Professor Oak

Professor Samuel Oak (Japanese: オーキド・ユキナリ博士 Dr. Yukinari Ohkido) is a Pokémon Professor who lives and works at his research lab in Pallet Town of the Kanto region.
==Terminology==
In the Japanese version, Professor Oak's given name ユキナリ (Yukinari) first appeared in "Pocket Monsters Zukan", a guidebook published by Aspect. The given name had later appeared in various media such as The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Pocket Monsters: The Animation, the fourth Pokémon movie, and Pokémon Adventures, before it was confirmed as his canon name in the core series with Samson Oak mentioning it in .Samson Oak: "Oh, that cousin of mine in Kanto... He and I look remarkably alike, or so everyone always says. He's Samuel Oak, though." (
==In the core series games==
Professor Oak works in his Laboratory in Pallet Town with his aides. He gives and their first partner Pokémon in , , , . In the last pair of games, he also grants the the National Pokédex once they've caught at least 60 Pokémon. 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. In Pokémon Masters EX, during her Sync Pair Story "A Day with Agatha", explains how she and Oak met. Oak was always friendly and open when he was young and would talk to Agatha and try to help her. Though he was only trying to be nice, it still annoyed Agatha because she wanted to be left alone. Agatha would battle Oak to try and get him to go away, but he was always better than her, and so she would battle him again and again. Eventually, the time they spent together began to mean a lot to Agatha. As a result, when Oak got the idea to invent the Pokédex and subsequently stopped battling, Agatha felt betrayed.
In his own Pokémon Masters EX Sync Pair Story, "A Day With Professor Oak", reveals that his trusted Pokémon partner is a .
Professor Oak was always well known in Kanto, but in Generation II and , he becomes more of a celebrity, a "star Pokémon Researcher". He became 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. // first meets 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. In the remakes, he also gives the player the National Pokédex after they've entered the Hall of Fame, gives them once they've earned all 16 Badges, allows them to choose one of the Kanto first partner Pokémon once they've beaten Red, and hands over the Jade Orb if the player has caught both and at the Embedded Tower.
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:
:"...
:<sc>Prof. Oak</sc>, how is your research
:coming along? I'm still plugging
:away. I heard rumors
:that is
:getting quite a reputation.
:I'm delighted to hear that.
:<sc>Elm</sc> in <sc>New Bark Town</sc> 8-)"
Professor Oak has many fans and admirers. One of them is Chad, who frequently calls the player to share trivia about Oak.
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/Ramanas Park, and gives them the National Pokédex, as well as the Up-Grade, Poké Radar, and the app for their Pokétch. A letter that he sends to the player in a special event allows the player to find . An aide in Rowan's laboratory mentions that Oak is Rowan's junior in terms of seniority. In , 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 , , and will be visible roaming on the map.
Professor Oak also appears in , where he serves the same role for / and that he originally served for Red and Blue. He originally has two first partner Pokémon to give to them, but after the player catches their own , the third Pokémon goes unrevealed.
====Fame Checker====
This is a list of the Fame Checker's information on Professor Oak in .
;Pallet Town - Sign
* What does this person do?
:"<sc>Oak Pokémon Research Lab</sc>."
;Pallet Town Research Lab - Prof. Oak
* What is this person like?
:"To make a complete guide on all the <sc>Pok</sc>é<sc>mon</sc> in the world...
:That was my dream!"
;Pallet Town Research Lab - Aide
* What is this person like?
:"<sc>Prof. Oak</sc> may not look like much, but he's the authority on <sc>Pok</sc>é<sc>mon</sc>.
:Many <sc>Pok</sc>é<sc>mon Trainers</sc> hold him in high regard."
;Viridian City - 
* Family and friends?
:"<sc>Prof. Oak</sc> reportedly lives with his grandchildren, <sc>Daisy</sc> and <sc></sc>."
;Pokémon League - Agatha
* Family and friends?
:"I hear <sc>Oak</sc>'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?
:"<sc>Prof. Oak</sc> is going to have his own radio show soon.
:The program will be called <sc>Prof. Oak's Pok</sc>é<sc>mon Seminar</sc>."
;Message from <sc>Oak</sc>
* From: <sc>Prof. Oak</sc>
* To: [Player]
:"Why do <sc>Pok</sc>é<sc>mon</sc> compete and battle so hard for you?
:They do so because they can see the love and trust you have towards <sc>Pok</sc>é<sc>mon</sc>.
:Never forget that."
===Pokémon===
Professor Oak gives the player their first partner Pokémon in every Kanto-based game.
====Pokémon Red and Blue====
		
====Pokémon Yellow====
Professor Oak catches this while stopping the player from beginning their without any Pokémon. He later decides to give it to them.
This was intended for the player, but is taken by in his impatience. Its evolutionary path is determined by the player's interactions with its Trainer.
====Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen====
		
====Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver====
After the player has defeated Red, Professor Oak gifts them with one of the Kanto first partner Pokémon.
		
====Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!====
	
====Unused teams====
Unused Trainer data for Prof. Oak (Japanese: Teacher Oak) exists in all Generation I games.
Prof. Oak has data for three different teams using different first partner Pokémon, with each Pokémon being level 66-70, higher than Blue's battle team. It is possible he was meant to be a late-game opponent, perhaps similar to Red in Generation II.
He can be battled by exploiting certain glitches.
==In the side series games==
===Pokémon Stadium series===
In Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, Professor Oak is the owner of the , which is available if the Stadium game is connected to one or more core series games via Transfer Pak. The laboratory contains various machines with features such as trading Pokémon between games, transferring items and Pokémon to and from the player's PC, viewing the , etc. In both games, Professor Oak describes the machines in the laboratory.
The Transfer Pak features were previously introduced in the Japanese Pokémon Stadium, but they were part of the menu at the beginning at the game and didn't involve Professor Oak or his laboratory.
==In the spin-off games==
===Hey You, Pikachu!===
Professor Oak appears in Hey You, Pikachu!, where he enlists the player to help test a translation device called the PokéHelper, using a wild as the main research subject.
===Pokémon Trading Card Game series===
In and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, the card is available. Additionally, there are cards featuring the Impostor Professor Oak.
===Pokémon Snap===
Professor Oak also is one of the two human characters that appear in Pokémon Snap. In order to complete his Pokémon Report on the denizens of Pokémon Island, he hires to take pictures for the report. He provides Todd with the ZERO-ONE and its Dash Engine upgrade, Pokémon food, Pester Balls, and a Poké Flute. When Todd takes a picture of each of the Pokémon signs, Professor Oak is able to drawn a connection between them and the s to determine that must be on Rainbow Cloud.
===Puzzle series===
In Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, Professor Oak appears at the main menu and some other screens at the beginning of the game, explaining the available options to the player. He also talks to the player at various points in the "Puzzle" section, which consists of various rounds with puzzles.
At the beginning of Pokémon Puzzle League, there is a short animated introduction where Ash Ketchum receives a phone call from Professor Oak, telling him that he has been selected as a challenger of the Puzzle League Tournament at Puzzle League. In Prof. Oak's Labs at the Puzzle Village, Professor Oak explains how to play this game.
===Play It! series===
In Pokémon Play It! and Pokémon Play It! Version 2, the player is able to receive two certificates signed by Professor Oak; each certificate is awarded for answering a separate set of 10 questions correctly.
In both games, as seen in the option about "The playing field" in the section, says that she was in the middle of a Pokémon TCG match with Professor Oak but he had to leave.
===PokéROM===
Professor Oak is the narrator of PokéROM, voiced by Stuart Zagnit, his voice actor in the animated series at the time.
===Pokémon Channel===
In Pokémon Channel, Professor Oak launches the titular Pokémon Channel, and tuning into the "Oak's Report" channel allows the player to save their game.
===Pokémon GO===
In Pokémon GO, it is mentioned that he was Professor Willow's mentor.#ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #1 on Twitter
In the GO Web series, The Two Professors, Willow contacts Oak to discuss the recent appearance of ed into an unrecognizable Pokémon. Oak is able to identify it as the Mythical Pokémon, .
===Pokémon Masters EX===
Professor Oak, in his design, forms a sync pair with and in Pokémon Masters EX. Professor Oak became a playable sync pair on February 14, 2020.
Professor Oak first appeared as an NPC during the second chapter of PML Arc. He later made a notable appearance in one of the game's Main Stories, the Villain Arc.
|}
===Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket===
Professor Oak makes an appearance on the card in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.
==Gallery==
===Artwork===
 	 	 	 	
Official artwork from by	Official artwork from	Official artwork from by	Official artwork from	Concept art from
===Sprites and models===
====In the core series====
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
sprite from 	sprite from 	Prototype sprite from	sprite from 	sprite from 	sprite from 	Beta sprite from 	sprite from 	Overworld model from	Overworld model from
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Overworld sprite from	Back sprite from	 	Overworld sprite from	Overworld sprite from	Overworld sprite from	Overworld sprite from	Overworld sprite from	 	
====In other games====
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Portrait from and	Menu sprite from	Dialogue sprite from	Dialogue sprites from	Dialogue sprites from	Menu sprite from	spritefrom the	Professor Oak spritefrom	Unused overworld sprite from
===Other images===
Professor Oak's signaturefrom and
==Quotes==
==In animation==
===Pokémon the Series===
Professor Oak appeared semi-regularly from the original series until Pokémon Journeys: The Series, giving Ash Ketchum useful information for his and taking care of the Pokémon he had left at his laboratory.
===Pokémon Origins===
Professor Oak appeared as a major character in the Pokémon Origins miniseries, where he served a similar role as in . He assigned and with the task of completing his dream of a complete Pokédex. Eventually, Red did manage to catch , but then realized that was still out there, and decided to continue his effort in bringing Professor Oak's dream to a true completion.
====Pokémon====
=====On hand=====
=====Gives to new Trainers=====
			
=====Gave away to new Trainers=====
		
====Voice actors====
===Pokémon Generations===
Though Professor Oak did not physically appear in Pokémon Generations, he was mentioned by Agatha during her against in The Challenger.
===GOTCHA!===
Professor Oak briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.
===Pokémon Evolutions===
Professor Oak appeared in The Discovery. met him at his laboratory in Pallet Town, 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 . However, when Professor Oak turned around to share the news with Green, , and , he was surprised to see them having already left.
====Pokémon====
=====Gives to new Trainers=====
			
====Voice actors====
==In the manga==
As he is the leading professor of the Kanto region, Professor Oak appears in many different Pokémon manga series.
===The Electric Tale of Pikachu===
Professor Oak makes a few appearances in The Electric Tale of Pikachu. He is a role model to and is Bill's mentor. Unlike in the , he does not give Ash his ; in fact, he does not meet Ash until after he has already begun his Pokémon journey.
===Pokémon Adventures===
Professor Oak has a recurring role in Pokémon Adventures. His first appearance was in A Glimpse of the Glow, and he has appeared in most arcs 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. He's a highly respected figure in the field of Pokémon research the world over, the inventor of the Pokédex, and a former .
===Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys===
Professor Oak first appeared in Falkner The Bird Keeper's Challenge!!, where he witnessed 's appearance at the Violet Gym. He also saw the battle between Articuno and 's Pokémon. He then offered to bring the Pokémon Egg Mr. Pokémon had to Professor Elm in Let's Aim For The Goal!. Before he leaving, he gave Gold a Pokédex, with the belief that Gold would become a great Trainer.
===Pokémon Pocket Monsters===
Professor Oak is a character in Pokémon Pocket Monsters, where he is in regular contact with and .
===Pokémon Zensho===
Professor Oak appears in Pokémon Zensho and has fulfilled the same role similar to the ones in other media. Professor Oak debuted in Prologue: Pallet Town, where he saved from a flock of that were about to attack him. As thanks for Professor Oak's rescue of Satoshi, Satoshi went to his lab and chose Charmander as his first partner Pokémon, due to it saving him earlier. Shigeru, Satoshi's rival, chose Squirtle, which made Professor Oak keep , as he would have been too lonely otherwise.
In Celadon City, it was revealed that Professor Oak is taking care of and Daisy Oak since their parents died in a car crash. He was last seen in Indigo Plateau, telling Satoshi and Shigeru about a that dwells in a cave.
====Pokémon====
=====On hand=====
=====Gives to new Trainers=====
		
=====Given away=====
===Pokémon Newspaper Strip===
Professor Oak was first mentioned in . After a battle between and , a boy wanted to know why water shorts out electricity, and the girl he was with suggested asking Oak.
==In the TCG==
===Artwork===
Artwork from the cards:
 	
Researching	Visiting
===Cards===
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Professor Oak in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
There also exists a "dark counterpart" of Professor Oak, called Imposter Professor Oak, who has also appeared in other Pokémon media. Apart from his first incarnation, expansions in which he has been featured also include . The following list is of cards mentioning or featuring Imposter Professor Oak.
==Other appearances==
===Super Smash Bros. Melee===
Professor Oak appears as a random trophy wearing his regular clothing from the .
====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 and VII remakes as the regional professor and making cameo appearances in Generations II, IV, and the Generation IV remakes in Generation VIII.
** The Nintendo 3DS is the only Nintendo system in which none of the core series games released for it feature an appearance by Professor Oak.
* If the player speaks to Professor Oak in 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 uppercase I.
* Professor Oak is the only person to give the player their Pokédex in more than one region, doing so in both Kanto and Johto.
==Names==
Language 	Name 	Origin
Japanese 	オーキド・ユキナリDr. Yukinari Ohkido 	From the alternate reading of 大木 daiboku (large tree) as ōki and possibly orchidYukinari is derived from anthropologist Yukinari Kohara (香原志勢)Akihito Tomisawa on Twitter (Japanese)
English, Italian 	Professor Samuel Oak 	From and similar to his Japanese name. His given name may be from Salem Oak (historic tree in )
German 	Professor Samuel Eich 	From Eiche (oak) and his English name
Spanish 	Profesor Samuel Oak 	From his English name
French 	Professeur Samuel Chen 	From chêne (oak) and his English name
French 	Professeur Oak 	From his English name
Korean 	오용호 Dr. O Yongho 	From the first syllable of his Japanese name and the surname 오
Chinese () 	大木 Dr. Dàmù雪成 Xuěchéng 	From the Japanese names 大木戸 Ōkido and 雪成 Yukinari
Chinese () 	幸成 Xìngchéng 	From the Japanese name 幸成 Yukinari
Chinese () 	大木 Dr. Daaihmuhk雪成 Syutsìhng 	From the Japanese names 大木戸 Ōkido and 雪成 Yukinari
Czech 	Profesor Oak 	From his English name
Finnish 	Professori Samuel Oak 	From his English name
Hungarian 	Oak Professzor 	From his English name
Indonesian 	Profesor OakProfesor OhkidoProfesor Orchid 	From his English nameFrom his Japanese nameFrom his Japanese name
Polish 	Profesor Oak 	From his English name
Brazilian Portuguese	Professor Samuel CarvalhoProfessor Oak 	From carvalho (oak) and his English nameSame as English name
Russian 	Профессор Семуель ОукProfessor Semuyel' Ouk 	Transcription of his English name
Thai 	ศาสตราจารย์โอคิโดะ Sattrachan Okhidoดร.โอคิโดะ Dr. Okhidoดร.ออคิด Dr. Okhitยูกินาริ Yukinari	Transcription of his Japanese name
Vietnamese 	Giáo sư Yukinari Ohkido 	Transcription of his Japanese name
==References==
==Related articles==
* Professor Oak (anime)
* Professor Oak (Adventures)
* Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Category:Manga characters
Category:Pokémon Zensho characters
Category:Pokémon Origins characters
Category:Red, Blue and Yellow characters
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Category:Platinum characters
Category:HeartGold and SoulSilver characters
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Category:Trainers with unique classes
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