Old man (Kanto)

Old man おじいさん Old man
The old man blocking the path
Gender	Male
Hometown	Viridian City
Region	Kanto
Relatives	Maximo (grandson), Primo (grandson), Unnamed granddaughter
Trainer class	Trainer
Generation	I, II, III, IV
Games	Red, Blue, and Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal, FireRed and LeafGreen, HeartGold and SoulSilver

The old man (Japanese: おじいさん old man) is an infamous NPC that lives in Viridian City, Kanto.

Role

Generations I and III

At first, he is very grumpy and will not let the player pass through to Route 2, until he has had his coffee for the day. This is just a barrier in the game, so the player will not wander past Viridian City until the player goes to the Viridian Poké Mart and delivers Oak's Parcel to Professor Oak.

After that, he starts to lighten up and help the player by teaching them how to catch a Pokémon using a Poké Ball. This is a guide for novice players in Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen. In Red, Blue, FireRed and LeafGreen, he carries a total of 50 Poké Balls in his Bag and uses one to catch a Weedle. In Yellow, he has just one Poké Ball and fails to catch a Rattata; he then goes to the Poké Mart to buy more and agrees to repeat the tutorial and successfully catch the Rattata after the player enters and leaves the Poké Mart. In FireRed and LeafGreen, he also only has one Poké Ball and will give the player a Teachy TV, which contains additional video tutorials provided by his grandson, Primo, in his Poké Dude Show.

In the original Japanese games, the old man is not grumpy from lack of coffee, but rather passed-out drunk. This was changed in the Western releases due to concerns that such content would be deemed inappropriate on a game targeting players of all ages.

• 

  Tutorial in Red and Blue

• 

  Tutorial in Yellow

• 

  Tutorial in FireRed and LeafGreen

Generations II and IV

He reappears in the Generation II games and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver claiming that he is wired from a double shot of espresso. He also says that he needs someone to talk with and asks the player if he believes him when he says that he was once an expert at catching Pokémon.

In the Japanese versions, he instead starts by letting out a hiccup (Japanese: 「ひっく⋯⋯」) and requesting the player to wait so that they listen to what he has to say.

Old man glitch

Main article: Old man glitch

The old man glitch is one of the most widely known glitches in the English Generation I Pokémon games. It causes wild Missingno., 'M (00) and various Pokémon over level 100 or at level 80 to appear.

Pokémon

Caught in tutorial

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green

	Types: Bug Poison
Weedle Lv.5
Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --

Pokémon Yellow

	Type: Normal Unknown
Rattata Lv.5
Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

	Types: Bug Poison Ability: Shield Dust Held item: None
Weedle♂ Lv.5
Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --       Struggle Normal   --

Quotes

Pokémon Red and Blue

• If tried to get past of before delivering Oak's Parcel

"You can't go through here! This is private property!"

• After delivering Oak's Parcel

"Ahh, I've had my coffee now and I feel great! Sure you can go through! Are you in a hurry?"

Yes: "Time is money… Go along then."

No: "I see you're using a Pokédex. When you catch a Pokémon, Pokédex is automatically updated. What? Don't you know how to catch Pokémon? I'll show you how to then."

• After the capture tutorial

"First, you need to weaken the target Pokémon."

Pokémon Yellow

• If tried to get past of before delivering Oak's Parcel

"You can't go through here! This is private property!"

• After delivering Oak's Parcel

"Ahh, I've had my coffee now and I feel great! Sure, you can go through! I'm sorry I was so rude to you! I see you're using a Pokédex. I'll show you how to catch Pokémon as my apology."

• After failed capture tutorial

"That didn't work! I must be losing my touch. I've run out of Poké Balls too. I have to get some at Pokémon Mart."

• If talked to again

"Hmm? You want me to show you how to catch Pokémon again?"

No: "Oh… I'm not good enough for you."

Yes: "Dandy! Watch what I do closely now!"

• After successful capture tutorial

"First, you need to weaken the target Pokémon."

Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

"Hey, kid! I just had a double shot of espresso, and I am wired! I need to talk to someone, so you'll have to do! I might not look like much now, but I was an expert at catching Pokémon. Do you believe me?"

Yes: "Good, good. Yes, I was something out of the ordinary, let me tell you!"

No: "What? You little whelp! If I were just a bit younger, I'd show you a thing or two. Humph!"

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

• If tried to get past of before delivering Oak's Parcel

"I absolutely forbid you from going through here! This is private property!"

• After delivering Oak's Parcel

"Well, now, I've had my coffee, and that's what I need to get going! Hm? What is that red box you have? Ah, so you're working on your Pokédex. Then let me give you a word of advice. Whenever you catch a Pokémon, the Pokédex automatically updates its data. …You don't know how to catch a Pokémon? I suppose I had better show you then!"

• After the capture tutorial

"There! Now tell me, that was educational, was it not? And here, take this, too."

"If there's something you don't understand, watch that. It will teach you about the basics of being a Pokémon Trainer."

• If talked to again

"Well, now, I've had my coffee, and that's what I need to get going! But I made it too strong. It gave me a headache… Incidentally, are you filling your Pokédex? At first, focus on weakening the Pokémon before trying to catch it."

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

"Hey, kid! I just had a double shot of espresso, and I am wired! I need to talk to someone, so you'll have to do! I might not look like much now, but I was an expert at catching Pokémon. Do you believe me?"

Yes: "Good, good. Yes, I was something out of the ordinary, let me tell you!"

No: "What? You little whelp! If I were just a bit younger, I'd show you a thing or two. Humph!"

Sprites

Back sprite from Red and Blue		Back sprite from Yellow		Back sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen
Overworld passed out sprite from Generation I	Overworld sprite from Generation I	Overworld sprite from Generation II	Overworld passed out sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen	Overworld sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen	Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver

Trivia

• The old man was the first NPC to receive a back sprite. Along with the Dude and Primo, he is also one of the Trainers to lack front sprites.
• In the Japanese Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, if both the player's Bag and Pokémon Storage System are full, the old man's tutorial will indefinitely issue the command to send a Poké Ball and return the "full Box" message due to a programming oversight. This was fixed in Pokémon Yellow and the localized releases.

In other languages

Language Title French Viellard* Le vieil homme* German Greis* Alter Mann* Spanish Anciano

Capture tutors Old man • Primo • Professor Oak • Dude • Ethan/Lyra • Wally • Lucas/Dawn • Professor Juniper Bianca • Calem/Serena • Professor Kukui • Leon • Professor Laventon • Nemona

Non-player characters in the core series games

Kanto Professor Oak • Mom (Kanto) • Mom (LGPE) • Red • Blue • Green • Trace • Daisy • Old man • Bill • Celio • Mr. Fuji • Safari Zone Warden • Copycat • Primo • Koichi Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Erik and Sara • Teala • Mina • Cal • Steven Stone • Maylene • Cameron • Mr. Game • Morimoto Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Professor's aides • Magikarp salesman • Name Rater • Day-Care Person • Mr. Hyper See also: Johto Professor Elm • Professor Oak • Mom • Ethan • Lyra • Silver • Mr. Pokémon • Eusine • Lance • Red • Kiyo • Baoba • Magnus • Earl • Kurt • Carrie • Dude Mary • Buena • Radio Director • Haircut brothers • Webster • Master • Li • Wilma • Primo • Maximo • Jet • Caitlin • Cynthia • Cameron • Mr. Game • Felicity • Teala Team Rocket • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Frontier Brains • Kimono Girls • Week Siblings • Name Rater • Poké Seer • Day-Care Couple • Professor's aides Hoenn Professor Birch • Mom • May • Brendan • Wally • Wanda • Steven Stone • Wallace • Scott • Mr. Briney • Mr. Stone • Gabby and Ty • Lanette Brigette • Professor Cozmo • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Rydel • Winstrate family • Captain Stern • Trick Master • Treasure Hunter • Dock Apprentice • Pokémon Center Ladies • Old guys • Mr. Bonding • Teala • Aarune • Lisia • Zinnia • Looker • Inver • Chaz • Fossil Maniac • Kiri • Memory Girl Team Aqua • Team Magma • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Frontier Brains • Battle Chatelaines • Gym guide • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Stats judge Sevii Celio • Bill • Lostelle • Lorelei • Selphy • Teala Team Rocket • Day-Care Couple Sinnoh Professor Rowan • Professor Oak • Johanna • Barry • Lucas • Dawn • Cynthia • Looker • Stat Trainers (Cheryl • Riley • Mira • Buck • Marley) Bebe • Teala • Felicity • Roseanne • Rad Rickshaw • Eldritch • Wilma • Jasmine • Caitlin • Julia • Jordan • Dexter • Keira • Mr. Backlot • Morimoto Underground Man • Mr. Goods • Mr. Fuego • Pokétch Co. President • Dr. Footstep • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman • Helena • Ketch Appy Team Galactic • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Frontier Brains • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Professor's assistants • Stats judge Unova Professor Juniper • Mom (BW) • Mom (B2W2) • Cheren • Bianca • Bianca's father • Hugh • Hugh's sister • Cedric Juniper • Fennel • Amanita Cilan • Chili • Cress • Lenora • Hawes • Loblolly • Charles • Iris • Drayden • Alder • Benga • Curtis • Yancy • Brycen • Sabrina • Pop Roxie Hilbert • Hilda • Nate • Rosa • Ingo • Emmet • Cynthia • Looker • N • Colress • Morimoto • Nishino • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman Team Plasma • Clyde • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • PWT participants • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Judge • Magikarp salesman Kalos Professor Sycamore • Grace • Calem • Serena • Shauna • Tierno • Trevor • Alexa • Cassius • Inver • Sina • Dexio • Gurkinn Bonnie • Diantha • AZ • Looker • Emma • Mr. Bonding • Phil the Photo Guy • Memory Girl • Pokémon Fan Club Chairman Team Flare • Gym guide • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Battle Chatelaines • Name Rater • Day-Care Couple • Judge Alola Professor Kukui • Mom • Lillie • Nebby • Hau • Rotom • Professor Burnet • Molayne • Samson Oak • Ryuki • Mohn Red • Blue • Wally • Cynthia • Grimsley • Colress • Sina • Dexio • Looker • Anabel • Necrozma • Morimoto • Iwao Team Skull • Aether Foundation • Ultra Recon Squad • Team Rainbow Rocket Trial Captains • Island kahunas • Elite Four • Name Rater • Judge • Mr. Hyper • Gester Galar Professor Magnolia • Mum • Hop • Bede • Marnie • Sonia • Leon Sordward • Shielbert • Mustard • Klara • Avery • Honey • Hyde • Peony • Peonia • Calyrex • Ball Guy Watt Traders • Ingredients Sellers • Digging Duo • Camping King Team Yell • Macro Cosmos • Dan • Gym Leaders • Morimoto • Cara Liss • Jack Hisui Cogita • Arceus • Choy • Anthe • Miss Fortunes (Charm • Clover • Coin) • Vessa Galaxy Team • Diamond Clan • Pearl Clan • Ginkgo Guild Paldea Professor Sada • Professor Turo • Mom • Nemona • Koraidon • Miraidon • Geeta • Arven • Penny • Heath Clavell • Jacq • Dendra • Miriam • Raifort • Saguaro • Salvatore • Tyme • Harrington Carmine • Kieran • Briar • Cyrano • Terapagos • Billy and O'Nare Team Star • Gym Leaders • Elite Four • Pokémon League representatives Kitakami Carmine • Kieran • Briar • Caretaker • Yukito and Hideko • Ogerpon • Pecharunt • Perrin • Billy and O'Nare Koraidon • Miraidon • Jacq • Nemona • Arven • Penny • Terapagos • Professor Sada • Professor Turo Blueberry Cyrano • Briar • Carmine • Kieran • Koraidon • Miraidon • Geeta • Rika • Clavell • Perrin • Snacksworth • Synclaire BB Elite Four • Special Coaches • Guidance counselors

This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.