• Ever thought it'd be cool to have your art, writing, or challenge runs featured on PokéCommunity? Click here for info - we'd love to spotlight your work!
  • Welcome to PokéCommunity! Register now and join one of the best fan communities on the 'net to talk Pokémon and more! We are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company or Nintendo.
    Register

Why are The Professors Named After Trees?

Evoker102

Trade Master
    • 13
    Posts
    11
    Years
    All of the professors are named after trees... Oak, Elm, Birch, Rowan, Juniper, Sycamore. Why???
     
    Don't know why, But What I do know, is that I like it.
     
    It's just a tradition they have been doing since the beginning is all. In Japan all of the professors are named after trees/plants as well so might as well echo that in other countries.
     
    The same reason all saiyans are named after vegetables.

    Theme naming is quite common in Japanese media, it makes it much easier to remember and come up with new names.
     
    Puddle said:
    You comment on the trees, but not that fact that all the cities are named after plants???
    Click to expand...
    Wait, what?
    First Gen was colors, second was plants, third was... all over the place, really, fourth was rocks, fifth was clouds (For some reason), sixth has been similar to third, but in french.
     
    I think it's a cute tradition and I'm glad they've kept up with it all these years!

    For it being trees, maybe it's because the creator of Pokemon loved bugs and bugs live on/in trees?
     
    Oh. It's the first time I had ever realized that they were all named after trees :o (Hm, Prof.Maple... xD)
    I guess its because the japanese rly loves nature, and trees may be a symbol to fit the growing evolution of knowledge and wisdom ;)
     
    I think it's due to trees being known in folklore to be wise and all knowing, in a sense. Since a Pokemon Professor's basically the embodiment of those attributes, they named them after trees/plants. The trend started strongest with Oak, as oak trees are known as old and wise (exactly what Professor Oak is).
     
    nidoking76 said:
    They had very uncreative parents.
    Click to expand...
    Hmm... I'm pretty sure the tree is their family name, which isn't really the parents' fault.

    And as a few others have said, in folklore trees are seen as symbols of knowledge and wisdom, and are worshipped in many cultures around the world. That's not to say that Pokemon professors are worshipped, but they do share the traits of knowledge and wisdom. And just like trees can be symbolized as having different traits, the professors themselves all have different areas of expertise as well.

    I'm not sure they had all of this in mind when we only had Professor Oak, but it's one of the traditions I'm glad they kept up on through the generations.
     
    I wonder if further down the line we'll get a game where Ash has become a Pokémon Professor. Make a nice bookmark to end the series, should that happen.
     
    Huh, I had forgotten that trees are a symbol of wisdom and such. Though I have to question the wisdom of Pokémon Professors when they seem to have difficulty determining my gender lol. It's not that hard, Professor.


    At least there seems to be a reason behind the names. I had thought it was just they picked something at random and just have been running with the theme since then.
     
    PumpJack said:
    I wonder if further down the line we'll get a game where Ash has become a Pokémon Professor. Make a nice bookmark to end the series, should that happen.
    Click to expand...

    Well, that would be kind of silly considering Ash Ketchum is only part of the anime!
     
    can't help but Laugh!
    I wonder what they're gonna name new Prof?
    Prof.Banayan!
    Click to expand...
    No!
    Prof.Cacturn (From Cactus)
    Click to expand...
    Maybe, Yeah its a Good Name; You Pumpkin-faced Goof!
     
    It's just one of the many conventions/patters in the Pokémon franchise-much the same reason every region name so far has had an 'O' or O sound in it. Besides, after all these generations, such things become habits, and it's pretty hard to break them.
     
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top