One of the most significant game series of the 2000s is Shu Takumi’s Ace Attorney franchise. This collection of visual novels set in a courtroom has grown to include 11 games, five spin-offs, and several adaptations, such as a manga, a live-action movie, and an anime series.
If you’re interested in following Phoenix Wright’s adventures but prefer watching over playing, the Ace Attorney anime might be just what you need. The series aired for two seasons, covering the plots of the first three games. Rest assured, the majority of cases from those games were adapted into the anime.
Where to Watch Ace Attorney
The Ace Attorney franchise has also inspired two on-screen adaptations: a live-action film released in 2012 and an anime series that aired from 2016 to 2019. Both adaptations are currently available for online viewing.
These adaptations are quite independent of each other. You can enjoy one without needing to watch the other, as they both cover similar content. Both can be found online if you’re interested.
Where to Watch the Live-Action Ace Attorney Movie
Renowned director Takashi Miike adapted Ace Attorney for the big screen, transforming the original 2D courtrooms into live-action sets. The film primarily follows the first two cases along with the Turnabout Goodbyes case:
| Service | Subscription |
|---|---|
| Amazon Video | Available to rent for $0.89 or buy for $3.59. |
| Apple TV | Rent for $3.99 or buy for $12.99. |
| Fandango At Home | Available to rent for $3.99 or purchase for $12.99. |
| Kanopy | Available to stream for free with a valid library card from a participating library or for university students at select schools. |
The original games primarily feature short voice lines, making the film the first opportunity for many characters to receive complete voice performances.
Where to Watch the Ace Attorney Anime
The Ace Attorney anime, directed by Ayumu Watanabe, consists of two seasons and a total of 47 episodes:
| Service | Subscription |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime | Available via the Crunchyroll channel. Amazon Prime membership starts at $14.99 per month, plus an additional charge of $7.99 for Crunchyroll. |
| Amazon Video | Buy episodes for $1.99 each or $16.99 per season in Standard Definition. High Definition episodes cost $2.99 each or $24.99 for the entire season. |
| Apple TV | Available for $2.99 per episode with English audio, or $1.99 with Japanese audio. You can purchase entire seasons for $22.99. |
| Crunchyroll | Streaming available for $7.99 per month. |
The first season mainly covers the plot from the first two games, while the second dives into the stories from Trials and Tribulations.
Are the Ace Attorney Stage Plays Available for Streaming?
Beyond the TV series and film, Ace Attorney has also been converted into live theater productions, including various plays and musicals. The most recent stage adaptation, The Great Ace Attorney: New Truth Reborn, was performed in 2023 and included:
- Ace Attorney: The Truth Reborn
- Ace Attorney 2: The Truth Reborn, Again…
- Ace Attorney 3: Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth
- Ace Attorney 2: Farewell, My Turnabout
- Ace Attorney Investigations: Turnabout Teleportation
- Ace Attorney: Turnabout Spotlight
- Ace Attorney: Turnabout Gold Medal
- The Great Ace Attorney: New Truth Reborn
While some performances have been recorded, they haven’t been officially released for wide viewing yet.
Crunchyroll and Kanopy
For now, Crunchyroll is the best spot to stream the Ace Attorney anime. It is budget-friendly and offers both the original Japanese audio and English dub alongside subtitles.
If you don’t already have an Amazon Prime membership, consider subscribing directly to Crunchyroll instead of through Amazon Prime Video to save some money.
While the live-action film is unavailable on Crunchyroll, you can find it elsewhere. If you have a library card for a participating library or access to certain university accounts with Kanopy, you can stream it for free. That said, watching the live-action film isn’t essential to understanding the broader Ace Attorney story, as the anime covers all the cases featured in it. If you’re still interested in the film and lack access to Kanopy, renting it on Amazon Video could be your best option.
Streaming Options Across Services
You can purchase digital copies of the Ace Attorney anime from both Amazon Video and Apple TV. With two seasons available, the total cost for all episodes ranges from $40 to $50 on either platform. If you plan to watch every episode soon, streaming on Crunchyroll is the more economical choice.
Streaming through Amazon Prime can also get quite expensive since the anime is only available there via Crunchyroll. If you don’t already have an Amazon subscription, it’s likely more cost-effective to pay for just a Crunchyroll subscription rather than combining both services.
If you already have an Amazon Prime or Amazon Prime Video subscription, the cost remains the same whether you access Crunchyroll directly or not.
