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 Pokémon Sun and Moon.[4]
In the core series games
Professor Oak works in his Laboratory in Pallet Town with his aides. He gives Red and Blue their first partner Pokémon in Pokémon Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, FireRed and LeafGreen. In the last pair of games, he also grants the player 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", 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", Professor Oak reveals that his trusted Pokémon partner is a Nidorino.
Professor Oak was always well known in Kanto, but in Generation II and Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, 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. Ethan/Kris/Lyra 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 HM08 (Rock Climb) 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 Groudon and Kyogre 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:
- "...
- Prof. Oak, how is your research
- coming along? I'm still plugging
- away. I heard rumors
- that <player> is
- getting quite a reputation.
- I'm delighted to hear that.
- Elm in New Bark Town 8-)"
Professor Oak has many fans and admirers. One of them is Schoolboy 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 ParkDPPt/Ramanas ParkBDSP, and gives them the National Pokédex, as well as the Up-Grade, Poké Radar, and the Trainer Counter app for their Pokétch. A letter that he sends to the player in a special event allows the player to find Shaymin. An aide in Rowan's laboratory mentions that Oak is Rowan's junior in terms of seniority. In Platinum, 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 Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres will be visible roaming on the map.
Professor Oak also appears in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, where he serves the same role for Chase/Elaine and Trace 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 partner Pokémon, the third Pokémon goes unrevealed.
Fame Checker
This is a list of the Fame Checker's information on Professor Oak in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- Pallet Town - Sign
- What does this person do?
- "Oak Pokémon Research Lab."
- Pallet Town Research Lab - Prof. Oak
- What is this person like?
- "To make a complete guide on all the Pokémon in the world...
- That was my dream!"
- Pallet Town Research Lab - Aide
- What is this person like?
- "Prof. Oak may not look like much, but he's the authority on Pokémon.
- Many Pokémon Trainers hold him in high regard."
- Viridian City - Pokémon Journal
- Family and friends?
- "Prof. Oak reportedly lives with his grandchildren, Daisy and Blue."
- Pokémon League - Agatha
- Family and friends?
- "I hear Oak'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?
- "Prof. Oak is going to have his own radio show soon.
- The program will be called Prof. Oak's Pokémon Seminar."
- Message from Oak
- From: Prof. Oak
- To: [Player]
- "Why do Pokémon compete and battle so hard for you?
- They do so because they can see the love and trust you have towards Pokémon.
- Never forget that."
Pokémon
Professor Oak gives the player their first partner Pokémon in every Kanto-based game.
Pokémon Red and Blue
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Pokémon Yellow
- Main article: Pikachu (Yellow)
Professor Oak catches this Pikachu while stopping the player from beginning their journey without any Pokémon. He later decides to give it to them.
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This Eevee was intended for the player, but is taken by Blue in his impatience. Its evolutionary path is determined by the player's interactions with its Trainer.
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Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
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Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
After the player has defeated Red, Professor Oak gifts them with one of the Kanto first partner Pokémon.
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Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
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Unused teams
- Main article: Unused Trainer data → Prof. Oak
Unused Trainer data for Prof. Oak (Japanese: オーキドせんせい 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 Champion 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 Pokémon Lab, 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 Pokédex, 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 Pikachu as the main research subject.
Pokémon Trading Card Game series
In Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, the Professor Oak 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 Todd 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 constellations to determine that Mew 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 Help section, Julie 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 anime 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.[5]
In the GO Web series, The Two Professors, Willow contacts Oak to discuss the recent appearance of Ditto transformed into an unrecognizable Pokémon. Oak is able to identify it as the Mythical Pokémon, Meltan.
Pokémon Masters EX
- Main article: Professor Oak (Masters)
Professor Oak, in his Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen design, forms a sync pair with Mew and Nidorino 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.
| Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #082 | 
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Professor Oak | #0151 | 
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Mew |
Psychic
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Bug
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★★★☆☆☆EX | Log-in from February 14 to March 16, 2020 and from August 28, 2020 indefinitely | |
| #082 |
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Professor Oak | #0033 | 
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Nidorino♂ |
Poison
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Psychic
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★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair-Up Event |
Gallery
Artwork
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| Official artwork from Red and Blue by Ken Sugimori[6] |
Official artwork from Gold and Silver |
Official artwork from FireRed and LeafGreen by Ken Sugimori[7] |
Official artwork from Pokémon Origins |
Concept art from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! |
Sprites and models
In the core series
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| Intro sprite from Red and Blue |
Intro sprite from Yellow |
Prototype sprite from Spaceworld '97 demo |
Intro sprite from Generation II |
Intro sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Fame Checker sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Beta Fame Checker sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Intro sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Overworld model from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! |
Overworld model from Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl |
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| Overworld sprite from Generation I |
Back sprite from Yellow |
Overworld sprite from Generation II |
Overworld sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Overworld sprite from Generation IV | |||||
In other games
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Sprite from the tutorial of Puzzle League |
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| Portrait from Stadium and Stadium 2 |
Menu sprite from Snap |
Dialogue sprite from Hey You, Pikachu! |
Dialogue sprites from Channel |
Menu sprite from Puzzle Challenge |
Professor Oak sprite from the Trading Card Game |
Professor Oak sprite from Card GB2: Here Comes Team GR! |
Unused overworld sprite from Ranger | |
Other images
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| Professor Oak's signature from Play It! and Play It! 2 |
Quotes
- Main article: Professor Oak/Quotes
In the anime
Main series
- Main article: Professor Oak (anime)
Professor Oak appeared semi-regularly from the original series until Pokémon Journeys: The Series, giving Ash Ketchum useful information for his journey 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 Pokémon Red and Blue. He assigned Red and Blue with the task of completing his dream of a complete Pokédex. Eventually, Red did manage to catch all 150 known Pokémon, but then realized that Mew was still out there, and decided to continue his effort in bringing Professor Oak's dream to a true completion.
Pokémon
On hand
| Debut | File 1: Red |
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Professor Oak sent out his Eevee during his introduction of the Pokémon world.
None of Eevee's moves are known.
Gives to new Trainers
 Bulbasaur |
 Squirtle |
 Charmander |
Gave away to new Trainers
 Red's Charmander |
 Blue's Squirtle |
Voice actors
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Pokémon Generations
Though Professor Oak did not physically appear in Pokémon Generations, he was mentioned by Agatha during her battle against Blue in The Challenger.
GOTCHA!
Professor Oak briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.
Pokémon Evolutions
Professor Oak appeared in The Discovery. Green 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 a new Pokémon made entirely of metal. However, when Professor Oak turned around to share the news with Green, Elaine, and Trace, he was surprised to see them having already left.
Pokémon
Gives to new Trainers
 Bulbasaur |
Squirtle |
Charmander |
Voice actors
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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
- Main article: Professor Oak (anime)
Professor Oak makes a few appearances in The Electric Tale of Pikachu. He is a role model to Ash and is Bill's mentor. Unlike in the anime, he does not give Ash his Pikachu; in fact, he does not meet Ash until after he has already begun his Pokémon journey.
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Professor Oak (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 League Champion.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
Professor Oak first appeared in Falkner The Bird Keeper's Challenge!!, where he witnessed Articuno's appearance at the Violet Gym. He also saw the battle between Articuno and Gold'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
- Main article: Professor Oak (Pocket Monsters)
Professor Oak is a character in Pokémon Pocket Monsters, where he is in regular contact with Red and Green.
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 Satoshi from a flock of Pidgey 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 Bulbasaur, as he would have been too lonely otherwise.
In Celadon City, it was revealed that Professor Oak is taking care of Shigeru and Daisy Oak since their parents died in a car crash. He was last seen in Indigo Plateau, telling Satoshi and Shigeru about a rare Pokémon that dwells in a cave.
Pokémon
On hand
| Debut | Pallet Town |
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Professor Oak kept Bulbasaur after Satoshi and Shigeru got their first partner Pokémon as he would have been too lonely without it. It was revealed to have evolved into Ivysaur and then Venusaur sometime when Satoshi went to Indigo Plateau. Venusaur was then seen with Professor Oak around the end of the chapter when he was explaining to Satoshi and Shigeru about a rare cave that contained the Legendary Pokémon, Mewtwo.
None of Venusaur's moves are known.
Gives to new Trainers
 Bulbasaur |
 Charmander |
 Squirtle |
Given away
| Debut | Pallet Town |
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- Main article: Satoshi's Charmander (Zensho)
Professor Oak gave this Charmander to Satoshi as his choice of being his first Pokémon since Charmander rescued Satoshi from a flock of Pidgey earlier.
| Debut | Pallet Town |
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Shigeru chose Squirtle as it had the type-advantage against Satoshi's Charmander.
Squirtle's only known move is Water Gun.
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Spoilers end here. |
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Pokémon Newspaper Strip
Professor Oak was first mentioned in Strip 6. After a battle between Pikachu and Squirtle, 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:
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| Researching | Visiting Sinnoh |
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 Dark Pokémon. The following list is of cards mentioning or featuring Imposter Professor Oak.
| Related cards Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
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| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Impostor Professor Oak | T | Base Set | 
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73/102 | Expansion Pack |
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102/130 | |||||
| Celebrations | 
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73/102 | Promo Card Pack 25th Anniversary Edition | 004/025 | |||
| Imposter Oak's Revenge | T | Team Rocket | 
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76/82 | Rocket Gang |
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| Impostor Professor Oak's Invention | T | Neo Destiny |
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94/105 | Darkness, and to Light... |
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Other appearances
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Professor Oak appears as a random trophy wearing his regular clothing from the anime.
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.
- If the player speaks to Professor Oak in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver 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・ユキナリ博士 Dr. Yukinari Ohkido |
From orchid and the family name 大木戸 Ōkido (large wooden city gate or castle door) Incidentally, Yukinari resembles Yukinori, the actual given name of Unshō Ishizuka. |
| English, Italian | Professor Samuel Oak | From oak and similar to his Japanese name. His given name may be from Salem Oak (historic tree in Salem, New Jersey) |
| 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 |
| Professeur Oak* | From his English name | |
| Korean | 오용호 박사 Dr. O Yongho | From the first syllable of his Japanese name and the surname 오 O |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 大木博士 Dr. Dàmù 雪成 Xuěchéng* |
From the Japanese names 大木戸 Ōkido and 雪成 Yukinari |
| 幸成 Xìngchéng* | From the Japanese name 幸成 Yukinari | |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 大木博士 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 Oak* Profesor Ohkido* Profesor Orchid |
From his English name From his Japanese name From his Japanese name |
| Polish | Profesor Oak | From his English name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Professor Samuel Carvalho* Professor Oak* |
From carvalho (oak) and his English name Same as English name |
| Russian | Профессор Семуель Оук Professor Semuyel' Ouk |
Transcription of his English name |
| Thai | ศาสตราจารย์โอคิโดะ Sattrachan Okhido* ดร.โอคิโดะ Dr. Okhido* ดร.ออคิด Dr. Okhit ยูกินาริ Yukinari |
Transcription of his Japanese name |
| Vietnamese | Giáo sư Yukinari Ohkido | Transcription of his Japanese name |
References
- ↑ Professor Oak's Setup (Cosmic Eclipse 201)
- ↑ Joe J Thomas: Voice Acting Portfolio
- ↑ Pokémon Masters EX official Youtube channel (Japanese)
- ↑ 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." (Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon
- ↑ #ProfessorWillowWeek Fact #1 on Twitter
- ↑ Professor Oak (Base Set 88)
- ↑ Professor Oak's New Theory (HeartGold & SoulSilver 101)
Related articles
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| Golden Boys characters |
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| Gold • Black • Chris • Grey • Professor Oak Professor Elm • Mr. Pokémon • DJ Mary • Takeo • Kurt |
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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. |
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