Professor Oak's Laboratory (Japanese: オーキド研究所 Okido Institute), also called the Oak Pokémon Research Lab (Japanese: オーキド博士のポケモン研究所 Professor Oak's Pokémon Research Lab), is a Pokémon lab located in Pallet Town that is directed by Professor Samuel Oak.
Its functions are to research Pokémon, unravel the mysteries surrounding them, and study their characteristics and behavior in a natural environment. Another important job is to take care of the Pokémon that belong to Pallet Town's Trainers.
The lab has many different environments for the correct development of all kinds of Pokémon. There are areas of grass, sand, rocks, and lakes to promote good interaction between the different types of Pokémon. The laboratory has the technology to keep Pokémon healthy and to make the largest scientific investigations in the region.
In the core series games
Professor Oak's Laboratory appears in Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. In the Generation I games and their remakes, it is where Oak gives the player their first partner Pokémon and a Pokédex.
Appearance
The lab is a small building near the player's house that has been slightly modified in every game.
In Pokémon Red and Blue, the sign says "Oak Pokémon Research Lab" ("Here is the Institute of Dr. Okido." in Japanese). Inside are three of Professor Oak's aides, two men and one woman, a couple of shelves full of books, a table with three Poké Balls, a computer, two blank Pokédexes, and two tips for the player.
In Pokémon Yellow, the lab is the same as Red and Blue, except there is only one Poké Ball on the table, and next to the table stands a trash can.
In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the lab is almost unchanged except recoloring, only adding two windows, removing the table that had the Pokédexes on it in the previous games, and adding another shelf to bookshelves.
In Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, other than the significant graphical enhancements, the laboratory also has two plants in the entrance, a mysterious machine, books on the floor, two regular machines in the corner, and a window.
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the building is modified to look 3D, but still has the overall design from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, the laboratory also mostly retains its overall design from Generation III. However, in these games, the content of one of the Poké Balls on the table is never revealed.
Items
Pokémon
Generation I
Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
First partner Pokémon
|
|
R
|
B
|
Y
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
R
|
B
|
Y
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
R
|
B
|
Y
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
R
|
B
|
Y
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Generation III
Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
First partner Pokémon
|
|
FR
|
LG
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
FR
|
LG
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
FR
|
LG
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Generation IV
Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
Gift Pokémon After defeating Red
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
HG
|
SS
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Generation VII
Pokémon
|
Games
|
Location
|
Levels
|
Rate
|
First partner Pokémon
|
|
P
|
E
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
|
P
|
E
|
|
Gift
|
|
5
|
One
|
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
|
Trainers
In every game where the player gets their first partner Pokémon at Oak's, they will also have their first Trainer battle at the Laboratory against their rival.
Generation I
Pokémon Red and Blue
If the player chose Bulbasaur:
|
|
Reward: $175
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Charmander:
|
|
Reward: $175
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Squirtle:
|
|
Reward: $175
|
|
|
|
|
Pokémon Yellow
|
|
Reward: $175
|
|
|
|
|
Generation III
If the player chose Bulbasaur:
|
|
Reward: $80
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Charmander:
|
|
Reward: $80
|
|
|
|
|
If the player chose Squirtle:
|
|
Reward: $80
|
|
|
|
|
Generation VII
In Let's Go, Pikachu!:
|
|
Reward: $120
|
|
|
|
|
In Let's Go, Eevee!:
|
|
Reward: $120
|
|
|
|
|
Appearance
Outside
Red and Blue (International) and Blue (Japanese)
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Inside
Gold, Silver, and Crystal
Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
In the side series games
Pokémon Stadium
- Main article: Pokémon Lab (Stadium)
Professor Oak's Laboratory, known as the "Pokémon Lab", also appears in Pokémon Stadium. In it, the player can interact with a copy of Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow inserted into the Transfer Pak, allowing them to view their Pokédex, organize the items in their PC, access their Box, trade Pokémon, and send prize Pokémon received at the Gym Leader Castle into the inserted game.
Oak has another Lab in White City in Pokémon Stadium 2, which has the same basic functionality expanded to support Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Puzzle League
In Pokémon Puzzle League for the Nintendo 64, an area called "Prof. Oak's Labs" acts as tutorial area. Professor Oak will teach the player how to play the game.
Pokémon Snap
Professor Oak's Laboratory also appears in Pokémon Snap, shown as the background of the main menu of the game. Todd Snap reports back here regularly to show his photos to Professor Oak. Presumably, the professor keeps information like the Pokémon Report, Pokémon Album, and all information on Pokémon signs in his laboratory. It appears the same way in this game that it does in Pokémon the Series.
Artwork of various depictions of Professor Oak's Laboratory is seen in Professor Oak and Ash's mindscapes.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Ash and his friends talking in the lobby
The laboratory debuted in the first episode of Pokémon the Series, Pokémon - I Choose You!, when Ash received his Pikachu. Since then, it has been seen in many episodes, mostly in the start and ending of Ash's journey through a region, but also in Pokémon Chronicles and in the movies. The building stands out in Pallet Town for its wind turbine.
Every time Ash catches a Pokémon when he has already a full party, the new Pokémon is automatically transported here. Ash also has a habit of leaving all of his Pokémon besides Pikachu here each time he leaves for a new region, starting with Hoenn.
Since the last episode of the Beginning series, The Rivalry Revival, Tracey has been working at the lab as an assistant to Professor Oak. In the last episode of the Journeys series, The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!, Ash briefly filled in for Tracey while he traveled for a few days.
Structure
Infrastructure
The lab is composed of two floors. Inside the entrance door is a hallway with several doors, and to the left is a chest of drawers and the stairway to the second floor.
The living room is the space where Professor Oak hosts, eats, relaxes, and presumably studies. On a pink carpet (sometimes shown as green) are two couches and a table. To the side are a computer and bookshelves. This is where many scenes in the lab take place. There are also two science rooms full of various machines.
The Poké Ball Storage Room stores the extra Pokémon of every Trainer born in Pallet Town. This treasure of hundreds of Pokémon has been the target of attempted robberies by Team Rocket. In addition, the lab has a library, composed of two rooms. One is a study room with a large bookshelf and a pair of windows. The other, in the back, is a storage room full of books, including Oak's old sketchbook.
The study room of Professor Oak
Upstairs is the research floor. Here are all the technological pieces, the heart of the laboratory. It includes several machines used for Pokémon testing and a table with various chemicals on it. Nearby is a blue chair. In front of it are the status screen, which shows the health and power of a Pokémon, and Professor Oak's computer, where he records his research. This computer doubles as a videophone, which he uses to communicate with other professors or Trainers. Beside the computer is the Poké Ball Transfer machine, for the transportation of Pokémon to their Trainers in a Pokémon Center. The room also includes a bookshelf, a desk with a lamp, a brown couch, and a drawing board. A few machines are connected to a glass container full of water, possibly to study aquatic Pokémon. Hanging from the ceiling is a large lamp.
The stairs lead up to an inner balcony, which has a door and the three large windows seen in most outside views of the lab.
A full view of the research floor
Superstructure
The Oak Corral is a natural environment for Pokémon development. It is divided into regions according to type; there are areas that are perfect for Rock Pokémon, desert areas for Ground and Fire types, grassy regions, and several lakes. Sometimes the Pokémon don't get along; for this reason, some Pokémon, such as Ash's Bulbasaur, act as mediators between quarreling Pokémon.
A panoramic view to the Oak Corral
Trainer's Pokémon residing at the Lab
Other
There are various Pokémon that live on the Oak Corral. Only a handful have been seen but there are various kinds of different Pokémon. People like Professor Oak and Tracey care for them. Other Trainers' Pokémon reside here such as Gary's.
Previously resided at the Lab
Pokémon Origins
Professor Oak's Laboratory first appeared in File 1: Red, where Red and Blue got their first Pokémon and Pokédexes from Professor Oak. In File 4: Charizard, Red returned to the lab after having caught all 149 known Pokémon. Later, after Red had successfully caught Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave, Professor Oak held a minor celebration at the laboratory to congratulate Red and Blue on completing of the Pokédex, although Red soon realized that Mew still remained uncaught.
I Choose You!
Professor Oak's Laboratory appeared at the beginning of I Choose You!. It was where Ash obtained his Pikachu.
Pokémon Evolutions
Professor Oak's Laboratory appeared in The Discovery. Green met Professor Oak there, apologizing for having failed to complete the Pokédex. Professor Oak, however, revealed that other Pallet Town Trainers had been taking on the same project as well, and thanks to them, the Pokédex was now complete. Just then, he received a call from a colleague of his, who informed him of a new Pokémon made entirely of metal. However, when Professor Oak turned around to share the news with Green, Elaine, and Trace, he was surprised to see them having already left.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
The laboratory first appeared in A Glimpse of the Glow, where Red went to see Professor Oak. The first view of the inside of the lab was seen in Bulbasaur, Come Home!, and was shown to have machines, tables, bookshelves, a glass container full of water and a Poké Ball storage area. Red accidentally let all the Pokémon in the laboratory out of their Poké Balls, with some even escaping the building altogether, forcing Red and Professor Oak to chase them.
In Kalling Kadabra, Sabrina's Kadabra disguised itself as Professor Oak, rampaging around the place in front of Red. Sabrina herself also briefly appeared, giving Red a message to come to Saffron City. Blue then arrived with his Charizard, showing Red a picture of Saffron City, which had been taken over by Team Rocket and was where they kept the citizens of Pallet Town they had imprisoned.
The laboratory was once again seen in Return to Pallet Town, when Red and Blue received messages from Professor Oak to return their Pokédexes. This was later revealed to be a trap set by Team Rocket, intending to force Professor Oak to create them their own version of the Pokédex in preparation to capture Deoxys.
Crystal started working as Professor Oak's assistant at the lab. She was seen in the lab while she supplied Emerald with Pokémon for use in the Battle Frontier challenge.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Professor Oak's lab debuted in Introducing the Pokémon Clefairy!!. This was where Red chose Clefairy and Green chose Charmander. Unlike other media, Professor Oak has different laboratories in various regions. Similar to many of the buildings in the series, they would often get destroyed or burnt by Clefairy's antics.
Pokémon Zensho
The lab appeared in Prologue: Pallet Town where Satoshi chose his Charmander and Shigeru chose Squirtle. Satoshi had his first battle there with Shigeru and emerged victorious.
Trivia
- In Generation I, there is a moment when it is possible to stop the game. This happens if the player holds the A button after choosing their first partner Pokémon, which will stop the rival from choosing his own first partner Pokémon until the player releases the button. This happens in all Generation I games, but is easier to perform in Yellow.[1]
- In all Western Generation I games, when Professor Oak gives the player five Poké Balls, his dialogue contains some errors that do not exist in the original Japanese versions:
- In Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow, part of the text overlaps the previous line as opposed to inserting a new line and scrolling the text box accordingly.
- In English Yellow only, this was fixed. However, a word is now misspelled.
- Specifically in the Italian versions, another error was made; one of the words is rendered on top of the textbox's right border instead of appearing in a new line.
- If the player's Pokémon takes damage in their first battle against their rival in FireRed and LeafGreen, their Pokémon will be healed after the battle.
- Professor Oak's lab's iconic theme is not played in Generation IV, with the background music instead being Pallet Town's theme. The only way to hear the lab theme is to listen to the Pokégear radio.
- In Pokémon Yellow only, there is a trash can on the right side of the table that Oak places the first partner Pokémon on. This blocks the player from walking to the other side of the table to collect Eevee in a spot where the rival cannot push them.
- In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Sam's sketchbook from Celebi: The Voice of the Forest can be seen on the top of a bookshelf at the back of the laboratory.
In other languages
See also
References