Professor Elm

Professor Elm in HeartGold and SoulSilver
Professor Elm
Species	Human
Hair color	Brown
Base	New Bark Town
Relatives	Wife, Son
Debut	Pokémon: Gold/Silver Versions

Professor Elm is the Pokémon professor of Johto featured in Pokémon: Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions. His research specializes in Pokémon evolution and the mysteries behind a Pokémon's birth.

Background

Professor Elm started off as an assistant of Professor Oak, but he eventually grew into his own career. Based in his laboratory in New Bark Town, Professor Elm became acknowledged even by his old mentor as the authority on Pokémon evolution. This led to him eventually being given a Master Ball, which were only given out to recognized Pokémon researchers. He did much research into the evolution of Pokémon and tried to find out the secrets of their origins and how they were born. This led him to the discovery of Pikachu being an evolved Pokémon (presumably meaning he discovered Pichu and likely the other baby Pokémon).

The events of Gold, Silver and Crystal began with an e-mail from the eccentric Mr. Pokémon, known for his bizarre discoveries. However, this time his discovery seemed real and groundbreaking, but because Elm was busy with his research at the lab, he instead called in Gold and sent him to meet Mr. Pokémon in his place. He gave Gold one of three newly-discovered Pokémon species (Chikorita, Cyndaquil or Totodile) to accompany him. However, after Gold left, Silver broke into his lab and stole one of the remaining two Pokémon. Professor Elm was shook up by this and called Gold back to New Bark Town as soon as possible.

The professor as originally seen in Gold and Silver.

He was then cheered up after Gold showed him Mr. Pokémon's discovery- what was apparently a Pokémon Egg. He also heard that Gold had received a Pokédex from Professor Oak and, saying that Oak recognized the potential of young trainers, recommended that he take the Pokémon Gym challenge. Elm continued researching the egg in the meantime. After learning that it would hatch when with other active Pokémon, he had his aide give it to Gold at Violet City to take care of until it hatched. It eventually hatched into a Togepi, at which point Professor Elm saw confirmation that Pokémon were born from eggs but also said there was still more research to be done to see if all Pokémon hatched from eggs. He then rewarded Gold by giving him an Everstone to use on any Pokémon that he did not want to evolve.

Professor Elm then came into contact with Gold several more times after his quest. He called Gold after something went wrong with radio frequencies to ask if he knew about it, thinking that Team Rocket might have returned but at the same time denying that possibility. Elm later asked Gold to return to the lab after he cleared all eight gyms, at which point he gave Gold his Master Ball, telling Gold that he could put it to better use than him. Then, after Gold defeated the Elite Four, Professor Elm gave him an S.S. Ticket so that he could travel to Kanto and capture more Pokémon there. The last he was heard of in the game was in an e-mail to Professor Oak, where he expressed pleasure to hearing about Gold's growing popularity in Kanto.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• Professor Elm has appeared in several episodes of the Pokémon anime during the episodes set in Johto. He originally meets with Ash after he saves his Totodile from Team Rocket and explains the Johto League to them. Elm is also shown as head of the Pokémon Preservation Council, and later episodes feature a story arc involving a Pokémon egg, although the egg is a Larvitar one instead of Togepi (likely because the anime had previously already had a story arc about a Togepi hatching). He also appears in one episode of Pokémon Chronicles which features three trainers from New Bark Town (one being based on Gold, the other based on his female counterpart from Crystal, and the third being an original character).
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Professor Elm primarily appeared throughout the Gold/Silver/Crystal arc. He had the youngster Joey doing chores for him and was knocked out by Silver when he robbed his lab. Professor Elm only began working with Gold after he took the Cyndaquil to pursue Silver and helped Gold not only in his search for Silver, but with deducing the Masked Man's identity. Elm also entrusted Gold with the Togepi egg, but he was disappointed with the way Gold's influence had made the Togepi act like a delinquent after it hatched.

Trivia

• Following the trend of naming Pokémon professors after trees, Professor Elm is named after the elm tree.
• Apparently his dedication to his research is great enough to the point where he sometimes forgets to eat meals.
• Professor Elm also appears as the host of Training Mode in Pokémon Puzzle Challenge, which is primarily based on Gold, Silver and Crystal.
• He is mentioned by a Hiker in Hearthome City in Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl Versions who provides the player with a Pokémon egg, who says that Professor Elm had announced the method of helping a Pokémon egg to hatch.