When I was a young middle school student, I told my friends, and I quote, “If Capcom doesn’t make an animê based off of the Ace Attorney series, I’m gonna fly to Japão and kick their asses”! True quote. And finally, after over a decade of Phoenix Wright, we have finally gotten the Ace Attorney anime! Episode 1……. So, after watching the Ace Attorney movie and liking it, does the Ace Attorney animê lives up to the hype or should be deported back to Japan? Let’s find out, shall we?
So, let us start with the anime’s opening. I think it’s catchy, though is it just me, or does it sound a bit like the ending theme from the animê Free? Seriously, play these songs back to back and tell me they don’t sound the same. Anyway, the first episode follows the first trial of the first game, The First Turnabout. So, before I talk about the episode SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST CASE OF THE GAME… Though, granted, it’s incredibly obvious who the killer is, so this whole spoiler bit was pointless… Shit. Anyway, in the game, Phoenix Wright is to defend suspected and childhood friend Larry Butz, who was framed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Cindy Stone. The only witness and true criminal was Frank Sahwit. Needless to say, the animê manages to follow that very well. Sure, you could say that the animation is basic as hell, but this ain’t the 1950s. We don’t judge a show por the budget of it’s animation.
Now, when I was looking up opinions on this show, let me tell you, this whole series was as dividido, dividir then Marco (Attack on Titan jokes). There are some people who say that the animê is a faithful adaptation to the game, and others say that it is a piece of shit that is a mockery to fans. Me, I actually kinda liked this episode. But, don’t worry. I know when not to be biased. There are some things I don’t like about this animê too. For starters, there’s barely any songs from the game. Hell, there isn’t even a Pursuit theme. You have an Objection theme, but no Pursuit theme. Also, Sahwit never threw his toupee at Phoenix. Like seriously, come on. Even the movie had Sahwit throw his toupee. You can’t take that away from me, Ace Attorney.
Though, there are some things that people say about it that I can counter, like a true Ace Attorney, or a pathetic manchild. Anyway, one of the things that people don’t like about the animê is that there is just too much comedy with it. I would have to disagree. The Ace Attorney franchise does have quite a lot of humorous moments, but does know when to be serious. The first trial didn’t have much serious moments though, as they wanted to save the emotional moments for later cases. Another complaint is that everyone always overreacts whenever they are defeated with logic. Again, I disagree, because, in the game, you could always see characters shouting and slamming their heads onto the mural or desk. Characters in the Ace Attorney series has always been overreacting to being defeated. And lastly, and this is one I kinda agree with, is that some people say that the first episode was rushed. Now, if this was any other trial, I would agree that a rushed episode is a problem. However, The First Turnabout is a case that can be finished within twenty minutes. Ten if you know what you’re doing. The trial is completely short, is finished within a day, and is nothing but a tutorial trial for you to learn in. I can understand the supposed rushed pacing for the first episode. However, I am only okay with this being with the first episode. If it happens with any other show, then we kinda have a problem.
So, yeah, I don’t got anything else to say. The first episode so far starts off as a very faithful adaption to the game series. Sure, the animation and soundtrack are tolerable but nothing special, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the first episode. As long as they change the pacing from the first episode onto later ones, then I think this will be a special series. But, hey, that’s only my opinion. What’s Your Take.