Professor Oak

Professor Oak (full name Samuel Oak) is one of the most iconic supporting characters in the Pokémon anime.

He's the renowned Pokémon Professor of the Kanto region (and later shown to have influence in other regions as well). In the anime, he's portrayed as:

• A kind, wise, and grandfatherly figure — calm, gentle, and endlessly enthusiastic about Pokémon research.
• The one who gives new trainers (like Ash Ketchum) their first Pokémon and their Pokédex at the beginning of their journey.
• An extremely knowledgeable researcher who studies Pokémon behavior, evolution, habitats, and relationships with humans.
• Often seen wearing his signature white lab coat, green vest, and red headband-like tie.
• He has a very relaxed, sometimes absent-minded or eccentric personality — he frequently gets so absorbed in his research that he forgets practical things (famously sleeping in or getting distracted by wild Pokémon).
• He maintains a friendly, supportive relationship with Ash throughout the series, regularly offering advice via video phone, evaluating Ash's progress, and occasionally appearing in person during major events.
• He's also shown to be quite strong and capable when needed — he has a powerful Pokémon team of his own (including his famous Dragonite in some episodes).

In the anime, he's generally depicted as more laid-back and whimsical compared to some other media portrayals, and he's beloved as the warm, encouraging mentor figure who sets countless trainers on their path.