. Apollo Justice!
  9. Capcom (2009-09-14). Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Nintendo DS). Capcom. Level/area: Episode 4 − Turnabout Succession. Phoenix: And when all the questions have found their answers... the final trial will begin. But first, you must chase the truth through then and now. Think of it... as a game. I, Phoenix Wright, will be your guide through this game.
  10. "Lucky Star: Apollo Justice/Edward Elric Cameo". YouTube. KyockLee123. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
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