Professor Oak
Professor Samuel Oak オーキド・ユキナリ博士 Dr. Yukinari Okido | |
Art from FireRed and LeafGreen | |
Age | 50 |
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Gender | Male |
Eye color | Black*, blue* |
Hair color | Gray*, brown* |
Hometown | Pallet Town |
Region | Kanto |
Relatives | Blue, Daisy (games) Gary Oak (anime, manga) May Oak (manga adaptation) |
Trainer class | Former Trainer, Pokémon Professor |
Generation | I, II, III, IV |
Games | Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, Pokémon Snap, Stadium, Stadium 2 |
Anime debut | Pokémon - I Choose You! |
English voice actor | Stan Hart (EP001-AG133) Carter Cathcart (MoMP-present) Tara Jayne (child; M04) |
Japanese voice actor | Unshō Ishizuka Keiko Toda (child) |
Professor Samuel Oak (Japanese: オーキド・ユキナリ博士 Dr. Yukinari Okido, Ōkido-Hakase and Orchid are also seen) is a Pokémon Professor who lives and works at his research lab in Pallet Town of the Kanto region. According to Professor Elm, Oak concentrates on Pokémon and human relationships as a profession.
In the games
In Generation I
Professor Oak works in his Laboratory in Pallet Town with his aides. He gave Red and Blue their Starter Pokémon in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, FireRed and LeafGreen. He is an idol to many Trainers and researchers, including Professor Elm, and always plays an important supporting role in the many games that he appears in.
He was a childhood friend of Agatha. They remained good friends and top-class Pokémon Trainers until Oak stopped battling and became interested in Pokémon research. Agatha said that he became soft and started to regard him as a fool. However, Oak still affiliates with the Pokémon League as an adviser.
Pokémon
Red, Green, and Blue
Professor Oak confirms having been a successful Trainer in his youth; however states that he only possesses the following Pokémon. Red is allowed to choose one in order to begin his journey. His grandson, Blue, the player's Rival, then picks the Pokémon whose type has an advantage against their own.
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Yellow
- Main article: Red's Pikachu (game)
Professor Oak catches this Pikachu while stopping Red from beginning his journey without any Pokémon. He later decides to give it to him.
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Pikachu Lv.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
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This Eevee was intended for Red but was taken by Blue in his impatience. Its evolutionary path is determined by the player's interactions with its Trainer.
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Eevee Lv.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
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In the Generation I games there is unused Trainer data for Prof. Oak. This implies that Oak was originally going to be able to be battled. In the data, Oak has Level 66 Tauros, Level 67 Exeggutor, Level 68 Arcanine, Level 70 Gyarados and one of the Kanto starters at Level 69. This places his strength on-par with the player's rival and the Pokémon League champion. As well, four of his Pokémon are identical to the ones used by the champion, only higher level, so originally Oak may have been intended to be in the game as the champion, or at least another high-ranking Trainer. This is supported by an email on the PC in Oak's lab, from the Pokémon League issuing a challenge to all Trainers, then specifically requesting Oak to come visit them. The only known ways to battle Oak are by performing the Ditto glitch with a Special stat of 226 or by performing the old man glitch with MN as the character in the 3rd, 5th or 7th slot of the player's name. These teams cannot be battled via using the old man glitch, and can only be battled via the Ditto glitch if the wild Ditto's Attack is lowered by 4, 5, or 6 stages (each will yield a different one of the three teams).
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In Generation II
Professor Oak was always well-known in Kanto but in Generation II he became more of a celebrity, a "star Pokémon Researcher". He started to be famous in Johto because of his Radio Show with DJ Mary. He was going to turn down the show at first but Mary's energy and persistence wore him down. Ethan/Kris first met him visiting the home of Mr. Pokémon, another of Oak's childhood friends. Later he grants the young Trainer access to Mt. Silver, a place which only the finest Pokémon Trainers may enter, after the player has earned all the badges in Johto and later Kanto.
Professor Oak has many old friends. One of them is Kurt, a Poké Ball smith from Azalea Town and another is Professor Elm who used to be Oak's assistant. In fact, there is a picture on Kurt's wall saying "...a young Prof Oak?" and an email addressed to him from Professor Elm can be found in his lab:
- "...
- Prof. Oak, how is your research
- coming along? I'm still plugging
- away. I heard rumors
- that <name> is
- getting quite a reputation.
- I'm delighted to hear that.
- Elm in New Bark Town 8-)"
Professor Oak has gained many fans and admirers. One of them is Schoolboy Chad, who frequently calls the player to share trivia about Oak.
In Generation III
Professor Oak returns in FireRed and LeafGreen to reprise his role from the Generation I games. He also grants the player the National Pokédex after they have caught 60 different species of Pokémon and defeated the Elite Four.
Pokémon
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Fame Checker
This is a list of the Fame Checker's information on Professor Oak in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- Pallet Town - sign
- What does this person do?
- "Oak Pokémon Research Lab."
- Pallet Town Research Lab - Prof. Oak
- What is this person like?
- "To make a complete guide on all the Pokémon in the world...
- That was my dream!"
- Pallet Town Research Lab - aide
- What is this person like?
- "Prof. Oak may not look like much, but he's the authority on Pokémon.
- Many Pokémon Trainers hold him in high regard."
- Viridian City - Pokémon Journal
- Family and friends?
- "Prof. Oak reportedly lives with his grandchildren, Daisy and Blue."
- Pokémon League - Agatha
- Family and friends?
- "I hear Oak's taken a lot of interest in you, child.
- That old duff was once tough and handsome.
- But that was decades ago. He's a shadow of his former self."
- Pallet Town Research Lab - aide
- What does this person do?
- "Prof. Oak is going to have his own radio show soon.
- The program will be called Prof. Oak's Pokémon Seminar."
- Message from Oak
- From: Prof. Oak
- To: [Player]
- "Why do Pokémon compete and battle so hard for you?
- They do so because they can see the love and trust you have towards Pokémon.
- Never forget that."
In Generation IV
Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum
Professor Oak is also a good friend of Professor Rowan. He visits Sinnoh often, has a home in Eterna City, introduces Trainers to Pal Park, and gives them the National Pokédex, as well as the Up-Grade, Poké Radar and the function Trainer Counter of the Pokétch. A letter that he sends to the player in a special event allows the player to find Shaymin. An aide in Rowan's laboratory mentions that Oak is Rowan's junior in terms of seniority. In Platinum, after providing the Up-Grade, Professor Oak will talk about the legendary birds and say that they have been sighted in Sinnoh. From this point Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will be visible roaming on the map.
HeartGold and SoulSilver
Professor Oak returns in the Johto remakes to fulfill a similar role as he did in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, albeit expanded. For obtaining all sixteen badges and defeating Red, he will give the player one of either Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle. He also gives the player HM08 (Rock Climb) to assist them in navigation through Mt. Silver. He will also gives the player the National Pokédex before boarding the S.S. Aqua. Finally, if both Kyogre and Groudon from HeartGold and SoulSilver are traded into the same game, he will give the player a Jade Orb so that Rayquaza may be caught at the Embedded Tower.
Pokémon
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Quotes when completing the Pokédex (evaluation via Pokégear)
Johto Pokédex
- Wow!
- That is a complete Johto Pokédex!
- Thanks to you, <PLAYER>, the Johto Pokédex is complete!
- Wow...
- You've done an incredible job!
National Pokédex
- Excellent!
- That is an amazing National Pokédex!
- Wow...
- You've lived up to my expectations wonderfully!
- No, you've exceeded them, <PLAYER>. You've become an amazing Trainer!
- Thank you, <PLAYER>!
After completing both the Johto and National Pokédex:
- You have truly surprised me!
- You've more than exceeded my expectations. You've gone far past them in completing the National Pokédex!
- I'm speechless...!
- Because of this, the world of Pokémon and Trainers is more vast, deeper, and more abundant!
- Now there will be no end to Pokémon research!
Artwork
Offical artwork from Red and Blue |
Official artwork from Gold and Silver. |
Sprites
File:RB Oak.png | File:Y Oak.png | File:GSC Oak.png | File:OakSprite.png | File:OakHGSSIntro.png | |
Professor Oak's sprite from Red and Blue |
Professor Oak's sprite from Yellow |
Professor Oak's back sprite from Yellow |
Professor Oak's sprite from Gold, Silver and Crystal |
Professor Oak's sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Professor Oak's sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
In the anime
- Main article: Professor Oak (anime)
Professor Oak appears semi-regulary in the Pokémon anime and gives Ash Ketchum useful information.
In side games
Professor Oak also was one of the two human characters appearing in Pokémon Snap. He was working on a Pokémon Report for the Pokémon species of Pokémon Island, and hired Todd to take pictures for the report. He provided Todd with the ZERO-ONE and its Dash Engine upgrade, Pokémon food, Pester Balls, and a Poké Flute. When Todd took a picture of each of the Pokémon Signs, Professor Oak drew a connection between them and the constellations to determine that Mew must be on Rainbow Cloud.
He also shows up in Hey You, Pikachu!, where he enlists the player to help test a translation device called the PokéHelper, using a wild Pikachu as the main research subject. He is also the person who launches the Pokémon Channel project in the game of the same name, and tuning into the "Oak's Report" channel allows the player to save their game.
In the manga
As he is the leading professor of the Kanto region, Professor Oak appears in many different Pokémon manga series.
In the Electric Tale of Pikachu manga
- Main article: Professor Oak (anime)
Professor Oak makes a few appearances in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu. He is a role model to Ash and is Bill's mentor. Unlike in the anime, he does not give Ash his Pikachu, in fact, he does not meet Ash until after he has already begun his Pokémon journey.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
- Main article: Professor Oak (Adventures)
Professor Oak has a recurring role in the Pokémon Adventures manga. His first appearance was in A Glimpse of the Glow, and he has appeared in most chapters since. Over the course of the manga, Professor Oak helps out the Pokédex holders in their various quests. His backstory has been largely expanded in this canon.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Professor Oak appears in the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga series. He gives Kai Midorikawa his starter Pokémon, Charmander. He offers a starter Pokémon to Isamu Akai as well, however, Isamu decides to choose a Clefairy that he had befriended earlier that day instead.
Pokémon
Gives to new Trainers
Bulbasaur |
Charmander |
Squirtle |
Given away
- Main article: Kai Midorikawa's Charizard
Charmander was given to Kai in The Pokémon Clefairy Enters!! as his starter Pokémon. It has evolved into its final stage right away. It is seen to be Clefairy's rival as both of them were given to their respective Trainers on the same day.
In the TCG
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Professor Oak or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Name | Type | Rarity | Set | Set no. |
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Professor Oak | T | Base Set | 88/102 | |
Base Set 2 | 116/130 | |||
Professor Oak's Research | T | Expedition Base Set | 149/165 | |
EX FireRed & LeafGreen | 98/112 | |||
EX Dragon Frontiers | 88/101 | |||
Professor Oak's Visit | Su | Secret Wonders | 122/132 | |
(H) | Unnumbered Promotional cards (no English release | - | ||
Professor Oak's New Theory | Su | HeartGold Collection | 068/070 |
There also exists a "dark counterpart" of Professor Oak, called Impostor Professor Oak, who has also appeared in other Pokémon media. Apart from his first incarnation, expansions in which he has been featured also include Dark Pokémon. The following list is of cards mentioning or featuring Impostor Professor Oak or his Pokémon.
Name | Type | Rarity | Set | Set no. |
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Impostor Professor Oak | T | Base Set | 73/102 | |
Base Set 2 | 102/130 | |||
Impostor Oak's Revenge | T | Team Rocket | 76/82 | |
Impostor Professor Oak's Invention | T | Neo Destiny | 94/105 |
Other appearances
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Professor Oak appears as a random trophy wearing his regular clothing from the anime.
Trophy information
The leading expert on the study of Pokémon. It seems there are always new and mysterious species of Pokémon being brought to light, and Professor Oak is at the heart of it all with his insightful research. The Pokédex is one of his inventions: new Trainers receive one, and a Pokémon to boot, when they start out.
Trivia
- Professor Oak has appeared in the most generations of any Pokémon Professor, appearing in Generation I and their Generation III remakes as the regional professor and making occasional appearances in Generation II and Generation IV.
- If the player speaks to Professor Oak in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and has their Pokédex evaluated with at least 484 of the 493 Pokémon caught, he will say "Meeting you is something l will cherish all my life long.", using a lowercase L instead of an I.
Names
Language | Name | Origin |
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Japanese | オーキド ユキナリ博士 Dr. Yukinari Okido | オーキッド Ōkiddo, Orchid. 大木戸 Ōkido is a Japanese family name and placename. Literally, big-tree family. |
English, Spanish, Italian | Professor Samuel (Sammy) Oak | Oak tree, perhaps derived from Japanese Okido. His given name could possibly be derived from the Salem Oak, a long-lived tree of Salem, New Jersey. |
French | Professeur Chen | Chêne means Oak in French. |
German | Professor Eich | Eiche means Oak in German. |
Brazilian Portuguese | Professor Samuel (Sam) Carvalho | Carvalho means Oak in Portuguese. |
Korean | 오용호 박사 Dr. O Yongho | 오 (伍, 吳) O is a Korean family name, probably chosen because of its similarity to the first syllable in Okido. |
Chinese (Taiwan) | 大木博士 Dr. Dàmù 大木雪成 Dàmù Xuěchéng (full name) |
大木 (big tree) is from 大木 Ōki 雪成 is from Japanese 雪成り yuki nari, "to become snow". |
Chinese (Mainland China) | 大木博士 Dr. Dàmù 大木幸成 Dàmù Xìngchéng (full name) |
大木 (big tree) is from 大木 Ōki 幸成 is from Japanese name 幸成 yukinari. |
Thai | ดร.ออคิด Dr. Orkid | Similar to the Japanese name. |
Indonesian | Profesor Oki (Kanto saga) Profesor Okido/Orchid (Johto - present) |
Derived from Prof. Ōkido. Similar to the Japanese name. |
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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