Professor Tangrowth

Professor Tangrowth
モジャンボはかせ Dr. Mojumbo

Professor Tangrowth
Debuts in Pokémon Pokopia
Caught at Kanto
Evolves in Prior to Pokémon Pokopia
Gender Male[1]
Ability Unknown
Released in Prior to Pokémon Pokopia
Current location Kanto

Professor Tangrowth (Japanese: モジャンボはかせ Dr. Mojumbo) is a supporting character of Pokémon Pokopia. He is a Tangrowth and the last remaining Pokémon in Kanto before Ditto came along,[2] and teaches Ditto the basics of life in town.[3] According to his Pokédex entry, he is a Professor form Tangrowth.

Evoking the appearance of a Pokémon Professor, Professor Tangrowth has a unique appearance compared to regular Tangrowth, with white vines covering the top half of his body. He wears and uses human tools,[3] namely a broken pair of glasses, a stick, and a TM on top of his head that evokes a medical doctor's head mirror.

History

Background

Prior to the disappearance of humans, when Professor Tangrowth was still a young Tangela, he was found injured and weak by a Pokémon Professor, who healed him with a Potion, causing the Pokémon to take a liking to them and follow them home.[4] Now living with the professor, he started playing with their grandchild and even other Pokémon Trainers who come to visit. During that time, he also became interested in human devices and activities, seeming intrigued by the professor working on a computer and looking enthralled by things such as Pokédexes and Poké Balls.[5] He would later demonstrate a strong understanding of the purpose and operation of most common human technology, ostensibly as a result of its observations.

While humanity is evacuated into space, all Pokémon, including Tangela, would be stored in a massive computer system as part of the "Pokémon Conservation Project". However, when the professor entrusted him to other project members to store him away, Tangela ran off, likely to try and get back home. The day of departure had arrived, but Tangela was nowhere to be found, leading to the professor leaving the Pokémon behind.[6] After the humans' disappearance and his evolution into Tangrowth, he found and wore the professor's favorite glasses on his chest.[7]

Pokémon Pokopia

As of the start of Pokémon Pokopia, Professor Tangrowth lives in a cave in the Withered Wasteland. Upon meeting Ditto, he encourages it to use its transformations to help other Pokémon and restore their habitats, and resolves to investigate the mystery of what happened to the humans with its help. He accompanies Ditto to each area it visits except Palette Town, typically idling near the local Pokémon Center.

Personality and characteristics

This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Add personality notes

Professor Tangrowth has the Appraise specialty, which indicates that he can identify any lost relics brought to him.

Gallery

Artwork

Concept art from Pokopia[8]

Names

Language Title
Japanese モジャンボはかせ Mojumbo-hakase
モジャンボ(はかせ) Mojumbo (Hakase)
Chinese Cantonese 巨蔓藤博士 Geuihmaahntàhng-boksih
巨蔓藤(博士) Geuihmaahntàhng (Boksih)
Mandarin 巨蔓藤博士 Jùmànténg-bóshì
巨蔓藤(博士) Jùmànténg (Bóshì)
French Professeur Bouldeneu
German Professor Tangoloss
Italian Professor Tangrowth
Korean 덩쿠림보 박사 Deongkurimbo-baksa
덩쿠림보(박사) Deongkurimbo (Baksa)
Spanish Profesor Tangrowth

Trivia

  • According to the Pokédex, Professor Tangrowth's ideal habitat type is humid, and his favorite items are those with "lots of nature", "complicated stuff", "letters and words", "strange stuff", "group activities", and "dry flavors".
  • Professor Tangrowth is the only Pokémon in Pokopia that cannot appear on Cloud Islands, as the Professor's treasure trove used to create its habitat cannot be replicated.

References

  1. Confirmed via gender differences as well as several entries of Professor's diary.
  2. Explore | Pokémon Pokopia
  3. 3.0 3.1 (November 13, 2025). Tweet by Pokémon (@Pokemon). (archive)
  4. Professor's diary #1
  5. Professor's diary #2
  6. Professor's diary #5
  7. "When this Pokémon was still a Tangela, it lived with a human professor. It now wears that professor's favorite pair of glasses on its chest." - Pokédex entry
  8. Middler, Jordan (February 11, 2026). "Pokopia: Game Freak on how Ruby and Sapphire inspired Pokémon’s biggest ever spin-off." Video Games Chronicle.

Related articles

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Tangela and Tangrowth.

Pokémon Professors
Core series OakElmBirchRowanAurea JuniperCedric JuniperSycamoreKukuiBurnetSamsonMohnMagnoliaSoniaLaventonSadaTuro
Masters EX BellisOakSycamoreKukuiSoniaSamson
Other spin-offs KranePHastingsHollyQuentin WertyBurnetTetraWillowMirrorPhorusFirNeroliTangrowth
Animated series OakIvyElmBirchCozmoRowanCarolinaHastingsAurea JuniperCedric JuniperSycamoreKukuiBurnetSamsonMohnCeriseMagnoliaSoniaAmaranthFriedeWillow
Adventures OakElmBirchCozmoRowanBerlitzAurea JuniperCedric JuniperSycamoreKukuiBurnetSamsonMohnMagnoliaSoniaTuro
Other manga Oak (Pocket Monsters)
See also: Category:Professors
This article is part of both Project CharacterDex and Project Sidegames, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on characters in the spin-off games.