Professor Oak

The grandfatherly mentor who gives new trainers their first Pokémon and a Pokédex.

Professor Samuel Oak, known in Japan as Dr. Yukinari Ohkido, is a fictional character in the Pokémon franchise that debuted in the 1996 video game Pokémon Red and Green. In these games, he is responsible both for teaching the player about how the world of Pokémon works, as well as giving the player-character their first Pokémon. He has since appeared in subsequent entries in the series as well as spin-off games such as Pokémon Snap and Pokémon Channel. He also has a prominent recurring role in Pokémon: The Series, acting as a guide and starting off the journey for series protagonist Ash Ketchum by giving him a Pikachu. Since his debut, Professor Oak has received positive reception due to his friendly appearance, with critics declaring him one of the best characters in the franchise and a series staple.

Quick Facts

Series: Pokémon
First game: Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Designer: Ken Sugimori (finalized)

Lore & Background

Professor Oak is designed as an old man with short hair and wearing formal laboratory attire such as a lab coat. Although depicted as being both smart and friendly, he is also typically depicted as being rather forgetful, most notably forgetting the name of his grandson. His English name is derived from the deciduous oak tree, with Game Freak stating that the name was chosen due to it being 'dependable due to its longevity' as well as sounding similar to his Japanese name, Ohkido, which also may originate from orchid.

Oak's name would set a trend where future Pokémon professors in the series would be named after other tree species or flora such as rowan and sycamore. According to Game Freak developer Akihito Tomisawa, when needing a full name for the character on the Pokédex, he arbitrarily decided to name him after Japanese anthropologist Yukinari Kohara, which was later officially adopted as the character's name. In-universe he has a grandson known as Blue, also known as Gary in the anime, who is the rival of the protagonist in Red and Blue.

He also has a granddaughter known as Daisy. Oak was formerly a competitive Pokémon trainer when he was young, later residing and working in a laboratory in Pallet Town in the Kanto region and becoming an expert in Pokémon. Earlier in his life he also had a close relationship with the Elite Four member Agatha, however, she revealed it fell apart when he left competitive battling and described him now as a 'shadow of his former self.' In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Samson Oak is introduced as the cousin of Samuel who resides in the Alola region. Pokémon Home introduces a variant of Professor Oak called 'Grand Oak.'

Reader's Guide

Professor Oak serves as the initial guide for new trainers in the Kanto region. His primary role is to teach the player about how the world of Pokémon works and to give the player-character their first Pokémon. He also provides the Pokédex, a device he created that allows trainers to catalog Pokémon they either see or catch, with the ultimate goal of completing the Pokédex by capturing, evolving, and trading to obtain creatures from all Pokémon species. Oak was formerly a competitive Pokémon trainer when he was young, and his past experience gives him insight into both battling and research. He teaches that the journey is about cataloging all Pokémon in the region and becoming a Pokémon League Champion. His laboratory in Pallet Town serves as the starting point for every new trainer's adventure.

Did You Know?

An unused battle with Professor Oak exists in the code of Pokémon Red and Blue, featuring a team of five Pokémon including the fully evolved starter that stayed behind with Oak.
In the Japanese version of Pokémon the Series, Oak was originally voiced by Unshō Ishizuka from the first season until his death in 2018, after which Kenyuu Horiuchi took over.
In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Professor Oak's cousin Samson Oak appears, who has tanned skin, longer hair, and wears a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip-flops.