Ema Skye is a recurring character in the Ace Attorney franchise. She first appears in the 2005 global release of 'Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney' for the Nintendo DS, in which she plays the role of Phoenix Wright's assistant during the fifth case 'Rise from the ashes'. She replaces Maya Fey in this role, with both characters sharing several animations and a similar hairstyle.


Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney



Ema is a 16 year old girl who suddenly barges into Phoenix Wright's Law Office during the opening segment of the fifth case. Her sister and chief prosecutor Lana Skye has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and Ema requires the help of Phoenix to stop Lana from giving a false confession to the police.

During the case Ema assists Phoenix by introducing him to several characters at the police station, and by teaching him how to perform several scientific investigation techniques such as fingerprint dusting. The case makes use of the Nintendo DS's touch screen and microphone during these moments.

After Phoenix solves the case and proves Lana innocent, Ema thanks him and goes off to continue studying science.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney



A 25 year old Ema returns in the fourth main installment of the Ace Attorney franchise. Having failed her exam to become a scientific investigator, Ema is instead appointed as a homicide detective. She quickly meets Apollo Justice, a rookie lawyer taken under Phoenix Wright's wing at his talent agency. During the game she acts as the lead detective during Apollo's cases, often explaining the facts of the case and the nature of the arrest during court.

Ema does not enjoy her job as a homicide detective, and frequently eats her way through her shift. The 'Snackoos' she eats are commonly thrown at any character that she finds temporarily irritating, including basically every character in the game. She does provide Apollo with several hints and seems to genuinely enjoy his presence more than Klavier Gavin, the prosecutor she works under.


Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth



An 18 year old Ema appears as a side character in the spin-off game featuring Miles Edgeworth. She is in the middle of her science studies and is enthusiastic to assist Miles Edgeworth during a few segments of his cases. Similarly to her previous appearances, her character is used to introduce several scientific investigation techniques.

Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit

Ema appears for a minor role in the follow-up game to Investigations: Miles Edgeworth. As the game takes place shortly after the first, not much of her character changes between the two games.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice




A 27 year old Ema returns in the sixth and most recent main installment of the Ace Attorney franchise. After the events of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Ema retook her exam and was able to pass, successfully becoming a scientific investigator. Despite the change in professions, she returns to her role as the lead detective in the game, providing Phoenix and Apollo with useful information about their cases.

The scientific Ema strongly dislikes the religious prosecutor Nayuta, who she has to work under during the game. She does perform her duties as the detective throughout the cases but shows a clear preference for the defense team.

During the third case, The Rite of Turnabout, Ema additionally regains her role as Phoenix's assistant during his investigation as his long time friend and previous assistant Maya Fey gets accused of murder.

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Ema is a friendly and bubbly girl who we actually get the chance to see grow up as the franchise goes on. Her character is a realistic representation of how we encounter obstacles in our path to realize our dreams, having failed her exam and being forced into a profession she didn't want, until she fights back and works hard to achieve her long term goal. She is both a hard reminder of the challenges in life as well as an inspiration to rise above these challenges to walk our own path. Her growth feels realistic and that makes her one of the more compelling characters in the franchise.

Certain aspects of her character have been left aside, such as her relationship with her sister Lana, which is never brought up again after the first game. As she is a long term friend of both Phoenix and Apollo, she is likely to appear in future installments of the franchise.