Norman

This article is about the Gym Leader of Petalburg City. If you were looking for the president of 4Kids Productions, see Norman J. Grossfeld.

Norman (Japanese: センリ Senri) is the Gym Leader of Petalburg City's Gym, known officially as the Petalburg Gym and the father of the player in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. He is an expert of Template:Type2 Pokémon, and hands out the Balance Badge to any Trainer who defeats him.

In the games

Norman is also the player character's father in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald no matter which gender is selected. The other gender choice (and therefore the rival) is the son/daughter of Professor Birch.

Although he is the first Gym Leader encountered, he refuses to battle until the player has at least four badges. Once he is beaten, he gives the player the Balance Badge.

Norman and his family are originally from Johto. He, as well as the player, have just moved to Hoenn so that he could take up the position of Gym Leader. People have come to describe him as someone who "lives for Pokémon."

Norman also provides special items scanned in via e-Reader to the player.

Pokémon

This listing is for Norman's Pokémon in the video games in which he has appeared.

Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire

Cutscene

Norman loans this Pokémon to Wally to show him how to catch Pokémon.

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Route 102 Ruby and Sapphire Leader and Professor Norman Oak Route 102 Ruby and Sapphire Reward: None
Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Pickup Held item: None Zigzagoon♀ Lv.7 Tackle Normal   --       Unknown   --       Unknown   --       Unknown   --

Gym battle

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Petalburg Gym Ruby and Sapphire Leader and Professor Norman Oak Petalburg Gym Ruby and Sapphire Reward: $3100

Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: None Slaking♂ Lv.28 Yawn Normal   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Encore Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Vital Spirit Held item: None Vigoroth♂ Lv.30 Slash Normal   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Fury Swipes Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.31 Focus Punch Fighting   --       Slack Off Normal   --       Yawn Normal   --       Facade Normal   --

Pokémon Emerald

Cutscene

Norman loans this Pokémon to Wally to show him how to catch Pokémon.

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Route 102 Emerald Leader and Professor Norman Oak Route 102 Emerald Reward: None
Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Pickup Held item: None Zigzagoon♀ Lv.7 Tackle Normal   --       Unknown   --       Unknown   --       Unknown   --

Gym battles

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Petalburg Gym Emerald Leader and Professor Norman Oak Petalburg Gym Emerald Reward: $3100

Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: None Spinda♂ Lv.27 Psybeam Psychic   --       Encore Normal   --       Teeter Dance Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Vital Spirit Held item: None Vigoroth♂ Lv.27 Slash Normal   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Encore Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Pickup Held item: None Linoone♂ Lv.29 Slash Normal   --       Belly Drum Normal   --       Headbutt Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.31 Yawn Normal   --       Faint Attack Dark   --       Counter Fighting   --       Facade Normal   --

First Rematch

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Petalburg Gym Emerald Leader and Professor Norman Oak Petalburg Gym Emerald Reward: $9000

Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Chansey♀ Lv.42 Sing Normal   --       Skill Swap Psychic   --       Light Screen Psychic   --       Focus Punch Fighting   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.42 Double-Edge Normal   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Blizzard Ice   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: None Spinda♂ Lv.43 Skill Swap Psychic   --       Hypnosis Psychic   --       Teeter Dance Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.45 Double-Edge Normal   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       Hyper Beam Normal   --

Second Rematch

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Petalburg Gym Emerald Leader and Professor Norman Oak Petalburg Gym Emerald Reward: $10000

Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Chansey♀ Lv.47 Sing Normal   --       Skill Swap Psychic   --       Light Screen Psychic   --       Focus Punch Fighting   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: None Slaking♂ Lv.47 Double-Edge Normal   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Blizzard Ice   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Early Bird Held item: None Kangaskhan♀ Lv.45 Fake Out Normal   --       Reversal Fighting   --       Endure Normal   --       Dizzy Punch Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: None Spinda♂ Lv.48 Skill Swap Psychic   --       Hypnosis Psychic   --       Teeter Dance Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.50 Double-Edge Normal   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       Hyper Beam Normal   --

Third Rematch

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Petalburg Gym Emerald Leader and Professor Norman Oak Petalburg Gym Emerald Reward: $11000

Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Blissey♀ Lv.52 Sing Normal   --       Skill Swap Psychic   --       Light Screen Psychic   --       Focus Punch Fighting   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: None Slaking♂ Lv.52 Double-Edge Normal   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Blizzard Ice   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Early Bird Held item: None Kangaskhan♀ Lv.50 Fake Out Normal   --       Reversal Fighting   --       Endure Normal   --       Dizzy Punch Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: None Spinda♂ Lv.53 Skill Swap Psychic   --       Hypnosis Psychic   --       Teeter Dance Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.55 Double-Edge Normal   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       Hyper Beam Normal   --

Fourth Rematch

File:SpriteNorman.png Leader Norman Petalburg Gym Emerald Leader and Professor Norman Oak Petalburg Gym Emerald Reward: $12000

Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Natural Cure Held item: None Blissey♀ Lv.57 Sing Normal   --       Skill Swap Psychic   --       Protect Normal   --       Focus Punch Fighting   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: None Slaking♂ Lv.57 Double-Edge Normal   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Blizzard Ice   --       Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Early Bird Held item: None Kangaskhan♀ Lv.55 Fake Out Normal   --       Reversal Fighting   --       Endure Normal   --       Dizzy Punch Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Intimidate Held item: None Tauros♂ Lv.57 Take Down Normal   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Protect Normal   --       Fire Blast Fire   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Own Tempo Held item: None Spinda♂ Lv.58 Skill Swap Psychic   --       Hypnosis Psychic   --       Teeter Dance Normal   --       Facade Normal   --       Types: Normal Unknown Ability: Truant Held item: Sitrus Berry Slaking♂ Lv.60 Shadow Ball Ghost   --       Flamethrower Fire   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       Hyper Beam Normal   --

Quotes

Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Petalburg Gym

• Before battle

"Hm... So, you did get four Gym Badges. Fine, as I promised, we will have a Pokémon battle. <Player>... I'm so happy that I can have a battle with my own child. But, a battle is a battle! I will do everything in my power as a Gym Leader to win. <Player>, you'd better give it your best shot, too!

• When defeated

"... I... I can't... I can't believe it. <Player>... I lost to <player>? But rules are rules! Here, take this."

• After being defeated

"As the Gym Leader, I can't express how upset I am... But as a father, it makes me both happy and a little sad. It's odd..."

Pokémon Emerald

Rematch

• Before battle

"<Player>... I had a feeling that you would come. I would never refuse to accept a challenge from you. You do understand, don't you? Inside a Gym, it doesn't matter that we are a parent and child. No, because we are parent and child, we owe it to each other to do the best we can. Isn't that right, <player>?"

• When defeated

"Uh... Haha... Maybe that was going too hard..."

• After being defeated

"<Player>... What is your dream? My dream... Hahaha... It has already come true, actually."

Trainer's Eyes/Match Call

Leader Norman^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.} / Reliable One Dad^{Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.}

Strategy

I flexibly adapt my style.

Trainer's Pokémon

Grown in a balanced manner.

Self-Introduction

Pokémon are my life. My chosen path is harsh...

In the anime

In the anime, he is the father of May and Max, and the husband of Caroline.

Very early in his Hoenn journey, Ash Ketchum arrived with May in Petalburg City in the hope of getting his first gym battle. Ash found the Petalburg Gym and met Max. May stopped him and allowed Ash to meet her parents, Caroline and Norman. Norman turned out be to the real Petalburg City Gym Leader. Norman used his Pokémon, a Vigoroth, to save May's Torchic from Team Rocket.

Norman is a good friend of Professor Birch and was most likely to have been the person to send May to Littleroot Town to get her first Pokémon. As May did not initially like Pokémon, this seems to have created some distance between the two. Before Ash knew that Norman was May's father, he commented that it sounded like she knew the Petalburg Gym Leader pretty well, to which she replied, "No, I just wish I did" and becomes subdued.

The day after that, in Love, Petalburg Style, May and Max tried to figure out why Norman and Caroline are getting all worked up as Ash tries to save Norman's three Pokémon from Team Rocket. It all turned out that Norman had Nurse Joy set up a special firework display to make fireworks in a form of a Beautifly as a wedding anniversary gift.

Ash had his gym battle with Norman in Balance of Power. Using his Grovyle, Pikachu, and Torkoal, Ash defeated Norman's Pokémon, much to Max's dismay. Max stole the Balance Badge and locked himself up in Norman's greenhouse. Norman was able to get Max under control and Max gave Ash his Balance Badge.

Pokémon

This listing is of Norman's Pokémon in the Pokémon anime.

		Slaking
		Main article: Norman's Slaking Slaking made its debut in Love, Petalburg Style, in which it was staying in Norman's greenhouse with the rest of his Pokémon. It slept through nearly the entire episode. Later, when Team Rocket destroyed a fireworks machine that Norman was keeping for his wedding anniversary, he flew into a rage and thus summoned Slaking from inside the greenhouse. On Norman's command, it charged at the terrified Rockets and violently sent them blasting off with powerful Focus Punch. Norman later used it in the Gym battle against Ash in Balance of Power, where it was shown to be a powerful fighter. With its brute strength, it almost defeated Grovyle. However, when Grovyle's Overgrow ability activated, it managed to gain the upper hand and Slaking was defeated. It was last seen being groomed by Max in one of May's flashbacks in A Full Course Tag Battle! and seen watching the finals of the Wallace Cup between May and Dawn, with Max, Norman and Caroline in Strategy With a Smile!.
Debut	Love, Petalburg Style!
Voice actors
Japanese	Unshō Ishizuka
English	Dan Green

		Vigoroth
		Vigoroth was first seen in There's no Place Like Hoenn after Norman agreed to have an unofficial battle with Ash due to his lack of having less than three Pokémon. After a tough battle with Ash's Pikachu it helped in destroying one of Team Rocket's mechas that was attacking the Gym. Vigoroth was seen again in Ash and Norman's official Gym battle, where it at first easily knocked out Ash's Torkoal. After this it had an intense battle with Ash's Pikachu, during which it got paralyzed by Pikachu's Static. In the end, both Pokémon ended up being knocked out. Vigoroth's known moves are Scratch and Flamethrower.
Debut	There's no Place Like Hoenn

		Slakoth
		Norman's Slakoth was used in his battle with Ash. The match started as Norman's Slakoth against Ash's Pikachu. Utilizing Pikachu's Speed, Ash orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack, Slakoth dodges and counterattacks with Shadow Ball. Jumping out of the way, Pikachu attacks with Iron Tail but misses once again as Slakoth leans out of the way. Dazed, Pikachu is unable to dodge Slakoth's Hidden Power, and is blasted across the arena. As Pikachu recovers from Hidden Power, Ash realizes that he needs to change his strategy. He decides to try Electric attacks and orders Pikachu to attack with Thunderbolt. However Slakoth dodges this attack as well, and responds with Blizzard. The incredible cold keeps Pikachu from attacking back, so Ash recalls it and calls out Torkoal instead. Torkoal uses Flamethrower, which easily blasts through Slakoth's Blizzard and scores a direct hit, knocking Slakoth out. Slakoth's known moves are Shadow Ball, Hidden Power, and Blizzard.
Debut	Love, Petalburg Style!

Voice actors

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Norman in Pokémon Adventures

Template:Spoiler Norman is the father of Ruby, and his wife is nameless. He is a man who believes in power and he is very skillful in battling. Because of that, he strongly disagreed with Ruby's obsession with contests. When Ruby reached his 11th birthday, however, he decided that Ruby is old enough to make his decision and finally let him have his own way.

Physically, he is so strong that he can squeeze a phone receiver into pieces without effort, and he won't hesitate to use this strength on his son when he deems necessary. However, he still cares for Ruby very much: He asked his wife to arrange their move to Hoenn on the date of Ruby's birthday so that he can tell him about his permission for Ruby to take part in contests in person. He also prepared a pair of special running shoes made by the Devon Corporation for his birthday. Later, he also gave a Pokéblock holder to Ruby.

There are several hints from the series showing Norman has had unpleasant encounters with the Pokémon Association. The beginning of all could possibly be traced back to seven years prior to the start of the Ruby/Sapphire saga, where Norman failed his Gym Leader Test in Johto.

Seven years ago (five in Volume 21 and onward), Norman was banned from taking the Gym Leader Test for five years, because of Ruby, who had fended off a Salamence. At that time, the Pokémon Association had Rayquaza locked up nearby. They were experimenting with an artificially made stone called the Emerald Orb. The Salamence, which Ruby drove away with his three Pokémon, broke into Rayquaza's containment area and set it free. As a result, Norman took the blame for his son, and became distant from his family to hunt down Rayquaza.

During the battle between Groudon and Kyogre, Norman fought using Rayquaza and calmed the two titans (with Ruby's help). He died after Groudon and Kyogre left to their respective domains, supposedly because of the strain needed to control Rayquaza without a proper medium. However, Norman was later revived under mysterious circumstances when Ruby released his Celebi, alongside Courtney and Steven (who had also died trying to quell the titans).

Pokémon

This listing is for Norman's Pokémon in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

On hand

Slakoth ×2

Vigoroth

Slaking

Spinda

• Slaking has a Sassy nature.

Released

Rayquaza

• Temporarily gained control of with the help of Wally; however, after Norman's apparent death, Rayquaza has flown away.

Given to Ruby

Skitty (Coco)

Ralts (Ruru)

Poochyena (Nana)

Given to Wally

Flygon

In the Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga

Norman appears in the Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga in the chapter There's Someone More Important Than Clefairy?!. When Isamu Akai and his Pokémon visit the Petalburg Gym, they help him recover the Balance Badge, which his Slakoth has swallowed.

Pokémon

This listing is for Norman's Pokémon in the Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga.

Slakoth

Trivia

• Senri, Norman's Japanese name, means a long distance, while Haruka, May's Japanese name, means far away.
• He is the first and only father of the player that has been seen in the main series of games so far.
• In Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, he has an under-leveled Slaking.
• He is currently the only male Normal-type specialist.

Names

References

• Pokémon.com There's no place like Hoenn.
• Pokémon.com A Double Dilemma.
• Pokémon.com Love, Petalburg Style
• Pokémon.com The Balance of Power

External links

• Senri's Profile on Pokeani (Japanese)

Gym Leaders of the Hoenn region
Rustboro Gym Roxanne	Dewford Gym Brawly	Mauville Gym Wattson	Lavaridge Gym Flannery
Petalburg Gym Norman	Fortree Gym Winona	Mossdeep Gym Tate and Liza	Sootopolis Gym Wallace Juan

Template:Norman's Pokémon

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.