Professor Elm
| Professor Elm ウツギ博士 Dr. Utsugi | |
 Art from HeartGold and SoulSilver by Ken Sugimori[1] | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Hometown | New Bark Town |
| Region | Johto |
| Relatives | Unnamed wife and child (games) |
| Generation | II, IV |
| Games | Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, SoulSilver |
| Game animation cameos | GOTCHA! |
| Animated debut | Don't Touch That 'dile! |
| English voice actor | Paul Frank |
| Japanese voice actor | Kazuhiko Inoue |
Professor Elm (Japanese: ウツギ博士 Dr. Utsugi) is the resident Pokémon Professor of New Bark Town in the Johto region. He specializes in Pokémon breeding, and is credited with the discovery of Pokémon Eggs. According to Professor Oak, in HeartGold and SoulSilver, Professor Elm "is the best when it comes to the research of Pokémon evolution." In the anime, Elm also states he studies unusual Pokémon Abilities.
Elm gives one of the three first partner Pokémon of Johto—Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile—to Ethan, KrisC, or LyraHGSS so that they will have an easier time getting to Mr. Pokémon's house.
In the core series games
Professor Elm works at his laboratory in New Bark Town. He lives in a small house near his laboratory with his wife and son, who wants to grow up to be a Pokémon Professor like his dad. He also has an aide who assists him in his laboratory.
Elm is known for being a little scatterbrained and disorganized when he gets wrapped up with his research—to the point that, according to his wife, he sometimes forgets to eat. He holds Professor Oak in high regards. At the start of Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, he gives the player their first first partner Pokémon.
In addition to their first partner Pokémon, Elm gives the player various items during the game. After the player hatches Togepi from the Egg his assistant gives them in the Pokémon CenterGSC/Poké MartHGSS in Violet City, Elm gives them an Everstone. After the player obtains all eight Johto Badges, Elm gives them a Master Ball. After the player enters the Hall of Fame, he gives them a ticket to the S.S. Aqua, allowing them to travel to the neighboring Kanto region.
A man standing next to the east gate of Hearthome City states that he's a friend with Professor Elm and that his friend told him that leaving a pair of Pokémon in the Pokémon Day Care, sometimes leads to Eggs being found or things that are like Eggs. The man also states that Elm was always a quiet sort and didn't really stand out.
Pokémon
Professor Elm gives the player their first partner Pokémon in all Johto-based core series games.
Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal
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Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
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Gallery
Artwork
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| Official artwork from Gold, Silver, and Crystal |
Sprites
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| Overworld sprite from Generation II |
Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Quotes
- Main article: Professor Elm/Quotes
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Professor Elm was one of Professor Oak's top students at a university. He currently specializes in the research of Abilities and has interests in the origins of life.
Professor Elm debuted in Don't Touch That 'dile. Team Rocket infiltrated his laboratory at New Bark Town, and while he was studying a rare cell division through a microscope, the trio took off with a Totodile reserved for a new Trainer. Officer Jenny, Ash, and his friends later battled Team Rocket and managed to return Totodile to Elm's lab.
After a period of traveling, the group encountered Elm again in Around the Whirlpool while he was studying the origins of life in the Whirl Islands with Captain Marius. Elm helped rescue the group from the surrounding whirlpools with his newly-caught Corsola. Together, they docked at the Blue Point Isle, where Elm informed them about the upcoming Whirl Cup tournament. Later, Elm and Corsola saved a group of Pokémon from being stolen by Team Rocket. Elm and Captain Marius then left the group to continue their research elsewhere.
In Lapras of Luxury, Elm contacted Ash to congratulate him on getting eight Johto Badges. He then sent him on an errand to retrieve an Egg from the nearby Marine Pokémon Laboratory. As the head of the Pokémon Preservation Council, Elm had received news of the Egg after it had been poached from Mt. Silver. Ash and his friends obtained the Egg from Naomi and went on their way towards New Bark Town.
The Egg hatched in Hatch Me If You Can, and the group contacted Elm after the baby Larvitar was seemingly unresponsive to Nurse Joy's treatment. Elm interrupted his dinner with Oak and Delia, who were visiting him to wish Ash well before the Silver Conference, and rushed over to Ash's location to see Larvitar. The two Professors managed to stabilize Larvitar's body temperature, but it was still unresponsive. Later, as Ash fought Team Rocket, Larvitar overcame its unresponsive state to send them blasting off. Afterwards, Elm drove everyone to New Bark Town and entrusted Ash and his friends with the task of returning Larvitar to its home at Mt. Silver. In You're a Star, Larvitar!, Elm checked in with the group and heard that Larvitar was doing well. Eventually, Ash and his friends would return Larvitar to its mother Tyranitar.
In A Claim to Flame!, Elm was seen watching the Silver Conference on TV. Later, Ash happened to overhear Jackson's video call with Elm in Tie One On! and spoke with him briefly. Elm officially thanked Ash and his friends for their help and informed them on Larvitar's well-being.
Elm made a brief cameo in The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, after Dr. Yung revealed he had hacked the computer data of leading specialists, including that of Elm, to help with the construction of his Mirage Pokémon system.
Elm was mentioned in Caring for a Mystery!, when Professor Cerise told Ash and Goh about his research into Pokémon Eggs. Elm was also seen in a picture in the same episode.
Character
Professor Elm is regarded as sweet and kindhearted by many, including New Bark Town's Nurse Joy. While he is incredibly knowledgeable, he is known to get into heated arguments with others over research and theories. He also tends to go into unnecessarily lengthy explanations whenever he is asked a question.
In addition, Elm can be incredibly absentminded. He has a habit of getting wrapped up in his research, to the point where he is completely oblivious to his surroundings, and he may not leave his laboratory for days.
Pokémon
| の | This article is missing information on this character's English voice actor and Japanese voice actor. You can help by adding this information. |
This listing is of Professor Elm's known Pokémon in the anime:
On hand
| Debut | Around the Whirlpool |
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Professor Elm's Corsola is his only known Pokémon that he actually owns. It is very fond of pools. This Corsola inspired Misty to try to catch her own Corsola. When Ash and his friends were blasted off their boat by Team Rocket and into the water with raging whirlpools, Corsola found the group and helped them.
Later, when Team Rocket had stolen a couple of Pokémon, Corsola jumped into the water to stop them. It tried to use Tackle, but Weezing struck back. Corsola dodged and defeated Jessie's Arbok. It then used Spike Cannon and sent Team Rocket blasting off.
Corsola's known moves are Tackle and Spike Cannon.
Gives to new Trainers
| Debut | Don't Touch That 'dile |
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Professor Elm's Chikorita is a first partner Pokémon that he gives to new Trainers who want to start their Pokémon journey. Although it was not shown in his lab, Elm showed Ash and his friends a picture of one.
None of Chikorita's moves are known.
| Debut | Don't Touch That 'dile |
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| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | |
| English | Kayzie Rogers |
Professor Elm's Cyndaquil is a first partner Pokémon that he gives to new Trainers who want to start their Pokémon journey. It first appeared when Elm was holding it as he spoke to Ash and his friends who were very interested about it.
None of Cyndaquil's moves are known.
| Debut | Don't Touch That 'dile |
|---|---|
| Voice actors | |
| Japanese | |
| English | Kayzie Rogers |
Professor Elm's Totodile is a first partner Pokémon that he gives to new Trainers who want to start their Pokémon journey. One appeared when Elm mistook Jessie for Nurse Joy and told her to check up on Totodile, who started to bite Meowth's tail and spray James with water, but the trio then stole Totodile. It later appeared when it would not let go of Jessie's hair but was taken off using Bulbasaur's Vine Whip and given back to Elm.
Totodile's only known move is Water Gun.
Gave away to new Trainers
 Casey's Chikorita |
 Vincent's Chikorita |
 Jimmy's Cyndaquil |
 Wani-Wani |
Given away
 Egg |
Voice actors
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GOTCHA!
Professor Elm briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
History
Gold, Silver & Crystal arc
Professor Elm was initially to be brought several Pokémon by Joey from Professor Oak, but before that happened, the Totodile that he was studying was stolen, and he was knocked unconscious before he could do anything. Gold then arrived and took Cyndaquil as well to catch the thief.
After Gold first battled with the Masked Man at the Ilex Forest and lost, Elm was able to get a sample of his clothing and found particles on them, but he did not know what they were. Elm then contacted Gold when he was battling the Masked Man for a second time, informing him that the particles on the clothes are the same substance used for Gym Badges, and that the Masked Man must be a Gym Leader. He tells Gold that he should not try to fight him, but Gold simply replies with, "It's too late."
A while beforehand, he decided that Gold was trustworthy enough to try to hatch an Egg for him, saying that it had not moved an inch while it was in the lab. While the Egg did hatch into a Togepi, due to Gold's habits of visiting arcades while it was an Egg, it learned how to play dice, pool, and poker, making Elm furious about how Gold had turned it into a delinquent. Little did he know, with Togepi's aggression came Gold's innate talent for bringing the fullest potential of baby Pokémon, allowing it to easily defeat the wild Gligar that tried to eat it right before it hatched (and the Tyranitar that Silver borrowed from Lance).
Joey stays behind with him to help Elm with chores and research.
Emerald arc
In Epilogue, he makes a cameo appearance in one of the ships heading to the Battle Frontier.
HeartGold & SoulSilver arc
He is seen in Gold's flashback while Professor Oak gives Gold the task of meeting with Lance who has information about Team Rocket and their plan of obtaining Arceus.
Diamond & Pearl arc
In Knowledge of the Unown II, both Professor Elm and Joey make a cameo. Elm is seen talking with Professor Rowan via videophone.
Pokémon
On hand
Given away
 Egg |
Formerly owned
| Debut | Murkrow Row |
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- Main article: Megaree
Chikorita ran away from Professor Elm's lab as he wanted to go out on an adventure. Crystal found him and was able to catch him along with a Victreebel. Crystal was reluctant to keep Chikorita on her team, but after noticing some strength he had, she decides to keep and name him Megaree (Japanese: メガぴょん Megapyon).
Stolen
| Debut | Murkrow Row |
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- Main article: Silver's Totodile
Totodile was stolen by Silver in the lab in the beginning of the Gold, Silver & Crystal arc.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Professor Elm first appeared in Let's Go!! The Journey Towards The Championship.
Pokémon
Gives to new Trainers
 Chikorita |
 Cyndaquil |
 Totodile |
Given to new Trainers
 Totodile |
 Chikorita |
Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
Professor Elm appeared in JBA1 and JBA6.
Pokémon
Gives to new Trainers
 Chikorita |
 Cyndaquil |
 Totodile |
Given to new Trainers
| Debut | JBA1 |
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Tsubaki went to Professor Elm's lab and took a Chikorita from him.
Chikorita's known moves are Tackle, Razor Leaf and Magical Leaf.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Professor Elm appears in the Johto saga of Pokémon Pocket Monsters. He recommends Gold and Silver to Professor Oak as the chosen Trainers to get their first Pokémon. He even introduces them to Red. Unlike other media, he was not seen giving away the Johto first partner Pokémon to new Trainers yet. In Marill's Special Training to Surpass Pikachu!!, he was seen fighting Professor Oak after a Marill came by and stole some food.
Professor Elm reappears in PMHGSS01, where he is in charge of the Pokéathlon. and has competed with Red in various events that went on. Elm reappears again in PMHGSS20 along with the other professors. They were the judge of Clefairy's fight with Giratina. After their battle, Professor Elm got into a brawl with the other professors that was started by Clefairy. After watching the fight that was recorded, they worked together and fought Clefairy.
Pokémon
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On hand
| Debut | PMHGSS01 |
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Sudowoodo was Professor Elm's first revealed Pokémon. It was in charge of the Pokéathlon along with Professor Elm.
None of Sudowoodo's moves are known.
Status unknown
These Pokémon were seen with him but it was not stated whether or not they belong to him.
| Debut | PMHGSS01 |
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A Loudred was seen as an announcer of the Pokéathlon. It is unknown if it belonged to Professor Elm.
None of Loudred's moves are known.
In the TCG
Artwork
Artwork from the cards:
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| With a Cyndaquil | Having his hand bitten by a Totodile |
Cards
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Professor Elm in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Trivia
- Professor Elm is the only Professor to give the player a first partner Pokémon, but not a Pokédex.
- Also, in the anime, Professor Elm is the only Professor known to give new Trainers a first partner Pokémon that did not give any to neither Ash nor his companions.
- In the games, one of the townsfolk mentions that Professor Elm is the one who discovered that Pikachu is an evolved Pokémon (Pichu was introduced in Generation II).
- Professor Elm is the only core series professor to lack non-overworld artwork in their respective game. His sole in-game portrait is in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ウツギ博士 Dr. Utsugi | From 空木 utsugi (Deutzia crenata) |
| English, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese |
Professor Elm | From elm |
| German | Professor Lind | From Linde (linden) |
| Spanish | Profesor Elm | From his English name |
Brazilian Portuguese |
Professor Elm
Professor Elmo* |
From his English name
From the name "Elmo" |
| French | Professeur Orme | From orme (elm) |
| Korean | 공박사 Dr. Gong | From the hanja reading of 空 in the Japanese name 空木 Utsugi and the surname 공 (孔) Gong |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 空木博士 Dr. Kōngmù | From the Japanese name 空木 Utsugi |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 空木博士 Dr. Hūngmuhk | |
| Finnish | Professori Elm | From his English name |
| Vietnamese | Giáo sư Utsugi | Transcription of his Japanese name |
References
Related articles
| Pokémon Professors | |
|---|---|
| Core series | Oak • Elm • Birch • Cozmo • Rowan • Aurea Juniper • Cedric Juniper • Sycamore • Kukui • Burnet • Samson • Mohn • Magnolia • Sonia • Laventon • Sada • Turo |
| Masters EX | Oak • Sycamore • Kukui • Sonia |
| Other spin-offs |
Krane • P • Hastings • Holly • Burnet • Tetra • Willow • Mirror • Phorus • Fir • Neroli |
| Animated series | Oak • Ivy • Elm • Birch • Cozmo • Rowan • Carolina • Hastings • Aurea Juniper • Cedric Juniper • Sycamore • Kukui • Burnet • Samson • Mohn • Cerise • Magnolia • Sonia • Amaranth • Friede • Willow |
| Adventures | Oak • Elm • Birch • Cozmo • Rowan • Berlitz • Aurea Juniper • Cedric Juniper • Sycamore • Kukui • Burnet • Samson • Mohn • Magnolia • Sonia • Turo |
| Other manga | Oak (Pocket Monsters) |
| For more, see the Professors category | |
| Pokémon the Series characters | ||||||||||||||
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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. |
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