Professor Rowan is a character who first appeared in the Generation IV games Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and is also known as the leading Professor of the Sinnoh region.
Contents
Appearance
Professor Rowan has fair skin, blue eyes, and spiky white hair with sideburns and a mustache. He wears a gray jacket over a white shirt paired with a light blue vest, a gray tie, dark teal pants, and gray shoes. Sometimes, he wears a white lab coat with his outfit.
History
Games
Diamond and Pearl
Professor Rowan is responsible for giving beginner Trainers a starter Pokémon, specifically Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup. As the lead manager of his laboratory, like Professor Oak, Professor Rowan is given the task of introducing the player throughout the beginning of the game as well as helping his assistant, Dawn or Lucas, choose which Pokémon to start with. Professor Rowan can be found in Sandgem Town researching and collecting data on various Pokémon. He also upgrades the player's Pokédex to National Mode when they have seen 150 Sinnoh Pokémon.
X and Y
Prior to Pokémon X & Y, Professor Rowan taught Professor Sycamore much about Pokémon Evolution when he was young.
Manga
Backstory
Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz went a long time ago to Lake Acuity to study the distribution of Pokémon species. It was there where Mr. Berlitz' daughter, Platinum, suffered a great incident, which she later had forgotten. A long time ago, Professor Rowan and Roseanne observed Moon's experiments involving poison.
Some time ago, Mr. Berlitz and his daughter helped Professor Rowan in his studies. Two months before Platinum's journey, Professor Rowan asked of the Pokétch president to make three Pokétches. The president was glad for the work order, while Rowan asked of him to make them differently colored, for three people that would start off the journey.
The president thought of making a pink, a blue and an orange Pokétch, which made Rowan see he would have to make the Pokédexes match their color. Oak and Rowan worked together to create the newest Pokédex, which would be given to Sinnoh Pokédex Holders.
Diamond and Pearl arc
Professor Rowan went with Mr. Berlitz to meet up with the bodyguards, which were hired to keep Mr. Berlitz' daughter safe. However, Diamond and Pearl accidentally bumped into them, which made Rowan angry that the youth had no manners nowadays. Diamond and Pearl apologized and ran off, while Rowan and Mr. Berlitz stood up. The former commented the size of the crowd in the place, considering he recently came from Johto region. Mr. Berlitz explained that the stand-up competition was held, and considered themselves lucky to be like that, since his daughter could go around unnoticed.
Rowan admitted he was surprised that Mr. Berlitz let his daughter roam around freely, considering she was a member of the noble family of scholars. While he understood it was tradition for the Berlitz family to go to Mt. Coronet to craft a family emblem, he still thought Mr. Berlitz' daughter was too young. Mr. Berlitz added that she had insisted on doing so, but was grateful that his daughter was convinced to at least take some bodyguards, and Rowan was also glad that she decided to record the Pokémon in the Pokédex along the way. A moment later, they met the two bodyguards, who were given the envelope with the mission. The bodyguards disappeared, which made Rowan and Mr. Berlitz convinced the two were professionals. Diamond later thought about the encounter with Mr. Berlitz and Professor Rowan, and realized they accidentally swapped papers, so they ended up traveling with Platinum, whom Pearl thought of as a tour guide for their travel.
After having an interview at the Jubilife TV, Rowan returned to his lab in Oreburgh City. There, Mr. Berlitz has awaited his coming, and prepared data about gender differences, and differences between Pokémon from Eastern and Western Sinnoh region. Rowan noted he was fast at preparing that, and looked at the papers about Pokémon evolution, which was another thing they had to study through. Rowan finished his research, and had a lunch break with Mr. Berlitz. He asked Berlitz where his daughter could be. Mr. Berlitz did not know, but he didn't feel upset, as he believed that girls her age were interested in various things and visit various places. It was why he had the bodyguards arranged to permit Platinum to do stuff as long as it wasn't too dangerous. Rowan noted that was a smart move to do, and the two guys packed up to visit Canalave City. Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz went on a boat, pushed by a Floatzel. The two were eager for the conference that was held in the library. Rowan reminded there were many Pokémon experts there that would share their knowledge, over the next two weeks, and Mr. Berlitz confirmed that.
While Platinum knew Professor Rowan and her father hired the bodyguards to protect her, she still afraid that she was targeted by someone when someone photographed her. Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz attended the conference. Rowan noticed Mr. Berlitz was concerned, who was worried about his daughter. Still, Rowan reminded they hired good bodyguards to protect her. The two were offered newspapers from Solaceon Town. Rowan and Mr. Berlitz refused, stating there was nothing notable to read from those newspapers. The two went to the stage for their presentation, unaware that the newspaper contained photo of missy and her fake bodyguards.
Professor Rowan went with Mr. Berlitz out of the library, where the Pokémon Research Conference was held. Rowan suggested to go to the hotel to get some lunch. Mr. Berlitz panicked, as he dropped an item at the library, and went back to obtain it. Professor Rowan went to Mr. Berlitz, noted he took a lot of time to get the item. However, he encountered Mr. Berlitz and Byron facing a Team Galactic grunt. The latter saw the commotion gained the attention of too many people, and threw a cube that trapped Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz. Byron took the cage into his Gym, and tried to find a way to release Rowan and Mr. Berlitz, but found no way to open it.
Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz were trapped in a cage in Byron's Gym. Despite being trapped, Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz were pleased to see Platinum alive and well, but wondered who were the boys she was traveling with, since they were not the bodyguards they had hired. The Team Galactic grunt came to Canalave City Gym, where he, from a distance, released Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz, since he didn't want them to suffer, considering their objective to get the funding was completed. Diamond and Pearl explained to the two gentlemen what happened to them and Platinum.
The next day, as they were waiting for Platinum, Diamond and Pearl apologized to Rowan and Mr. Berlitz for the trouble they caused. The group was waiting for Platinum, as Mr. Berlitz and Professor Rowan felt it was for the best for her to go back to the mansion, rather than to have a journey in these dangerous times, without bodyguards to protect her. Suddenly, Platinum arrived, and explained while she respected everyone's opinions, she announced that she would defend Sinnoh region, for Team Galactic would use the Galactic Bomb to blow up the lakes.
Rowan and Mr. Berlitz were astonished by this revelation. Rowan, however, pitched in his support to Platinum to let her continue the journey. He also turned to Diamond and Pearl, and permitted them to continue using the Pokétch and the Pokédexes, and had the latter upgraded with new features that they finished during the conference. Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz remained in Canalave City, to recover from the time they spent trapped in the cage. Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz were conducting research, while Byron kept an eye on them.
Rowan and Mr. Berlitz went with Byron through the underground tunnels. While they thought that they were hindering the Gym Leaders, Byron reminded they were fighting, while Rowan and Mr. Berlitz were to share their knowledge of the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia. While Mr. Berlitz was observing the changes in the magnetic field, Rowan suspected there was one way to defeat the enemy. Since Mr. Berlitz noticed abnormalities, Rowan reminded of a clash between Kyogre and Groudon, which were led by their instincts. However, he noticed that Dialga and Palkia weren't normally enemies, and realized that Cyrus was forcing them to fight. Since space itself was being warped, preventing the Gym Leaders from reaching Cyrus, Rowan had Byron get all the Gym Leaders to the tunnels. Rowan explained they just experienced a warp in space and time, and told there was one way to defeat the enemy. The Gym Leaders emerged through the ground to Cyrus, and destroyed the Red Chain. Mr. Berlitz and Rowan cheered for the victory, but the latter gasped, and asked Mr. Berlitz if the calculations were correct. In fact, the space and time warp reached the tunnels, and affected Mr. Berlitz.
As Charon, Team Galactic's scientist, tried to escape, he was stopped by Byron, the Underground Man, Mr. Berlitz and Professor Rowan. Rowan and Mr. Berlitz heard Charon muttering about some data, and wanted to interrogate him for that. Byron took his device and fiddled with it, causing gigantic tentacles to emerge and pull Dialga, Palkia and Cyrus through the hole, while Charon escaped, leaving a notebook behind. Once the battle was over, Rowan passed Charon's notebook, a memo about the Legendary Pokémon, to the Sinnoh Pokémon Association's chairman. Professor Rowan spoke with Diamond and Pearl on the matter. Diamond admitted they already encountered a Legendary Pokémon, Rotom, and claimed they could easily face it once more, much to Pearl's surprise.
Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz went to Sunyshore City, where they encountered Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. They saw a robot figure punching Charon to the ground, which was actually possessed by a Rotom. It reminded Rowan of an article that said a Pokémon possessed a robot to be playing around, and assumed it referred to Rotom. With the conflict over, Mr. Berlitz and Rowan noted there were many Pokémon that could change forme, to which they would write articles about. In the end, Rowan continued his research with the Berlitz family and Roseanne, though he did take some candy in secret.
X and Y arc
Professor Rowan called Professor Oak, and warned him of the awakening of Xerneas and Yveltal in Kalos.
Anime
Dawn, who had just started her Pokémon journey after leaving her hometown of Twinleaf Town, tried to find the professor's laboratory, and bumped into the professor himself. Rowan helped her reach his laboratory, which he saw thrashed: a fight broke between a Piplup and a Chimchar, causing his Starly and Staraptor to break the windows, allowing the Pokémon to escape. Thus, Dawn went to find the missing Pokémon, and when she found all four, she saw a mysterious figure in the neighboring lake. When she returned, Dawn asked the professor about the figure, who believed she saw a Legendary Pokémon. As the new trainer, Rowan gave Dawn some Poké Balls and offered her a Starter Pokémon, to which Dawn chose a Piplup. Without further ado, Dawn bid the professor and his assistants farewell, as she went off on her journey. Professor Rowan giving the Pokédex to Dawn was remembered by Ash, Dawn and Brock, as they were going to Snowpoint City.
Finding a lost Pikachu, Dawn contacted Professor Rowan, telling him about it, as well as that she was going to Jubilife City for the Contest. Ash, who came to Sinnoh region, went with Officer Jenny to Rowan's lab, where the professor gave him Aipom's Poké Ball, sent by Profesor Oak. Rowan informed Ash that Pikachu was with Dawn, and later contacted her to inform her that Pikachu's owner was on his way. The two trainers, along with Brock, met up, and informed Professor Rowan about the success. Rowan reported that he got a package from Ash's mom. At the lab, Ash received his package and spoke with Professor Oak a bit, before Rowan wanted to speak with his colleage in private. Just as the group was to leave, they were approached by a guy named Paul, who challenged Ash to a battle. As the battle ended in a draw, Paul thanked Professor Rowan for using the back of his laboratory for the battle, and walked away.
Contacted by Gary Oak, Professor Rowan promised to meet the latter at a location, showing a map. However, Pokémon Hunter J intercepted them, and captured the rare Shieldon meant for preservation, which later Ash and Gary rescued. Rowan opened the Pokémon Summer Academy, in which many Trainers took part. When Ash, Dawn and Brock came to participate, Rowan greeted them, but reminded that they were late. Later, when Ash got into an argument with Angie, Rowan held them both up to stop their fighting. Despite this, their argument later escalated, due to a misunderstanding when their borrowed Pokémon went to battle. Rowan yelled at them, reminding they were supposed to bond with the borrowed Pokémon, based on which they would receive points.
The next day, Rowan saw Angie and Ash, but in a more competitive than hostile manner. He then witnessed battles between groups. At the end of the day, Rowan awarded the teams with their points, praising Dawn for her accomplishments, despite her team getting the least number of points. The following day, Rowan had the teams study Water-type Pokémon inside the resort. He made it clear that catching Pokémon or leaving the area meant they would lose points. He later awarded the red team 10 points for a great report, but deducted 4 points for leaving the area.
He had the teams bond with Ghost-type Pokémon, tasking them to find a medal in the ruins on their way. At evening, when some of the teams returned, Rowan was troubled by reports of a Dusknoir, since this was not its habitat. He then remembered a tale of a spirit gate inside a cave, suspecting Dusknoir was trying to lure people in and trap them. The group went to that place, finding Ash and Angie with a ghost girl trying to pull them in, while Dusknoir attempted to save them from being taken. The latter blasted the walls, collapsing the portal and stopping the threat. For the mission done, Rowan awarded the teams with 30 points. At the last day of the Summer Academy, Rowan announced a triathlon challenge for all teams. As the teams dashed away, Rowan and his assistants remained behind to monitor the race. After Ash won the race, his team earned enough points to win the entire challenge, to which Rowan applauded them and gave them plaques for the victory.
When a beam was shot to Mt. Coronet, Rowan and his team monitored these mysterious anomalies. As Ash, Dawn and Brock felt that the Lake Trio was put under harm, they contacted Professor Rowan. The latter claimed they should wait, but the heroes ran off to do something to protect them, rather than sit around. Professor Rowan was notified of Team Galactic's plans with the Lake Trio, Dialga, and Palkia, by Gary Oak, who tried to prevent Team Galactic and Hunter J from capturing the Lake Trio. As Gary began the battle with Saturn, Rowan received reports that the Lake Acuity, Verity and Valor were glowing brightly. He notified Cynthia and the heroes about these events. After Team Galactic was disbanded, Professor Rowan went with Professor Carolina and Gary to meet up with the heroes and Cynthia. He remarked how Team Galactic's villainous plan had advanced their research on the Sinnoh Space-Time legend.
Professor Rowan was conducting research with his assistants when Dawn visited him. Rowan congratulated her for her high rank in the Grand Festival. Dawn thanked him, and asked which Pokémon she should take, for she was off on another journey. Rowan replied that he couldn't make that decision for her, for she understood her own Pokémon better than anyone else. Dawn still couldn't figure out an answer, to which Rowan mentioned that there was someone else who was undecisive: a new Trainer choosing her first Starter Pokémon. The Starter Pokémon wanted to grab the attention of the Trainer, Shinko, and eventually ran off fighting. Thus, Rowan and the others went to find the missing Pokémon, while Dawn and Shinko went in an other direction to find them. The latter two recovered the Pokémon and brought them to the lab. Rowan thanked Dawn for the assistance, and wished her luck in her future Contests.
Trivia
- Professor Rowan is the only regional professor that does not wear a lab coat in games.
- Professor Rowan is the second professor to own unevolved starters in the anime. The first is Professor Birch.
 Heroes
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Game Characters Professors Main Anime Characters Allies Relatives Gym Leaders, Trial Captains, and Island Kahunas Elite Four, Finalists, and Quarter Finalists Champions Battle Facility Leaders Movie Characters Main Pokémon Legendary/Mythical Pokémon Other Pokémon Pokémon: Detective Pikachu Pokémon Go Groups and Organizations | ||
