View source for Professor Willow

{{Character Infobox
|color={{night color}}
|corecolor={{night color light}}
|bordercolor={{blue color}}
|name=Professor Willow
|jname=ウィロー博士
|tmname=Dr. Willow
|text=FFF
|image=GO Professor Willow.png
|size=170px
|caption=Art from Pokémon GO
|gender=Male
|birthday=July 21<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/989255288594288646 #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #2 on Twitter]</ref>
|eyes=Black
|hair=Gray
|hometown=Unknown
|region=Unknown
|relatives=Unnamed mother, unnamed father
}}
{{Character Infobox/Game
|color={{night color light}}
|gen={{gen|VI}}, {{gen|VII}}, {{gen|VIII}}, {{gen|IX}}
|games=[[Pokémon GO]]
|anime=no
|gameanim=yes
|pv=yes
}}
{{Character Infobox/Anime
|color={{night color light}}
|series=''[[The Two Professors]]''
|debut=''{{DL|The Two Professors|Episode 1: A New Pokémon Has Been Discovered!}}''
|enva=Robbie Daymond<ref>[https://twitter.com/robbiedaymond/status/1044629655787995137 Robbie Daymond (@robbiedaymond) on Twitter.] Posted on September 25, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/robbiedaymond/status/1589335336949149697 Robbie Daymond (@robbiedaymond) on Twitter.] Posted on November 6, 2022.</ref>
|jpva=Nobuyuki Sakemoto <small>([[The Two Professors]])</small><!--<br>??? <small>(Gimmighoul PV)</small>-->
}}
|}

'''Professor Willow''' (Japanese: '''ウィロー博士''' ''Dr. Willow'') is a [[Pokémon Professor]] who appears in the [[Pokémon GO]] mobile game. Similar to [[Professor Birch]], he specializes in Pokémon habitats and distribution. Unlike other Professors who directly give {{pkmn|Trainer}}s their first Pokémon, Professor Willow gives Trainers their first {{i|Poké Ball}}s to capture their first Pokémon.

==Background information==
Professor Willow was an only child who learned his love of Pokémon and exploring from his parents. His mother researched Pokémon ecology and his father was fascinated by the outdoors.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/989614016996790273 #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #3 on Twitter]</ref> Before setting out on his own exploration, he worked in a lab studying Pokémon under [[Professor Oak]], whom he still looks up to today.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/988821137391013888 #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #1 on Twitter]</ref>

In addition to Professor Oak in [[Kanto]], [[Professor Sycamore]] in [[Kalos]], [[Professor Magnolia]] in [[Galar]], and [[Jacq]] in [[Paldea]] are also colleagues of his.

Despite his confident presentation, Professor Willow confesses to a shy side and values spending time alone outdoors for his research.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/990697270302605319 #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #6 on Twitter]</ref> He always wears his lab coat to help himself focus on his research.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/990334864670019584 #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #5 on Twitter]</ref> His dream is to explore uncharted lands and to examine and document new [[Pokémon (species)|Pokémon species]] yet to be discovered in their natural habitat.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/989972522799108096 #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #4 on Twitter]</ref>

Upon discovery of many {{p|Meltan}}-disguised {{p|Ditto}} by his assistants at the conclusion of the {{p|Chikorita}} [[Community Day]], Professor Willow contacted Professor Oak to discuss the matter.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvLDA70ZvbU The Two Professors Episode 1: A New Pokémon Has Been Discovered! on YouTube]</ref> It was revealed during later Special Researches that Professor Willow has a {{p|Meltan}} as his Pokémon [[buddy]].

While investigating [[Team GO Rocket]] take-overs, Professor Willow recovered some corrupted files from his computer, uncovering data about Team GO Rocket Leaders {{OBP|Cliff|GO}}, {{OBP|Sierra|GO}}, and [[Arlo]]. He later found out that {{tc|Team GO Rocket Grunt}}s were dropping [[Mysterious Component]]s behind them when defeated at invaded [[PokéStop]]s. With the help of his assistants, the three team leaders, he was able to build an early [[Rocket Radar]] prototype to locate the {{tc|Team GO Rocket Leader}}s and later the [[Super Rocket Radar]] to locate [[Giovanni]] himself.<ref>[https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/willowreport-loomingshadow/ Willow Report: Looming in the Shadows]</ref>

On June 5, 2022, during the second day of the [[List of events (GO)|Pokémon GO Fest 2022]] event, Professor Willow suddenly disappeared, and in his stead appeared [[Rhi]], of the [[GO Ultra Recon Squad]]. It was later revealed that Professor Willow had entered an [[Ultra Wormhole]] and ended up in [[Ultra Space]]. On August 27, 2022, Rhi and the player managed to rescue Professor Willow from Ultra Space in time for the Pokémon GO Fest 2022 Finale event, though his outfit was changed for a few months.

On November 5, 2022, following the {{p|Dratini}} [[Community Day|Community Day Classic]] event, Professor Willow was contacted by Jacq when Trainers discovered a [[?????? Coin]] from the [[Paldea]] region upon spinning a golden PokéStop. Jacq contacted Professor Willow again soon after to discuss the ecology of {{p|Gimmighoul}}. Gimmighoul's Chest Form was named by [[Jacq]], while its Roaming Form was named by Professor Willow.<ref name=GimmighoulYT>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nzi0S3NGzg Where are these mysterious coins coming from? &#129300; | Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet]." [https://www.youtube.com/c/pokemon The Official Pokémon YouTube Channel]. ''YouTube''.</ref>

==Transferring Pokémon==
The {{player}} can transfer Pokémon to Professor Willow using the "Transfer" option on the status screen in exchange for one [[Candy]] for that Pokémon's [[List of Pokémon by evolution family (GO)|evolutionary family]]. A Pokémon transferred to the Professor is permanently lost, equivalent to [[Released Pokémon#Pokémon GO|releasing]] a Pokémon in the [[core series]] games.

==Assistants==
[[File:GO Professors Assistants.png|250px|thumb|right|Candela, Blanche, and Spark]]
Professor Willow has three assistants who each are head of a {{OBP|team|GO}} that research Pokémon in different ways. They perform this research inside Gyms owned by their respective teams, with each team's mascot being one of the [[legendary birds]]. The leader of the teams will also [[Stats judge#In Pokémon GO|appraise]] the Pokémon of trainers on their teams when asked to.

His assistants are:
* {{OBP|Spark|GO}}, the leader of Team Instinct (Japanese: チーム・インスティンクト ''Team Instinct''), who is researching [[Pokémon breeding]]. Team Instinct Trainers believe a Pokémon's intuition is linked to how they are hatched. Team Instinct is represented by {{p|Zapdos}}.
* [[Blanche]], the leader of Team Mystic (Japanese: チーム・ミスティック ''Team Mystic''), who is researching Pokémon [[Evolution]]. Team Mystic Trainers believe that by staying calm and analyzing every situation, they can't lose. Team Mystic is represented by {{p|Articuno}}.
* [[Candela]], the leader of Team Valor (Japanese: チーム・ヴァーラー ''Team Valor''), who is researching Pokémon strength. Team Valor Trainers believe that their Pokémon are the strongest because they train to naturally enhance a Pokémon's power in search of true strength. Team Valor is represented by {{p|Moltres}}.

==Gallery==
===Artwork===
{| style="margin:auto; text-align:center; {{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{blue color}}; background: #{{night color}}; font-size:80%; color:#fff;"
|-
|style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{blue color}}; background: #{{night color light}}; width:200px"| [[File:GO Professor Willow 2022.png|170px]]
|-
| Appearance from Pokémon GO between August 27th and November 30th, 2022<ref>[https://twitter.com/poke_miners/status/1598031472619048961 PokeMiners on Twitter: Willow and the Team Leaders have been fixed.]</ref>
|}

==Quotes==
{{main|Professor Willow/Quotes}}

==In the anime==
===''[[Pokémon Horizons: The Series]]''===
Professor Willow first appeared in [[HZ042]], he was seen contacting [[Friede]] to ask the [[Rising Volt Tacklers]] to investigate a sudden appearance of several {{p|Pikachu}} with caps similar to [[Captain Pikachu]]'s. Soon after, the call was interrupted when one of them electrocuted him.
====Pokémon=====
{{TrainerPoké
|trainer=Willow
|pkmn=Gimmighoul
|type1=Ghost
|img=Willow Gimmighoul.png
|epnum=HZ042
|epname=
|vajp=
|vaen=
|desc=This Roaming Form {{p|Gimmighoul}} is Professor Willow's only known Pokémon. It appeared alongside Professor Willow when he contacted Friede to ask for help.

None of Gimmighoul's moves are known.}}
====Voice actors====

==In the TCG==
{{main|Professor's Research (SWSH Promo 178)}}

[[File:ProfessorResearchSWSHPromo178.jpg|thumb|220px|TCG print of Professor Willow]]
On March 4, 2021, Niantic announced that they had reached an agreement with The Pokémon Trading Card Game and that Professor Willow would appear in the TCG starting summer 2021.<ref>[https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/pcg-professor-willow/ A collaboration has been finalized between Pokémon GO and the Pokémon Trading Card Game!]</ref> Professor Willow's TCG card art and availability were revealed on June 15, 2021.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGoApp/status/1404944246344409089 Twitter announcement]</ref><ref>[https://pokemongolive.com/post/pcg-professor-willow-details/?hl=en Professor Willow's TCG Debut!]</ref> Each card comes with a unique 16 digit code that can be redeemed in Pokémon GO from July 1, 2021, at 12:00 a.m. UTC to August 1, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. UTC to unlock a {{DL|Special_Research|Professor's Research|Special Research}} as well as a {{OBP|medal|GO}}. A version without a code but with a {{TCG|Pokémon GO}} stamp was later included in the {{TCGMerch|Sword & Shield|Series|Pokémon GO V Battle Deck—Mewtwo vs. Melmetal}}.
{{-}}

==In Stores==
On November 19, 2019, an extension to the {{DL|Pokémon Center (store)|Current stores|Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo}} called Pokémon GO Lab was unveiled. This space includes a life-size statue of Professor Willow, as well as Pokémon GO-related merchandise and a real-time monitor displaying trainer names and team scores for the Pokémon GO Gym attached to the lab.<ref>[https://twitter.com/PokemonGOAppJP/status/1207495805378220032 Official Japanese Twitter annnoucement]</ref>

==Voice actors==
While Pokémon GO does not include vocal performances, in various promotional materials, he is voiced by Robbie Daymond in English. In the Japanese version of ''[[The Two Professors]]'', he is voiced by Nobuyuki Sakemoto.

{{vatable|color={{night color light}}|bordercolor={{blue color}}
|ja=酒元信行 ''Nobuyuki Sakemoto'' ([[The Two Professors]])<!--<br>??? (Gimmighoul PV)-->
|en=Robbie Daymond
|es_eu=Marc Zanni ([[The Two Professors]])<br>Pau López (Gimmighoul PV)}}

==Trivia==
* Willow was designed by [[Yusuke Kozaki]].<ref name=DesignConfirmation>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231119123623/https://twitter.com/kymg/status/1702304075537379824 Kozaki reaffirming that he designed Professor Willow.]</ref>
* Professor Willow is the only [[Pokémon Professor]] to be named after a tree outside of the [[core series]] games.
* Professor Willow is the first Pokémon Professor in a spin-off game to have a colleague from the core series.

==Names==
{| class="roundtable" style="background:#{{night color}}; border:3px solid #{{blue color}}"
|- style="color:#fff"
! Language
! Name
! Origin
|-
| Japanese
| ウィロー博士 ''Willow-hakase''
| From ''{{wp|willow}}''
|-
| English, German, Italian,<br>Brazilian Portuguese
| Professor Willow
| Same as Japanese name
|-
| French
| Professeur Willow<br>Professeur Saule{{tt|*|Prior to version 0.31.0}}
| Same as Japanese name<br>From ''saule'' (willow)
|-
| Spanish, Indonesian
| Profesor Willow
| Same as Japanese name
|-
| Korean
| 윌로우박사 ''Willow-baksa''
| Transcription of his Japanese name
|-
| Chinese ({{tt|Mandarin|Taiwan and Mainland China}})
| 維羅博士 / 维罗博士 ''Wéiluó-bóshì''
| rowspan="2" | Transcription of his Japanese name
|-
| Chinese ({{tt|Cantonese|Hong Kong}})
| 維羅博士 ''Wàihlòh-boksih''

|-
| Hindi
| प्रोफ़ेसर विलो ''Professor Willow''
| Transcription of his English/Japanese name
|-
| Thai
| ศาสตราจารย์วิลโลว์ ''Satsatrachan Willow''
| Transcription of his Japanese name
|-
| Turkish
| Profesör Willow
| Same as Japanese name
|-
| Russian
| Профессор Уиллоу ''Professor Uillou''
| Transcription of his English name
|}

==Related articles==
*[[The Two Professors]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
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{{gocharacters}}
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{{Pokémon professor}}
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{{Project CharacterDex notice}}

[[Category:Professors]]
[[Category:Pokémon GO characters]]

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