TV-Series
Description
Professor Ciprés, known as Professor Sycamore in English and Professor Platane in Japanese, is the Pokémon Professor of the Kalos region in the anime series Pokémon XY and Pokémon XYZ. He works at the Sycamore Pokémon Laboratory in Lumiose City, where he conducts his research and serves as the official who entrusts new Trainers with one of the region's starter Pokémon. He is a middle-aged man with dark curly hair, light facial hair, and bluish eyes, and he keeps both his appearance and his workspace carefully groomed and tidy even while engaged in demanding research. His academic focus is Mega Evolution, a phenomenon he studies in connection with the bonds between humans and Pokémon, along with the broader subjects of evolution and change.
Within the story, he first appears when Ash Ketchum brings an injured Froakie to his laboratory. Professor Ciprés treats the Pokémon, and after seeing how quickly Froakie and Ash connect, he gives Ash a Kalos Pokédex and supports the decision for Froakie to travel with him. He later offers starter Pokémon to Serena, who chooses Fennekin, and to Clemont, who receives a Chespin after the two form a strong bond during a Team Rocket incident. Across the series he appears repeatedly: he organizes the Pokémon Summer Camp for young Trainers, investigates the ancient sundial at Anistar City alongside the Gym Leader Olympia, and follows the developing fate of Ash's Greninja after Olympia predicts that it will gain an incredible power. When Team Flare's activities threaten the region, his research on Mega Evolution becomes drawn into the conflict, placing him among the figures working to protect Kalos.
His personality is marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and good humor. He is genuinely affectionate toward Pokémon and eager to share his love of them with other people. He is helpful and calm, and he remains determined when facing problems, particularly when solving them can improve the relationship between a Trainer and a Pokémon. Although he is a dedicated scholar, he is also sociable and approachable, and he differs from many other professors in that he is willing to battle Trainers himself from time to time. In casual moments he can be overly eager or slightly clumsy, which adds to his friendly and accessible nature.
His central motivations are to understand the mysteries of Mega Evolution and to support the growth of the next generation of Trainers. He dedicates himself to gathering data, testing Mega Stones and Key Stones, and studying unusual phenomena such as the apparent bond-based power of Ash's Greninja, which he considers alongside the possibility of Mega Evolution. He also takes responsibility for preparing young people for their journeys, from distributing starter Pokémon to organizing educational events such as the summer camp.
Key relationships shape his role in the series. His partner Pokémon is a Garchomp, which is central to his research and which he raised from an early stage. He employs two assistants, Sophie and Cosette, who help run the laboratory. He also acted as a mentor to the Trainer Alain, who was once one of his assistants before leaving to research Mega Evolution in his own way. He maintains a friendly connection with the Kalos Champion Diantha, from whom he seeks insight into how Trainers and Pokémon activate Mega Evolution. He is likewise acquainted with the influential figure Lysandre, who is later revealed to be the leader of Team Flare, a revelation that ties the professor's research closely to the danger facing the region. Toward the main protagonists, he acts as a supportive figure who trusts their instincts and celebrates their progress.
His development across the series is closely tied to Mega Evolution. Early on, he has a Key Stone and a Garchompite but has not yet achieved a controlled Mega Evolution with his Garchomp, a gap that Team Rocket attempts to exploit by forcing the transformation. By the end of that incident, he successfully Mega Evolves his Garchomp into Mega Garchomp, gaining a reliable battle capability. He also shows strong perceptiveness when he recognizes that the masked battler known as Blaziken Mask is actually Meyer based on the scent of his Mega Stone, and he later requests Meyer's help with his research. As the Team Flare crisis unfolds and the prophecy about Ash's Greninja comes to pass, his work takes on greater significance, pointing toward the connection between Mega Evolution and the deep bond between humans and Pokémon. His later appearances beyond the XY and XYZ seasons show him continuing his research and watching over his former student Alain with pride.
In terms of notable abilities, Professor Ciprés is one of the leading researchers in his field, recognized for his knowledge of evolution and Mega Evolution. He can battle competently with his Garchomp, including its Mega form, and he regularly challenges young Trainers as part of their development. He is also skilled in the care and rehabilitation of Pokémon, having nursed an injured Froakie and raised other Pokémon in his laboratory. His perceptiveness, patience, and hands-on approach make him both a respected scientist and a dependable supporter of the Trainers he sends out into the world.
Within the story, he first appears when Ash Ketchum brings an injured Froakie to his laboratory. Professor Ciprés treats the Pokémon, and after seeing how quickly Froakie and Ash connect, he gives Ash a Kalos Pokédex and supports the decision for Froakie to travel with him. He later offers starter Pokémon to Serena, who chooses Fennekin, and to Clemont, who receives a Chespin after the two form a strong bond during a Team Rocket incident. Across the series he appears repeatedly: he organizes the Pokémon Summer Camp for young Trainers, investigates the ancient sundial at Anistar City alongside the Gym Leader Olympia, and follows the developing fate of Ash's Greninja after Olympia predicts that it will gain an incredible power. When Team Flare's activities threaten the region, his research on Mega Evolution becomes drawn into the conflict, placing him among the figures working to protect Kalos.
His personality is marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and good humor. He is genuinely affectionate toward Pokémon and eager to share his love of them with other people. He is helpful and calm, and he remains determined when facing problems, particularly when solving them can improve the relationship between a Trainer and a Pokémon. Although he is a dedicated scholar, he is also sociable and approachable, and he differs from many other professors in that he is willing to battle Trainers himself from time to time. In casual moments he can be overly eager or slightly clumsy, which adds to his friendly and accessible nature.
His central motivations are to understand the mysteries of Mega Evolution and to support the growth of the next generation of Trainers. He dedicates himself to gathering data, testing Mega Stones and Key Stones, and studying unusual phenomena such as the apparent bond-based power of Ash's Greninja, which he considers alongside the possibility of Mega Evolution. He also takes responsibility for preparing young people for their journeys, from distributing starter Pokémon to organizing educational events such as the summer camp.
Key relationships shape his role in the series. His partner Pokémon is a Garchomp, which is central to his research and which he raised from an early stage. He employs two assistants, Sophie and Cosette, who help run the laboratory. He also acted as a mentor to the Trainer Alain, who was once one of his assistants before leaving to research Mega Evolution in his own way. He maintains a friendly connection with the Kalos Champion Diantha, from whom he seeks insight into how Trainers and Pokémon activate Mega Evolution. He is likewise acquainted with the influential figure Lysandre, who is later revealed to be the leader of Team Flare, a revelation that ties the professor's research closely to the danger facing the region. Toward the main protagonists, he acts as a supportive figure who trusts their instincts and celebrates their progress.
His development across the series is closely tied to Mega Evolution. Early on, he has a Key Stone and a Garchompite but has not yet achieved a controlled Mega Evolution with his Garchomp, a gap that Team Rocket attempts to exploit by forcing the transformation. By the end of that incident, he successfully Mega Evolves his Garchomp into Mega Garchomp, gaining a reliable battle capability. He also shows strong perceptiveness when he recognizes that the masked battler known as Blaziken Mask is actually Meyer based on the scent of his Mega Stone, and he later requests Meyer's help with his research. As the Team Flare crisis unfolds and the prophecy about Ash's Greninja comes to pass, his work takes on greater significance, pointing toward the connection between Mega Evolution and the deep bond between humans and Pokémon. His later appearances beyond the XY and XYZ seasons show him continuing his research and watching over his former student Alain with pride.
In terms of notable abilities, Professor Ciprés is one of the leading researchers in his field, recognized for his knowledge of evolution and Mega Evolution. He can battle competently with his Garchomp, including its Mega form, and he regularly challenges young Trainers as part of their development. He is also skilled in the care and rehabilitation of Pokémon, having nursed an injured Froakie and raised other Pokémon in his laboratory. His perceptiveness, patience, and hands-on approach make him both a respected scientist and a dependable supporter of the Trainers he sends out into the world.