Professor Oak (anime): Difference between revisions

'''Professor Samuel Oak''' (Japanese: '''オーキド•ユキナリ博士''' ''Dr. Yukinari Okido'') is a [[Pokémon Professor]] and a major supporting character of the [[Pokémon anime]] who lives and works at his [[Professor Oak's Laboratory|research lab]] in [[Pallet Town]]. He appears semi-regularly to give [[Ash Ketchum]] advice to help him achieve his goal of becoming the greatest [[Pokémon Master]].

In ''[[EP163|Fossil Fools]]'', Professor Oak mentioned that, at the age of six, he decided to become a [[Pokémon Professor]] after seeing the spirals of an {{p|Omanyte}} shell during a school excursion to a museum.

At some point, Oak was a lecturer at [[Celadon University]], where [[Foster]] was one of his top students. In [[Professor Elm]]'s [[EP117|debut]], he mentioned that he was one of Oak's top performing students at university. In ''[[M03|Spell of the Unown: Entei]]'', it was revealed that Oak also taught [[Spencer Hale]] and {{Ash}}'s mother {{Delia}}.

Professor Oak debuted in ''[[EP001|Pokémon, I Choose You!]]'', appearing on a late night television show explaining the three [[starter Pokémon]] that [[Pokémon Trainer]]s would receive. The next day, three Trainers from [[Pallet Town]], including his grandson, [[Gary Oak]], came to [[Professor Oak's Laboratory|his lab]], ready to become Pokémon Trainers. Oak gave them each a starter Pokémon, including giving Gary his {{TP|Gary|Squirtle|Blastoise}}, though this wasn't revealed [[EP269|until much later]] in the series. Later that same day, Ash came to him as he was also starting his [[Pokémon journey]] and needed his first Pokémon. But because he was so late, the only Pokémon that Oak had left was a rebellious {{AP|Pikachu}}.

After learning Ash was traveling to the [[Hoenn]] region, Professor Oak gave him an updated [[Pokédex]] and wished him the best of luck.

In ''[[AG015|Gonna Rule the School]]'', Oak was lecturing the students of {{ci|Rustboro}}'s [[Pokémon Trainers' School]] via satellite.

   

In ''[[AG187|The Unbeatable Lightness of Seeing!]]'', when Ash was still recovering from his defeat at the [[Battle Pyramid]], Professor Oak brought him a special package meant to cheer him up, containing a poster with the [[Footprint|prints]] of {{cat|Ash's Pokémon|his Pokémon}}, a [[Misty's special lure|fishing lure]] from {{an|Misty}}, and food from {{Delia|his mother}}. He also handed Ash a postcard from {{Gary}} and told him that his grandson was doing research in the [[Sinnoh]] region and that many {{cat|Generation IV Pokémon|Pokémon who live there}} cannot be found anywhere else. Later, he was asked to judge the impromptu [[Contest Battle]] between May and [[Drew]]. Along with [[Scott]], he judged their battle, which ended in a victory for Drew after his {{TP|Drew|Roselia}} and {{p|Butterfree}} [[Fainting|knocked out]] [[May's Combusken]] and {{TP|May|Skitty}}.

[[File:Professor Oak DP anime.png|thumb|left|250px|Professor Oak in the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}}]]

Ash spoke to Professor Oak regularly over the phone while he traveled through the [[Sinnoh]] [[region]]. {{an|Dawn}} was able to recognize him from [[television]], but it was because of his Pokémon poetry and not his research.

Meanwhile, in Twinleaf, [[James]] was in the town's auditorium disguised as Oak plotting to steal all of the attendees' Pokémon. When Oak arrived there, everyone in the auditorium looked confused as James insisted he was the real Professor Oak. Seeing this, a {{pkmn|Trainer}} in the audience sent out his {{p|Tyranitar}} and asked for help, saying he was having trouble with the {{pkmn|category|Armor Pokémon}}. James failed to figure out what was the cause of the problem and was sent blasting off by Tyranitar, but Oak was able to help the Pokémon by removing a thorn from its foot. After that, Professor Oak proceeded to give his lecture.

[[File:Professor Oak BW anime.png|250px|thumb|Professor Oak in the {{series|Best Wishes}}]]

Professor Oak was given a major redesign in the ''Best Wishes'' series, using a different shirt collar style and wearing his lab coat above it. His hairstyle also changed, becoming more boxy. These changes make his look closely resemble his most recent [[Professor Oak|game counterpart]] artwork.

In ''[[BW142|The Dream Continues!]]'' Professor Oak was interviewed by [[Alexa]], a reporter from the [[Kalos]] region which gave him a chance to see Pokémon from there much to his delight. He was later present when Ash announced his intention to return with Alexa to Kalos to challenge its league. As usual, Professor Oak was entrusted with the care of the Pokémon Ash had caught in Unova, as well as Charizard who would be remaining at the lab permanently from then on.

Professor Oak appeared briefly in ''[[XY003|A Battle of Aerial Mobility!]]'', where he was introduced to {{AP|Froakie}} before being shocked by Rotom.

[[File:Samson and Samuel Oak.png|thumb|250px|Professor Oak with his cousin Samson in the {{series|Sun & Moon}}]]

{{incomplete|section|2=Roles in SM139, SM140, and SM141}}

After winning a trip to the [[Alola]] region, Delia and Ash headed to Professor Oak's lab, where he received Ash's on-hand Pokémon and took the opportunity to entrust Delia with a [[Pokémon Egg]]. He asked her to deliver the Egg to his cousin [[Samson Oak]], at the [[Pokémon School]] on [[Melemele Island]].

He reappeared in [[SM139]], [[SM140]], and [[SM141]]; and will reappear in [[SM142]].

Professor Oak lives up the road from [[Delia Ketchum]] and {{Ash|her son}}, and he and Delia often appear together as good friends. His known relatives are his grandson {{Gary}} and his cousin [[Samson Oak|Samson]]. He is also good friends with Professors Birch and Juniper.

In the novelizations written by [[Takeshi Shudō]], Professor Oak comes from a prestigious family. He has two brothers, one of whom is the mayor of Pallet Town while the other is its postmaster, and his grandfather was the first Trainer from Pallet Town to receive widespread recognition, while Samuel himself gained prominence after he published a research paper on Pokémon at the age of 20. It is also stated that he became a professor at [[Celadon University]] at the age of 25. According to Professor Elm, Professor Oak's studies and research mostly focus on how humans and Pokémon interact with each other.

This listing is of Professor Oak's known {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} in the {{pkmn|anime}}:

{{TrainerPoké

|main=yes

|desc=Professor Oak caught a {{p|Rotom}} in ''[[BW128|To Catch a Rotom!]]'' at [[Torom Island]]. It regularly accompanies him in [[Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster]].}}

{{TrainerPoké

|trainer=Professor Oak

Dragonite's known moves are {{m|Twister}}, {{m|Hyper Beam}}, and {{m|Dragon Rage}}.}}

{{TrainerPoké

|main=yes

Rotom's known moves are {{m|Thunderbolt}} and {{m|Blizzard}}.}}

{{TrainerPoké

|trainer=Professor Oak

* Various Pokémon are used in his lectures, which may belong to him or to Trainers whose Pokémon he cares for.

{{TrainerPoké

|trainer=Professor Oak

Various Squirtle's known moves are {{m|Tackle}} and {{m|Water Gun}}.}}

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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.

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{{spoilers}}

[[File:Sammy Oak.png|250px|thumb|Sam]]

Despite the fact that Sam saw many {{cat|Generation II Pokémon}} throughout the movie (notably the {{pkmn2|Mythical}} {{p|Celebi}} and the {{pkmn2|Legendary}} {{p|Suicune}}), the [[Pokédex]] he gifts Ash in the Kanto arc only catalogs {{cat|Generation I Pokémon}}, claiming that they were all the Pokémon that the world knows. This discrepancy is likely no longer canon, instead representing a silent {{wp|retcon}} that occurred due to the ever-increasing number of Pokémon; indeed, Pokémon from [[Generation II]], [[Generation III]], and [[Generation IV]] are able to be trained in Kanto during the Generation I remakes FireRed and LeafGreen, as well as during the Generation II remakes HeartGold and SoulSilver. Perhaps to avoid a similar plothole, the number of Pokémon as of the current generation is no longer explicitly mentioned in anime-related media.

{{MissingInfo|1|java}}

{{TrainerPoké

Charmeleon's known moves are {{m|Flamethrower}} and {{m|Headbutt}}.}}

{{TrainerPoké

|main=Celebi (M04)

{{endspoilers}}

{{TrainerPoké

|trainer=Professor Oak

|desc={{p|Pikachu}} is a fourth Pokémon that Professor Oak gives away to new Trainers. He is harder to control than the other Pokémon Oak gives away. He was the only Pokémon left, and as such he was given to {{Ash}}, who had slept late on the day he was supposed to get his first Pokémon.}}

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{{vatable|color={{kanto color light}}|bordercolor={{kanto color}}

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