Professor Oak :: Characters

The basics
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Category: Supporting Characters
First Episode: Pokémon - I Choose You!
Japanese Voice Actor: UnshÅ Ishizuka. Portrayed by Keiko Toda in the 4th Movie.
English Voice Actor: Stan Hart, succeeded by Billy Beach. Portrayed by Tara Jayne in the 4th Movie.

Professor Oak

Professor Samuel Oak is one of the most respected researchers in the Pokémon world. He is well known throughout all regions. He is the person new trainers from Kanto go to to receive their Pokemon Trainer's license and all important first Pokemon. He appeared in the very first episode and supplied Ash with Pikachu. Ash regularly calls him up to ask for advice and to exchange his Pokemon.

Oak owns a vast research facility in Pallet Town. Hundreds of wild Pokemon live in the grounds, as well as all the stored Pokemon trainers have sent to him. He worked with his friend Prof. Westwood on developing the Pokédex, a device that stores information on all known Pokemon, and he is constantly upgrading it.

As well as Ash's mentor he is also his grandson Gary's. He has no Pokemon of his own but enjoys taking care of the hundreds that trainers like Ash and Gary sent him. These include Kingler, Tauros, Muk, Dodrio, Snorlax and Herracross. He has to feed them, study them and let them have a little excercise all in one day. He wouldn't manage it without the help of Pokemon watcher, Tracey Skechit, who idolises him.

Ash, Misty and Brock meet up with the young Samuel - or Sammy for short - in the fourth movie, Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.

Oh and one final thing. His lumbago is always playing up. See The Power of One and episode Fossil Fools.