Years later during his years at college, he meets the love of his life, Claire. While the two explore the Akbadain ruins, they accidentally activate a trap, which leads to the presumed death of Randall. Then, eighteen years before the events of Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Hershel Layton is in high school and undergoes an archaeological expedition with his close friend, Randall Ascot. From then on, Theodore Bronev would be known as Hershel Layton. Theodore's brother gave him his name and caused him to be adopted in his place. An elderly couple, Roland and Lucille Layton, came wishing to adopt the child named Hershel.
When he was very young, a cultlike organisation named Targent kidnapped both of his parents for their knowledge of the Azran civilization, leaving Theodore and Hershel behind alone in the house. Discover more about Design related topicsĪbout thirty years before the events of Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, Theodore Bronev was born to Leon and Rachel Bronev and had an older brother named Hershel. Both have reprised their roles for each successive game in the series as well as the animated movie, with Miller being the only cast member who reprises his role in the games' European releases. For English-language releases in the series, Nintendo selected American voice actor Christopher Robin Miller. Level-5 enlisted television personalities to voice characters from the game, such as Yo Oizumi being chosen to voice Professor Layton within Japan. The idea to voice the characters, despite the idea being uncommon on the Nintendo DS at that time, came about as a means to attract casual players who had purchased Brain Age but were skeptical about playing other, more complex video games. Hino examined what he believed to be Wright's good and bad points, and designed Layton by overcoming what he saw as Wright's bad points. Professor Layton was also derived in part from Phoenix Wright (from Capcom's Ace Attorney franchise). The English setting of the games was also inspired by these mystery stories.
From this idea, he created Professor Layton and his young apprentice, Luke Triton. What came to mind was the concept of a famous detective and his assistant, in the manner of Sherlock Holmes. When designing the game, he thought about what kind of character would make an "interesting lead". Professor Layton was designed by Akihiro Hino, CEO of Level-5.