The Shocking Truth Behind Ash & Professor Oak's First Encounter in Pokémon

In the world of Pokémon, Ash and Professor Oak are believed to have first met in Pallet Town while Ash was growing up. However, their actual first encounter raises a significant plot hole. Surprisingly, Professor Oak had met the future world Champion when he was just a young boy himself. This revelation was made in Pokémon 4Ever, but Ash remains unaware of this truth about his friend.

Pokémon 4Ever was initially released in Japan in 2001 and later in the United States in 2002. The film is directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and features a screenplay by Hideki Sonoda. Following the established formula of the franchise, the movie revolves around Ash and his friends discovering a legend, encountering a rare and legendary Pokémon, and ultimately foiling the evil plans of a villain. In this particular animated feature, Ash crosses paths with Celebi and befriends a boy named Sammy.

Pokémon's Professor Oak Was Just a Kid When He First Met Ash

It is peculiar that Professor Oak never discloses the truth about his identity to Ash, Brock, or Misty, considering the revelation that Sammy is actually him from the past adds an additional level of respect and admiration to their relationship. This newfound knowledge deepens the bond between the two characters, which is never explored in the show. While Ash perceives Professor Oak as a mentor and a close friend of his mother, the professor sees Ash as a dear friend who assisted him in rescuing a unique Pokémon and also shared a distressing experience when they believed Celebi had perished.

Not telling Ash the truth about his identity leaves him constantly wondering about his friend's fate upon returning to his own timeline. Moreover, it is likely that Professor Oak holds a great deal of admiration and respect for Ash, of which the young trainer remains unaware. While the anime writers may prioritize standalone adventures over exploring the broader potential impacts of the films, this approach misses out on the opportunity to create powerful emotional connections between the characters. As a result, each Pokémon film almost feels detached from the show's events, except for Ash's team matching the concurrently released season. Unfortunately, Pokémon 4Ever establishes an extraordinary time-traveling friendship between Ash and Professor Oak, but the consequences of this relationship are left unaddressed, leaving behind a plot hole that will probably never be revisited.