Professor Hershel Layton
Encyclopedia
is the eponymous fictional character
of the Professor Layton series of video games, created by Level-5
. He is the central protagonist in every entry to the series, which consists of five games that have combined sold over 11 million copies, three novels
, and an animated movie
.
while he was 18. He is remarkably well-mannered, and makes it a point to act as gentlemanly as possible. He enjoys solving mysteries and puzzles, and loves to drink tea. His appearance rarely changes, consisting of a black coat and trousers, an orange shirt; but, most notably, a tall, brown top hat that he wears at almost all times as a reminder of his girlfriend, Claire, who had given it to him right before her death. Not long afterward, he became a professor at age 27, and Emmy Altava, a photographer, was assigned to be his assistant.
He was not able to get past the death of Claire for over ten years, and has not been in any known relationships since. However, he has taken on a protegee by the name of Flora Reinhold, who he looks after, in addition to a self-proclaimed apprentice, the young Luke Triton.
, and, according to Akihiro Hino
, came about as a development of what he saw as Phoenix's "good points" and remedying of his "bad points." The idea of having the characters be voiced by television personalities, in addition to the animated cutscenes, was enacted to attract casual players who has previously purchased Brain Age
but were skeptical about the design of more complex games.
Afterward, in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
, Layton receives an invitation for an opera on the Crown Petone, a very high-class theater, from a girl named Janice Quatlane, a singer. However, the opera was merely a front for Jean Descole and Oswald Whistler's plans, and Layton, Luke, and Janice complete a series of puzzles that lead them to the lost island of Ambrosia. Through the intervention of Emmy and Inspector Clamp Grosky, they (and the other contestants) manage to leave the island alive.
Then, in Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
, Layton, Emmy, and Luke are called to the "miracle city" of Montedol, where a masked man is turning the populace into stone in a series of incidents that remind Layton of events that took place during his high school, seventeen years earlier -- including meeting with his old girlfriend, Sharon Leidle
.
Two years later, in Professor Layton and the Curious Village
, Layton and Luke are called by Lady Dahlia of St. Mystere to investigate the will of the deceased baron, who had mentioned an artifact named the Golden Apple for whom the bearer would be entitled his entire fortune. They slowly manage to unearth the truth about the strange village, but they find that the only person who can show them the apple is none other than the baron's daughter, Flora Reinhold, who had been locked away in the village for years as part of the baron's plan to find someone smart and kind enough to take care of her. Layton obliges, and takes the girl under his wing, leaving St. Mystere.
In Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Layton and Luke take the Molentary Express in an effort to find out what was responsible for the death of his teacher, Dr. Andrew Schrader, who was found lying in his office with nothing but a train ticket without a destination, and the artifact he was investigating, the Elysian Box, missing. The two of them, later joined by Flora, go to the towns of Dropstone and Folsense, eventually finding the true purpose of the Elysian Box and reuniting a long-broken family.
Finally, in Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Layton and Luke attend a demonstration of a 'time machine', a failed experiment that leads to the disappearance of both the lead scientist and the prime minister
, Bill Hawks. A week later, the two of them receive a letter purported to be from Luke himself, ten years into the future, in dire need of assistance, and they are asked to go to a clock shop on the edge of town. When they leave it, they find themselves in the future London. They meet with a woman who claims to be Claire's sister, Celeste, trying to piece together what had happened to Claire ten years before the present time. However, unbeknownst to the people in the city, there is a giant mechanism hidden just under the town capable of destroying London. With the help of Don Paolo (aka Paul), Celeste, and Inspector Chelmey, they successfully deactivate the weapon and manage to return to the present, where Layton finally comes to term with the loss of Claire and takes off his hat for her out of respect. Luke's father, having been transferred, is forced to move, and the game ends with Luke saying goodbye to Layton, hoping to remain good friends.
In the upcoming crossover game, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, Layton and Luke are mysteriously transported to a place called Labrynth City, where they encounter Phoenix Wright and his assistant Maya Fey from the Ace Attorney series. With many mysteries surrounding this place, including a Story Teller that can allegedly make anything he writes come true and a girl named Mahoney who is accused of witchcraft, Layton strives to solve them, often coming at odds with the methods of Phoenix, who tries to defend Mahoney.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
of the Professor Layton series of video games, created by Level-5
Level-5
is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka, Japan. The company, which currently employs about 200 individuals, was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft...
. He is the central protagonist in every entry to the series, which consists of five games that have combined sold over 11 million copies, three novels
Novelization
A novelization is a novel that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work.Novelizations of films usually add background material not found in the original work to flesh out the story, because novels are generally longer than screenplays...
, and an animated movie
Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
also known as , is a 2009 Japanese animated mystery film directed by Masakazu Hashimoto. The film is a continuation of the Professor Layton series...
.
Characteristics
Professor Hershel Layton is a professor of archaeology at the fictional London-based Gressenheller University, and in the games has obtained a degree of fame for both his discoveries and his striking intellect. He was not always planning to go into archaeology, but his interest was sparked by a man named Lando AscadProfessor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
is a puzzle adventure video game and one of the Nintendo 3DS' launch titles in Japan. It is the fifth game in the Professor Layton series, but the third story chronologically...
while he was 18. He is remarkably well-mannered, and makes it a point to act as gentlemanly as possible. He enjoys solving mysteries and puzzles, and loves to drink tea. His appearance rarely changes, consisting of a black coat and trousers, an orange shirt; but, most notably, a tall, brown top hat that he wears at almost all times as a reminder of his girlfriend, Claire, who had given it to him right before her death. Not long afterward, he became a professor at age 27, and Emmy Altava, a photographer, was assigned to be his assistant.
He was not able to get past the death of Claire for over ten years, and has not been in any known relationships since. However, he has taken on a protegee by the name of Flora Reinhold, who he looks after, in addition to a self-proclaimed apprentice, the young Luke Triton.
Development
Professor Layton was partly inspired by Phoenix WrightPhoenix Wright (character)
Phoenix Wright, known as in original Japanese language versions, is a fictional defense attorney in Capcom's Ace Attorney video game series. As of , the series has sold 3 million copies and is Capcom's 11th best-selling series of all time. Phoenix has been featured as the main protagonist in three...
, and, according to Akihiro Hino
Akihiro Hino
is president and CEO of Japanese video game developer Level-5.- Biography :Prior to founding Level-5 in October 1998, Hino began his career in the video game industry in the early 90's at the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft, specifically on the Overblood series for the original...
, came about as a development of what he saw as Phoenix's "good points" and remedying of his "bad points." The idea of having the characters be voiced by television personalities, in addition to the animated cutscenes, was enacted to attract casual players who has previously purchased Brain Age
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!, also known as Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? in PAL regions, is an entertainment video game that employs puzzles. It was developed and published by the video gaming company Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console...
but were skeptical about the design of more complex games.
Appearances
Chronologically, his first appearance is in Professor Layton and the Last Specter, a prequel set three years before the first three games. He visits the town of Misthallery, the home of a friend of his, Clark Triton, by his request for Layton to investigate an entity fabled to protect the village that had turned against it. In a chance meeting, he comes across Emmy Altava, his old assistant, and they try to decipher the old legend, which heavily involves a young boy named Luke Triton, Clark's son. After they figure out the truth behind the Specter's Flute, Luke asks to stay with Layton, as an apprentice.Afterward, in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
also known as , is a 2009 Japanese animated mystery film directed by Masakazu Hashimoto. The film is a continuation of the Professor Layton series...
, Layton receives an invitation for an opera on the Crown Petone, a very high-class theater, from a girl named Janice Quatlane, a singer. However, the opera was merely a front for Jean Descole and Oswald Whistler's plans, and Layton, Luke, and Janice complete a series of puzzles that lead them to the lost island of Ambrosia. Through the intervention of Emmy and Inspector Clamp Grosky, they (and the other contestants) manage to leave the island alive.
Then, in Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
is a puzzle adventure video game and one of the Nintendo 3DS' launch titles in Japan. It is the fifth game in the Professor Layton series, but the third story chronologically...
, Layton, Emmy, and Luke are called to the "miracle city" of Montedol, where a masked man is turning the populace into stone in a series of incidents that remind Layton of events that took place during his high school, seventeen years earlier -- including meeting with his old girlfriend, Sharon Leidle
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
is a puzzle adventure video game and one of the Nintendo 3DS' launch titles in Japan. It is the fifth game in the Professor Layton series, but the third story chronologically...
.
Two years later, in Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village, released in Japan as , is a puzzle adventure video game for the Nintendo DS system. It was developed by Level-5, and published by Level-5 within Japan and Nintendo internationally. It was released in Japan during 2007, and in PAL regions and North America a...
, Layton and Luke are called by Lady Dahlia of St. Mystere to investigate the will of the deceased baron, who had mentioned an artifact named the Golden Apple for whom the bearer would be entitled his entire fortune. They slowly manage to unearth the truth about the strange village, but they find that the only person who can show them the apple is none other than the baron's daughter, Flora Reinhold, who had been locked away in the village for years as part of the baron's plan to find someone smart and kind enough to take care of her. Layton obliges, and takes the girl under his wing, leaving St. Mystere.
In Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, Layton and Luke take the Molentary Express in an effort to find out what was responsible for the death of his teacher, Dr. Andrew Schrader, who was found lying in his office with nothing but a train ticket without a destination, and the artifact he was investigating, the Elysian Box, missing. The two of them, later joined by Flora, go to the towns of Dropstone and Folsense, eventually finding the true purpose of the Elysian Box and reuniting a long-broken family.
Finally, in Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, Layton and Luke attend a demonstration of a 'time machine', a failed experiment that leads to the disappearance of both the lead scientist and the prime minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, Bill Hawks. A week later, the two of them receive a letter purported to be from Luke himself, ten years into the future, in dire need of assistance, and they are asked to go to a clock shop on the edge of town. When they leave it, they find themselves in the future London. They meet with a woman who claims to be Claire's sister, Celeste, trying to piece together what had happened to Claire ten years before the present time. However, unbeknownst to the people in the city, there is a giant mechanism hidden just under the town capable of destroying London. With the help of Don Paolo (aka Paul), Celeste, and Inspector Chelmey, they successfully deactivate the weapon and manage to return to the present, where Layton finally comes to term with the loss of Claire and takes off his hat for her out of respect. Luke's father, having been transferred, is forced to move, and the game ends with Luke saying goodbye to Layton, hoping to remain good friends.
In the upcoming crossover game, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, Layton and Luke are mysteriously transported to a place called Labrynth City, where they encounter Phoenix Wright and his assistant Maya Fey from the Ace Attorney series. With many mysteries surrounding this place, including a Story Teller that can allegedly make anything he writes come true and a girl named Mahoney who is accused of witchcraft, Layton strives to solve them, often coming at odds with the methods of Phoenix, who tries to defend Mahoney.