Ever since the release ofPokemon Red & Blueover a quarter of a century ago, professors have played a huge role in thePokemonfranchise. It all started withthe much beloved Professor Oak, but in the years that have followed, fans have been introduced to plenty more memorable Pokemon Professors as they exploredthe franchise’s many regions.
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Each of the professors brings something slightly different to the table, either through their knowledge of a particular area of study or their larger than life personalities. Not all professors were created equal, however, with some offering a lot more to the series than others. As a result, certain professors have had a far greater impact than their peers.
Pokemon Region: N/A
ThoughProfessor Grand Oak’s design is certainly interesting, there’s very little substance to the character when compared to some of the other researchers in thePokemonworld. It doesn’t help thatPokemon HOMEis effectively just a Pokemon storage facility rather than a game, but it would still be nice to get a bit more face time with the professor when transferring creatures in and out ofHOME.
Pokemon Region: Lental
New Pokemon Snap’s Professor Mirror is an expert on Illumina energy and has been investigating the phenomenon in the Lental region for quite some time. Together with Rita, he helps the player to learn about Pokemon photography, but the pair offer up very little in the way of personality while they do so. As such,they can sometimes feel more like AI assistantsrather than fully-fledged characters.
Pokemon Region: Alola
Professor Samson Oak first shows up inthe seventh generation ofPokemongamesand shares a lot of visual similarities with his cousin Samuel. The two look almost identical, with the only real differences being their outfits, hairstyles and Samson’s impressive tan. He’s almost like anAlolanOak, in that respect. Where the two really differ, however, is in the personality department, with Samson nowhere near as endearing as his cousin.
Pokemon Region: Pasio Island
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Those who still haven’t gotten around to playingPokemon Masters EXwill likely have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Professor Bellis. Bellis resides on the game’s Pasio Island and is an expert onPokemon syncing. She also helps out with egg incubating from time to time. The professor has a pretty cool design and definitely plays a significant enough role in the game to warrant the creation of yet another Pokemon Professor.
Pokemon Region: Orre
Found only in the Orre region that’s explored inPokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, Professor Krane is an expert on Shadow Pokemon and the creator of the world’s only known Purify Chamber. He’s one of the younger professors that players have encountered thus far, but he’s every bit as knowledgeable as some of his older and more esteemed colleagues. He also gives players a Master Ball, which comes in handy later in the game.
Pokemon Region: Galar
Professor Magnolia is one of the most learned people inthe Galar regionand is an expert on the Dynamax phenomenon. Unlike most of the other main professors in the series, however, Magnolia doesn’t provide players with their starter Pokemon, nor does she offer all that much in the way of helpful information. She does hook players up with aDynamaxBand, but is largely overshadowed by her Granddaughter and research assistant, Sonia.
Pokemon Region: Johto
Hailing fromthe Johto region, Professor Elm fails to live up to the high standards set by Professor Oak in the first generation ofPokemongames. He comes across as far less knowledgeable than his peer, despiteGold & Silverattempting to paint him as an expert on Pokemon eggs and evolution. His appearances throughout the games are sporadic and when he does show up, he typically comes across as being incredibly disorganized.
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Professor Burnet is a professor in much the same way that Dr. Pepper is a doctor. She’s actually the wife of another professor and, as such, serves more as a secondary character than one ofSun & Moon’s primary protagonists. That said, she did play a starring role a few years beforeSun & MooninPokemon Dream Radar. Her vast knowledge regarding other dimensions is impressive and she’s also one of the kindest characters that players can encounter in the Alola region.
Pokemon Region: Hoenn
Though Professor Birch is arguably just as goofy as Elm, he’s infinitely more likable on account of his outgoing and jolly personality. His cowardice and helplessness provide some genuinely funny moments, but he can also be incredibly insightful when required. He also gives players both Gen 2 and Gen 3 starter Pokemon inthe remakes ofRuby & Sapphire, making him one of the more generous professors that players have encountered thus far.
Pokemon Region: Unova
Professor Juniper holds the distinction of having been the very first female professor that players encounter in the series. She resides in the Unova region, where she studies the origins of Pokemon. Her encyclopedic knowledge makes her an excellent professor and was likely acquired through her father Cedric, who was also a Pokemon Professor in his younger days.
