Phoenix Wright

This article is about the character. For the video game, see Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. For the series, see Ace Attorney.

Phoenix Wright
Ace Attorney character
Phoenix Wright as he appears in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations
First appearancePhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2001)
Created byShu Takumi
Designed byTatsurō Iwamoto
Portrayed by
Various
Voiced by

Phoenix "Nick" Wright, known as Ryūichi Naruhodō (Japanese: 成歩堂 龍一, Hepburn: Naruhodō Ryūichi) in the original Japanese language versions, is the fictional titular defense attorney and the protagonist in Ace Attorney, a visual novel adventure video game series created by Shu Takumi, who was an employee of Japanese gaming company Capcom. Introduced in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2001), Phoenix is a young rookie attorney who the player controls in several cases to protect the clients suspected of murder. Phoenix is the main character in the first three games, accompanied by assistants Maya and Pearl Fey and Ema Skye, mentored by the ghost of Mia Fey (channeled by the former two mediums), and rivalled by Miles Edgeworth, Franziska von Karma, and Godot. He remains in a less prominent role in the second trilogy starting with a supporting role in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (2007) as an older single father to Trucy Wright and mentor to Apollo Justice, before becoming a playable character again as a veteran attorney in subsequent games, mentoring Athena Cykes, rivaled by Simon Blackquill and Nahyuta Sahdmadhi, and reuniting with Maya and Pearl. The character has also appeared in film, anime, and manga adaptations of the series, a Japanese series of musicals and stage plays, as well as several crossover games.

Phoenix Wright was created by writer Shu Takumi, who wanted a character who would spot contradictions in statements. While the series was meant to end with the third game, feedback from the fans resulted in an older Phoenix becoming a supporting character as an older person in the second trilogy. While he eventually became playable, his protege Apollo Justice remained the main protagonist. Originally designed by Tatsurō Iwamoto, the character's design remained the same for the first and second trilogy except for Apollo Justice due to a request from Takumi. Across these installments and adaptations, several actors provided their talent for Phoenix with Takumi himself playing him in the original games.

Phoenix has received positive critical reception and has been described as a likeable character with a realistic profession. His mannerisms and character design have inspired many cosplayers. However, his more minor role in the second trilogy earned mixed responses for lacking his original appeal. His other appearances in the anime series and related cross-overs were still the subject of praise.

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