Robin Newman

"Robin Newman"

- Oh, Athena. Measurements are for wimps! Full on YOLO is what art's all about! I'm gonna drop both of 'em in a big pool of plaster! YEAAAAAAH!

"Athena Cykes"

- I know I should stop you, but some part of me really wants to see how this plays out.

Robin Newman is a hot-headed and loud tomboy who is a third-year student at Themis Legal Academy, where she is studying to become a prosecutor. Although born female, she was raised as if she was male by her parents, a fact kept secret from her fellow students, including her friends Juniper Woods and Hugh O’Conner.

Getting a secret off her chest

 * Main article: Turnabout Academy

Newman was raised as a boy and forced to study the Themis Legal Academy prosecutor course by her parents, although she actually wanted to become an artist. She kept her true gender a secret from her fellow students, but was able to channel her artistic desire via the school's fine arts club. Newman befriended judge student Juniper Woods and defence attorney student Hugh O’Conner while at school, even making "proof of friendship" bands for them all to wear. However, Myriam Scuttlebutt, the editor of the school newspaper, took a disliking to Woods, and so began to circulate the rumor that O’Conner and Newman were in a love triangle for Woods' affections.

Newman would be called as a witness after Athena Cykes disproved Scuttlebutt's testimony, being the figure that the latter had chased after, assuming it was Juniper. Having become enraptured by the dress Woods made for her performance in the school festival, Newman put it on, leaving behind her thumb and palm prints in the luminous paint Woods had applied to it. In her testimony, she attempted to hide this fact in fear of revealing her true gender and her love of frilly, pretty things, but Cykes figured it out via her Mood Matrix device. Despite everyone else still refusing to believe it, Newman finally decides to come clean by removing her braces, acting more like a girl, and telling the truth of her real gender. Separately, Newman and O'Conner boldly admitted to the murder of Constance Courte in Woods' defense, forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings.

Later, Newman showed video footage of the mock trial to Apollo Justice and Cykes, and revealed that rumors had been going around about a "snitch", who Cykes later proved to be Woods.

The following day, Newman - alongside Scuttlebutt and O'Conner - were caught eavesdropping outside the defendant lobby, out of concern for Woods. Newman later made an appearance during O'Conner's testimony alongside Woods, indicating to him that the friendship between them was still as strong as ever.

Although initially determined to pursue her dream of becoming an artist after her secret was revealed, she changed her mind again after Cykes' performance in court.

Personality
As a "boy", Newman appeared to be extremely hot-headed and frequently expressed "himself" by shouting and/or breaking one of the ceramics pieces "he" had made. "He" was also often fixated on how "manly" he appeared to others, as well as the sincerity of the friendship between Woods, O'Conner, and "himself". Through the Mood Matrix, Cykes would prove that Newman's powerful anger was directed at the brace she wore, which Newman saw as a burden preventing her from reconciling with her female identity and wants.

Although frequently lapsing into her "male" persona at times, upon her true gender being revealed, Newman suddenly became far more stereotypically female; becoming much more cheerful and playful, over-dramatically fainting when accused of being a suspect for Constance Courte's murder, and frequently spelling out certain words in a teasing manner. Additionally, she would occasionally replace the ceramics she smashed with a high-heeled shoe.

Newman proved to be passionate about art and displayed a strong affinity for it, yet remained humble and self-critical about the quality of her work, deeming a portrait of Woods as needing improvement and often smashing her own pottery. Newman made the special bands worn by her, Woods, and O'Conner as their "proof of friendship". Newman sported hers around her left arm, and she would frequently place her hand near it when troubled.

Similarly to Woods, Newman appeared to greatly respect Courte and her philosophy of obtaining results through legitimate means and the truth, even declaring at one point that she had enrolled in the wrong course.

Name

 * Her Japanese family name "Chishio" (血潮/血汐) means "blood circulating within the body", a phrase often used to signify hot-bloodedness.


 * "Atsui" (熱い), her Japanese given name, means "hot". "Atsui" also is part of the term "atsuinaka" (熱い仲), which means "being in love".


 * Her English given name is androgynous, and was likely chosen so as to keep her true gender a secret from the player until it is revealed in-game. Another Ace Attorney character, Adrian Andrews, was also given an androgynous name, although this was for a different reason (so that her gender could be mistaken from only knowing her name).


 * Her English surname, "Newman", is appropriate, as she became a "new man" when her parents forced her to hide her gender.

Development

 * O’Conner and Newman are polar opposites in personalities and the color of their uniforms. It is a common theme in Japanese popular culture for two linked individuals to have one have a red color scheme and the other a blue color scheme. The red individual tends to be extroverted, hot-blooded, and enthusiastic, while their blue opposite tends to be more introverted, intellectual, and proud.