TV-Series
Description
Professor Carvalho, known in English as Professor Samuel Oak, is a Pokémon Professor from the Kanto region who appears as a recurring supporting character in the Pokémon anime, including during the Pokémon XY series. He lives and works in his research laboratory in Pallet Town, where he studies the relationship between humans and Pokémon, and he is regarded as one of the most famous Pokémon researchers in the world. In his youth, he was himself a Pokémon trainer and owned a Charmeleon, an experience that gave him practical knowledge of training and battling before he dedicated himself to research. As the professor of his region, he is responsible for guiding new trainers from Pallet Town, providing them with their first partner Pokémon, and helping them understand the basics of the Pokémon world. His mentorship has also extended to other researchers, as he has trained several fellow professors over the years.
In terms of personality, Carvalho is warm, patient, and encouraging, especially with young trainers. He is deeply curious and enthusiastic about discovering new things, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge in a lively and accessible way. He also has a playful streak, and his love for Pokémon often shows in humorous situations, particularly when he demonstrates a species in his laboratory. He is a dependable and generous figure, always willing to open his home and his laboratory to support trainers on their journeys.
His central motivation is the advancement of knowledge about Pokémon and the strengthening of the bond between humans and Pokémon. He wants new generations of trainers to begin their journeys with confidence, and he continues to care for the Pokémon entrusted to him long after those trainers have left Pallet Town. This sense of responsibility keeps him connected to the people he has helped, and he takes genuine satisfaction in watching them grow.
Within the story of the Pokémon XY series, Carvalho plays a supporting role from his base in Kanto while the main events unfold in the Kalos region, where the resident professor is a different researcher. He keeps in contact with trainers through video communication, offering information, advice, and encouragement. He also looks after the Pokémon that Ash leaves in his care, allowing the young trainer to rotate his team while traveling. In the Japanese broadcasts of the series, he hosts a closing segment known as Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster, in which he introduces a featured Pokémon, shares facts about it, and shows a live example in his laboratory, often leading to comedic outcomes.
His most important relationship is with Ash Ketchum, whom he entrusted with a Pikachu at the beginning of Ash's journey. Carvalho acts as a mentor and a fatherly figure for Ash, and their connection remains strong across regions, with the professor regularly offering support from afar. He is also the grandfather of Gary Carvalho, a gifted and ambitious trainer who started his journey alongside Ash and later turned toward research, following a path closer to his grandfather's. Among his professional connections, he has inspired and taught other Pokémon professors, extending his influence far beyond Pallet Town.
Although his role stays consistent over time, the character shows steady dedication and adaptability. In the XY series, he embraces new technology to communicate with trainers across long distances, showing that his methods evolve with the times while his mission remains unchanged. His bond with Ash deepens as he repeatedly observes the strength of the connection between the young trainer and his Pokémon, and his lasting presence across the entire anime reflects his position as a constant and trusted figure.
As for notable abilities, Carvalho is a highly knowledgeable researcher with expertise in the relationship between humans and Pokémon and in the care of many different species. He runs a functioning laboratory, maintains an extensive Pokémon storage system, and presents a weekly Pokémon-themed radio program that reaches a wide audience. His talent as an educator allows him to explain complex subjects clearly, and his past life as a trainer gives him practical insight into raising and battling with Pokémon.
In terms of personality, Carvalho is warm, patient, and encouraging, especially with young trainers. He is deeply curious and enthusiastic about discovering new things, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge in a lively and accessible way. He also has a playful streak, and his love for Pokémon often shows in humorous situations, particularly when he demonstrates a species in his laboratory. He is a dependable and generous figure, always willing to open his home and his laboratory to support trainers on their journeys.
His central motivation is the advancement of knowledge about Pokémon and the strengthening of the bond between humans and Pokémon. He wants new generations of trainers to begin their journeys with confidence, and he continues to care for the Pokémon entrusted to him long after those trainers have left Pallet Town. This sense of responsibility keeps him connected to the people he has helped, and he takes genuine satisfaction in watching them grow.
Within the story of the Pokémon XY series, Carvalho plays a supporting role from his base in Kanto while the main events unfold in the Kalos region, where the resident professor is a different researcher. He keeps in contact with trainers through video communication, offering information, advice, and encouragement. He also looks after the Pokémon that Ash leaves in his care, allowing the young trainer to rotate his team while traveling. In the Japanese broadcasts of the series, he hosts a closing segment known as Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster, in which he introduces a featured Pokémon, shares facts about it, and shows a live example in his laboratory, often leading to comedic outcomes.
His most important relationship is with Ash Ketchum, whom he entrusted with a Pikachu at the beginning of Ash's journey. Carvalho acts as a mentor and a fatherly figure for Ash, and their connection remains strong across regions, with the professor regularly offering support from afar. He is also the grandfather of Gary Carvalho, a gifted and ambitious trainer who started his journey alongside Ash and later turned toward research, following a path closer to his grandfather's. Among his professional connections, he has inspired and taught other Pokémon professors, extending his influence far beyond Pallet Town.
Although his role stays consistent over time, the character shows steady dedication and adaptability. In the XY series, he embraces new technology to communicate with trainers across long distances, showing that his methods evolve with the times while his mission remains unchanged. His bond with Ash deepens as he repeatedly observes the strength of the connection between the young trainer and his Pokémon, and his lasting presence across the entire anime reflects his position as a constant and trusted figure.
As for notable abilities, Carvalho is a highly knowledgeable researcher with expertise in the relationship between humans and Pokémon and in the care of many different species. He runs a functioning laboratory, maintains an extensive Pokémon storage system, and presents a weekly Pokémon-themed radio program that reaches a wide audience. His talent as an educator allows him to explain complex subjects clearly, and his past life as a trainer gives him practical insight into raising and battling with Pokémon.