Line #62 Main/TheProfessor


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/BackToTheFuture1 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/docbrown_bttf.png]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:Great Scott!]]
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11
12	->'''Hermes Conrad:''' Professor, can you wire my head directly into the Battle Grid?\
13	'''Prof. Farnsworth:''' I can wire ''anything'' directly into ''anything!'' I'm ''the Professor!''
14	-->-- ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} Futurama: Bender's Big Score]]''
15
16	TheSmartGuy who's SuperIntelligent, a StockCharacter exemplified on ''Series/GilligansIsland'' and ''Series/MacGyver1985''. Probably started off as a TeenGenius and is capable of many an AssPull, DeusExMachina, or, um, [[ReversePolarity Polarity Reversal]]. May or may not rely on TechnoBabble. Is the source of much AppliedPhlebotinum, but is incapable of providing a solution that would thwart the show's premise (the Professor couldn't get the rest of the gang off that darn island, Ziggy couldn't bring Sam home on ''Series/QuantumLeap''). Often gets to be MrExposition. Fluent in SesquipedalianLoquaciousness and SoundsOfScience. If he plays a game, it's inevitably TabletopGame/{{chess}}, because SmartPeoplePlayChess. He's also very likely to be a TVGenius.
17
18	Compare OmnidisciplinaryScientist and AbsentMindedProfessor, may study a FantasticScience instead of a regular one. May have hints of being TheSpock, but this is usually not central to the figure. Combining this figure with the MadScientist is a common subversion. Sometimes, in fact, The Professor ''is'' an ex-MadScientist who has pulled a HeelFaceTurn and now works for the good guys. Or just a ReluctantMadScientist or sufferer of ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder who happens to not be evil. Or a regular MadScientist among {{Villain Protagonist}}s.
19
20	The Professor may also happen to be a BunnyEarsLawyer who has wacky hobbies and idiosyncrasies, sometimes heating up Cup of Noodles soup in a test tube with a Bunsen burner or wearing wildly mismatched clothing. Despite these oddities, he will still prove to be amazingly brilliant at his field of study and his quirks will be good-naturedly PlayedForLaughs.
21
22	The title stems from Professor (''Prof.''), which is the highest academic rank in most countries.
23
24	Contrast the more pragmatic GadgeteerGenius who is more of an eccentric MrFixit who constructs elaborate {{Rube Goldberg Device}}s. The Professor can be Mr Fixit too, provided he [[ReedRichardsIsUseless gets it working on the first try]].
25
26	The Professor is quite often the least action ready of the team. This may be due to age, infirmity, or just being physically weak. For this reason, the Professor may be left at headquarters while the more able characters handle the physical action, possibly acting as MissionControl. Occasionally, in a two man team, the Professor's teammate is there to specifically act as a bodyguard and handle the physical stuff. Sometimes, this bodyguard may be a government agent.
27
28	If The Professor is quite a bit older than the FiveManBand / RagtagBunchOfMisfits / TrueCompanions he works with, he's very likely to be the TeamDad or [[TeamDad Team Grandpa]]. Often a CoolOldGuy. Almost AlwaysMale.
29
30	----
31	!!Examples:
32	[[foldercontrol]]
33
34	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
35	* A staple in almost every SuperRobot series. Some of the quintessential examples are:
36	** From Creator/GoNagai's ''Mazinger'' saga:
37	*** ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Dr. Gennosuke Yumi and the Morimori/Nozori/Sewashi triad. Note that the series also subverts this, since Dr. Juuzou Kabuto is sometimes The Professor and sometimes a MadScientist, depending ''heavily'' on which canon we're talking about. This was because Go Nagai wanted to showing bluntly Mazinger-Z was a machine whose actions were completely depending on the pilot. In the original manga, Dr. Kabuto and Dr. Hell weren't that different, and as [[FallingIntoTheCockpit Kouji tried to learn how piloting it]], [[UnbuiltTrope Mazinger caused so much destruction]] as your average {{Robeast}}.
38	*** Dr. Kenzou [[spoiler: Kabuto]] from ''Anime/GreatMazinger''.
39	*** Dr. Umon from ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer''
40	** From Tadao Nagahama's ''Anime/RobotRomanceTrilogy'':
41	*** Dr. Nanbara and Dr. Yotsuya from ''Anime/CombattlerV''.
42	*** Dr. Kentarō Gō from ''Anime/VoltesV'' (who was also [[spoiler:[[LukeIamYourFather the]] [[TheDragon Dragon's]] DisappearedDad]]), along with Dr. Hamaguchi and Dr. Sakunji (who bordered on SadistTeacher)
43	*** Dr. Shinnichirou Izumi from ''Anime/{{Daimos}}'', also Kazuya's foster father after the guy's dad (Dr. Ryuuzaki, another professor) is murdered when he's a child.
44	** Dr. Saotome (though he's more of a MadScientist in some continuities) from ''Manga/GetterRobo''.
45	** Professor Shiba from ''Anime/KotetsuJeeg''.
46	** Dr. Ritsuko Akagi from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' plays this role in the cast, plus maybe just a bit of OmnidisciplinaryScientist and MadScientist.
47	* Dr. Kozaburo Nambu from ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman''.
48	* Dr. Umatarō Tenma and later Professor Ochanomizu (aka Dr. Boyton and Dr. Elefun, respectively) in ''Tetsuwan Atom''/''Manga/AstroBoy''.
49	* Dr. Isaac Gilmore from ''Manga/Cyborg009''. Also of the "ex MadScientist" type, one of the most memorable episodes of the 2001 series depicts with ''very'' brutal details how Gilmore, [[FallenHero with his reputation in tatters]] after a failed experiment, is taken in by Black Ghost and later defects, unable to deal with their horrible methods anymore. There are also Dr. Finder, Dr. Ross and Dr. Kouzumi...
50	* In ''Anime/{{Endride}}'', Pascal is the main scientist and also the oldest member of the cast. He mentors another scientist, Joseph, and is a ParentalSubstitute to Emilio. His inventions (particularly his disguises) sometimes get PlayedForLaughs, but he is undoubtedly brilliant and studies [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist just about everything]].
51	* Dr. T.Y. Minovsky, the TropeNamer for MinovskyPhysics and a developer of mobile suit technology from the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' franchise. Though not appearing in the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam original anime]], he had his own manga story, ''Stampede: The Story of Professor Minovsky'', although much of that has been either {{Retcon}}ned or rendered CanonDiscontinuity by his subsequent appearance in ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamTheOrigin'' and details from series such as ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn''.
52	* [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep The Professor]] in ''Manga/HeterogeniaLinguistico'' is a linguist and anthropologist who made the first studies on the languages of werewolves, lizardmen, and other species. He's mostly a background character, though, since his injury is the reason Hakaba is sent to continue is work in the first place.
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Comic Books]]
56	* Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards of the ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''.
57	* Charles "Professor X" Xavier of the ''ComicBook/XMen''.
58	** The Beast fits this role even better, despite being a Doctor...
59	** Forge also had elements of this while on the team.
60	* Professor Calculus from ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'', invents some remarkable devices ranging from a submarine to a sonic weapon, works on a Moon rocket, somewhat eccentric, quite deaf.
61	* The Count in ''ComicBook/SpirouAndFantasio'' can extract almost any chemical from mushrooms, build a submarine and electronic mind-control countermeasures, is old-fashioned in his way of dressing and speaking, and can be very absentminded at times.
62	* Adhemar from ''The Adventures of Nero'', who looks like a child in a smoking jacket and mortarboard.
63	* Gyro Gearloose in ''WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck'' comics.
64	* Favalli in ''ComicBook/ElEternauta''
65	* Kalish in ''ComicBook/UniversalWarOne''.
66	* Professor Emil Hamilton in the ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' comics, at least when he's not in one of his [[FaceHeelRevolvingDoor villainous phases]].
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:FanWorks]]
70	* ''Manga/Evangelion303'': Dr. Ritsuko Akagi. She is Project Evangelion's head scientist and she is also responsible for crew assignments.
71	* ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}'': Ritsuko played this role in the original series, but now she is mostly retired, and Maya is her substitute and HERZ’s head scientist.
72	* ''Fanfic/TheFirstSaniwa'': The present-day saniwa is ''literally'' a university professor. They are stated to be part of a research team, invite their swords to speak at seminars and discuss literature (when they're not lapsing into [[JekyllAndHyde Hyde mode]] as a RippleEffectIndicator, that is).
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
76	* Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown from the ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' trilogy. Also exhibits qualities of a MadScientist.
77	* The movie ''Film/{{Arachnophobia}}'' has an entomologist named Prof. Atherton, who is usually referred to by John Goodman's character as 'The Professor'.
78	* The Professor in charge of filmy students in ''Film/DiaryOfTheDead'' turns out to be ex-military and so the best person suited to guiding the teen-cast through the zombies.
79	* The film version of ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' puts Nemo in this role, and Jekyll to a lesser extent.
80	* ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'' has a character who is literally referred to as "The Professor," although he's less of an impossibly brilliant man of science! and more of a cloak-and-dagger spy type.
81	* Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr. Ph.D. from the ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movie series is also a professor of archeology when he is not fighting Nazis, Thuggees, or communists.
82	* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'': Dr. Charles Xavier [[Film/XMenFirstClass earned his "Professor of Genetics" title from the University of Oxford]]. Even before he became a paraplegic, he was considerably less action-oriented than the other mutants on his team, and is often protected by a combatant (e.g. [[Film/X2XMenUnited Cyclops]], [[Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast Beast]], [[Film/XMenApocalypse Havok]]). Professor X serves as the TeamDad for the X-Men.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Literature]]
86	* Arbat-Elivat-Estoni from ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}''. His cover story to his crew is that he's a retired professor of technological history. Of course, he's anything but retired, though it's anyone's guess if he was actually a professor, though given his patient personality, it's likely.
87	* Early example: Merlin of Myth/ArthurianLegend is a magical version.
88	%% * Professor Adelung in ''Literature/TheDeathOfTheVazirMukhtar''.
89	* Leonard of Quirm, in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels. An exaggeration of Leonardo da Vinci, Leonard sometimes appears to be a one-man Industrial Revolution.
90	** Partially subverted in that Lord Vetinari keeps him locked up in a prison (though Leonard is having so much fun inventing stuff he doesn't notice) so he can't throw off the balance of the city or give gadgets to the heroes.
91	** On the other hand, it's pretty hard to imprison a man who lives mostly in his own head, forgets to eat and often doesn't see how people could turn his Moving Mountains Out of the Way Device (for mining, obviously) into something more sinister. Leonard of Quirm has all the cunning of a concussed duckling, and Vetinari keeps him supplied with, well, everything, and tucked safely away behind booby traps he himself designed.
92	* Abraham Van Helsing in ''Literature/{{Dracula}}''. Is there nothing he doesn't know about? Could also be seen as a forerunner of the idea of the genius with the funny foreign accent (he's Dutch) as well as a medley of eccentricities.
93	* ''Theatre/{{Faust}}'' is possibly the granddaddy of this trope. Although he has been presented in different lights, Christopher Marlowe depicted him as the most learned scholar on earth but so hungry for more knowledge that he sold his soul for it. Once this happens, instead of doing anything intelligent, he hits the pope with a fish. It makes sense in context.
94	%% * Hermione Granger and Remus Lupin from ''Literature/HarryPotter''.
95	* Professor Pike of the ''Literature/HIVESeries'' is the school's head engineering instructor--and also the source of the many technological advances that fuel G.L.O.V.E.'s reign. Also the [[TeamDad Team Grandpa.]]
96	* ''Literature/MurderForTheModernGirl'': Dr. Gregory C. Keene is a scientist who researched [[VoluntaryShapeshifting tricolorforms]] but got fired from his university job because of said research and has to work as a medical examiner at a morgue. Thanks to him and his assistant, Guy Rosewood, discovering that a serial killer was running around due to figuring out that a few corpses were actually murdered, he gets funding for his own lab and is quite enthusiastic about it, hoping to regain his scientific reputation.
97	%% * Several novels by Jules Verne, especially ''The Mysterious Island''.
98	* The TropeCodifier is the Literature/ProfessorBranestawm books by Norman Hunter. Branestawm is an unworldly, well-intentioned comedy MadScientist whose inventions tend to either [[GoneHorriblyWrong Go Horribly Wrong]] or [[GoneHorriblyRight Right]] with [[HilarityEnsues Hilarious Consequences]].
99	%%* Professor William Race of ''Literature/TempleMatthewReilly''.
100	* Blackberry of ''Literature/WatershipDown'', given his limitations as a rabbit. He may not understand the physics involved, but he'll devise plans that rely on buoyancy, tensile strength or leverage just the same.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
104	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': The Reach is home to the Citadel, which is the seat of the Order of Maesters. These learned men serve as advisers for all the Great Houses of Westeros.
105	* ''Series/OurMissBrooks'': Mr. Boynton, Miss Brooks' LoveInterest and Madison High School's Biology teacher. His knowledge of his subject is prodigious, but his favorite topic of study ''has'' to be frogs.
106	* Marco Pacella (and, later and to a greater degree, Dr Kevin Burkhoff) from ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred''.
107	* Professor Wickwire of ''Series/TheAdventuresOfBriscoCountyJr.''
108	* Walter White of ''Series/BreakingBad'' exemplifies this trope. From breaking into a high security chemical storage facility using the thermite from an etch-a-sketch to using [[spoiler:mercury fulminate in order to blow up an entire floor of a drug dealer's headquarters,]] the man's chief weapon is his degree in chemistry.
109	* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
110	** Ace's nickname for the Seventh Doctor was "Professor". Despite his irritation at this sobriquet, all of the Doctor's incarnations have had at least an element of The Professor about them.
111	** And, of course, there's Professor [[YouAreNotAlone Yana]] from "Utopia". However, he cheerfully admits it's an invented title, since there hasn't been an university around in centuries.
112	* On the spin-off of Doctor Who. The Sarah Jane adventures episode "Death of the Doctor" says that Ian and Barbara became Professor. [[note]]Okay, it was also said they hadn't aged since the 60's, though that could mean anything.[[/note]]
113	* The actual Professor from ''Series/GilligansIsland'' (his [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep rarely-used real name]] was Dr. Roy Hinkley) used lots of BambooTechnology.
114	* Mohinder Suresh from ''Series/{{Heroes}}''.
115	* Sayid is ''Series/{{Lost}}'''s Professor, creating and fixing all sorts of gizmos using only what he can find in the plane wreckage or the hatch. Of course, none of these gadgets got him off the island [[spoiler:though he did indeed get home in season 4.]]
116	** Until they introduce Daniel Faraday who is, in fact, a theoretical physicist.
117	* ''Series/MacGyver1985''
118	* On ''Series/StargateSG1'', both Dr. Daniel Jackson (CunningLinguist and AdventurerArchaeologist) and Major Samantha Carter (physicist and a female MrFixit) fill that role.
119	** On ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', Dr. Rodney [=McKay=] acts as the team's all-purpose InsufferableGenius scientist/engineer (and occasionally the ButtMonkey).
120	* Scotty from ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries''.
121	** On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Geordi Laforge and Data often trade off on this role. Whenever the crew needs to do something that doesn't involve diplomacy or combat, it's good odds one (or both) of them will develop the AppliedPhlebotinum solution.
122	* Dr. Helen Magnus from ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'' is a hot [[OmnidisciplinaryScientist scientist]] who specializes in [[FantasticScience crypto-zoology and xenobiology.]]
123	* Ray Langston from ''Series/{{CSI}}'', who actually picked up the nickname "The Professor" due to his being one before becoming a CSI.
124	* ''Series/Space1999'' gives us Professor Victor Bergman, OmnidisciplinaryScientist, CoolOldGuy, mentor figure for Commander John Koenig (in times past and on the "present" of Season One), and very much the EnsembleDarkhorse (enough that three of the written-long-after-series-cancellation official novels go through some length to bring him BackFromTheDead after an off-screen BusCrash between seasons).
125	* Profesor Jirafales in ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'', not only is the teacher of all the children in the series, he's also by far the most intelligent and cultured of the characters. His SesquipedalianLoquaciousness is a common source of jokes.
126	* Profesor Memelovsky in ''Series/OdiseaBurbujas'' albeit mix with shades of MadScientist. His vast knowledge of history and culture come handy as the show is educational. Also as inventor he develops among other things a TimeMachine and a PortalBook.
127	* Professor Robinson from ''Series/LostInSpace'': His role is very similar to that of the Professor in ''Gilligan's Island'' as he albeit able to solve a lot of the problems that the family faces requiring a scientific approach, he can't make them go back to Earth.
128	* Professor Arturo in ''Series/{{Sliders}}'', he was Quinn's college professor and is the team's scientific expert aside from Quinn but more experienced.
129	* ''Franchise/UltraSeries''
130	** ''Series/UltraQ'''s Professor Ichinotani served as Jun, Yuriko, and Ippei's usual expert for scientific consultation for any Weirdness or MonstersOfTheWeek. He's also stated [[AllThereInTheManual in later material]] to be the founder of Science Patrol, the main organization of [[Series/{{Ultraman}} the succeeding series]].
131	** Speaking of ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'', the Science Patrol had their own recurring professor named Dr. Iwamoto who served a similar role to Ichinotani. He also tended to have {{Suspiciously Similar Substitute}}s, always with last names ending with "-moto".
132	** ''Series/UltramanAce'' had Kaji Yoichi, a TAC expert on Yapool and his Choju who also designs the team's weapons. Unfortunately, [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome he vanishes from the series after episode 31]].
133	** ''Series/UltramanTiga'' had ''two'' professors on GUTS. First was Dr. Yao, who invented the Maxima Overdrive, a lightspeed engine used in many of the team's spacecraft. Second was Dr. Tango, who was assigned with studying the nature of the Ultras, [[spoiler:but he later betrays the team to sell out their secrets to CorruptCorporateExecutive Keigo Masaki.]]
134	** ''Series/UltraQDarkFantasy'': Succeeding the role of Professor Ichinotani is the quirky university teacher Kakunoshin Watarai, who shows Ichinotani's same encyclopedic knowledge on nearly all subjects, as well as a quirky fondness for British tea and biscuits.
135	** ''Series/UltramanMax'' also had two professors, both played by former actors on ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''. While Professor Yoshinaga (Hiroko Sakurai, aka Fuji) mainly gave the kaiju-related knowledge, the less frequently appearing Professor Date (Masanari Nihei, aka Ide) created all sorts of inventions to help counter MonstersOfTheWeek.
136	** ''Series/UltramanX'': The Alien Fanton Dr. Guruman (sometimes [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Gourman]]) filled this role for Xio. He creates a lot of their technology and also shows a lot of knowledge on alien species whenever Xio has another AlienInvasion on their hands.
137	* Ken Jennings is known as “The Professor” on ''Series/TheChase'' because of his vast trivia knowledge that made him the longest-running ''{{Series/Jeopardy}}'' champion in that show’s history.
138	[[/folder]]
139
140	[[folder:Other]]
141	* Daedalus from [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek Myth]] makes this OlderThanDirt, having built the Labyrinth of the Minotaur and pairs of wings that allowed him to fly, among many other things.
142	* In his footsteps follows Archimedes, a Greek inventor from the Greek colony Syracuse in southern Italy. He is best known for his work on lever action and buoyancy. While it's not entirely clear what kind of devices he actually invented and how well they worked, he had a massive reputation as an inventor even during his lifetime.
143	* Imhotep was a genius who lived in Egypt 2600 BC, credited with strongly contributing to the founding of the sciences of engineering, medicine, and architecture. His service to the Pharaohs was so remarkable that he became the only commoner ever to be elevated to godly status after his death.
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Pinball]]
147	* Bally's ''Pinball/DrDude'' is one of these, as he invented the Molecular Mixmaster and his E'''X'''cellent Ray to make himself the epitome of cool.
148	* The unnamed scientist from Creator/{{Zaccaria}}'s ''[[Pinball/TimeMachineZaccaria Time Machine]],'' who directs the player through time.
149	* Daedalus from ''VideoGame/MadDaedalus'' counts, as an ancient Greek inventor who reverse-engineers a [[ImportedAlienPhlebotinum crashed alien spaceship]] and uses the scientific knowledge to elevate King Minos' realm with technological wonders.
150	[[/folder]]
151
152	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
153	* In order to stop Dr. Gearck’s conquest of the entire world with the power of the evil gears called the “Warugiano” in the ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh [[Metaplot/YuGiOh metaplot]]'', Professor Kross created the Gear Heroes known as the “Geargias”.
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Video Games]]
157	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
158	** Professor E. Gadd is a recurring character whose main interest is ghost-hunting in the VideoGame/LuigisMansionSeries and has invented a number of devices dedicated to that task such as the iconic Poltergust line and its accessories, a machine that turns ghosts into portraits and a [[BlobMonster goo version of Luigi]] named Gooigi. Outside of paranormal studies, he has also invented [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime a time machine and an intelligent suitcase,]] [[VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine a Magic Paintbrush and the FLUDD gadget,]] and more. Unfortunately, [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom his devices]] have caused trouble on a number of occasions as well as his own [[AbsentMindedProfessor absent-minded tendencies.]]
159	** Professor Frankly in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' is an old Goomba professor of archaeology who gives Mario information about the Crystal Stars and offers tutorial advice.
160	* It is repeatedly stated in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' universe that Pokémon Professors are the highest authorities in the world when it comes to the wonderful creatures that inhabit it. This is especially true in ''Gold/Silver/Crystal/[=HeartGold=]/[=SoulSilver=]'', where Professor Oak gets celebrity treatment all across the Johto/Kanto area, though every region has its specialist. In the majority of the games the Professors serve to introduce the player to the world of ''Pokémon'' and guide the protagonists and their rivals on their quest ToBeAMaster; in addition, all Professors specialize in a distinct field of study.
161	** Professor Oak, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue the Kanto region]], studies the relationships between humans and Pokémon.
162	** Professor Elm, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver the Johto region]], studies the mysteries of Pokémon evolution.
163	** Professor Birch, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire the Hoenn region]], studies Pokémon habitats.
164	** Professor Rowan, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl the Sinnoh region]], also studies evolution.
165	** Professor Juniper, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite the Unova region]], studies the origins of Pokémon. Unova also has another scientist, Fennel, who studies dreams.
166	** Professor Sycamore, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY the Kalos region]], studies Mega Evolution.
167	** Professor Kukui, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon the Alola region]], studies Pokémon moves and attacks. In addition, Professor Burnet, Kukui's wife and colleague of Fennel, studies the relationship between dimensions and Pokémon, and Samson Oak, Professor Oak's cousin, studies regional forms.
168	** Professor Magnolia, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield the Galar region]], studies the mysteries of the Dynamax phenomenon. [[spoiler:Her role is succeeded by her daughter, Sonia, who becomes a Professor specializing in the history of the Galar region.]]
169	** Professor Laventon is a Pokémon Professor from Galar who operates out of [[VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus Hisui]]. Due to the Professor position being a relatively new field at the time, he is tasked with creating the very first Pokédex.
170	** Professor Sada/Turo, the Professor of [[VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet the Paldea region]], studies the secrets of Area Zero within the Great Crater of Paldea and created Terastalization. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, they turn out to not only be DeadAllAlong, but also be the BigBad this time around, whose ambitions inadvertently put the region in danger. The AI Professor, a RidiculouslyHumanRobot left in their wake, strings along the protagonist for much of the plot in hopes that they will put a stop to the Professor's last will.]]
171	* [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep The Professor]] in ''VideoGame/DigimonSurvive'' is an AdventurerArchaeologist & CoolOldGuy studying the legends surrounding Digimon and acts as a MentorArchetype to the {{Kid Hero}}es TrappedInAnotherWorld.
172	* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' is full of these. The first game has them as allies who will open security doors for you (portrayed with three or four generic character models) while the sequels all have specific characters, most notably Dr. Kleiner who fits the archetype to a tee. Dr. Vance appears to be the team leader, though he comes of more like a [[CoolOldGuy Cool Old Black Guy]]. Dr. Freeman appears to be more of a lab technician, but he is a theoretical physicist working on teleportation as well.
173	* ''VideoGame/ProfessorLayton'', full stop.
174	* Elco from ''VideoGame/{{Sudeki}}'' pretty much nails this on the head and drills it home with magical laser guns. He does actively participate in a lot of fighting, though, so he's a bit different from the standard all-support role.
175	* Dr. Light from ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic''.
176	* Professor Mordin Solus of ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''.
177	* Roughly half the cast of the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' games qualify for the trope in at least a few respects, although Otacon probably comes closest to fulfilling it.
178	* Grant Florian of ''VideoGame/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAsPortable: The Gears of Destiny'', the father [[spoiler:[[RoboFamily and creator]]]] of the Florian sisters. A brilliant and benevolent, if sometimes overenthusiastic, scientist who devotes most of his time trying to find a way to reverse the death of his home planet.
179	* Dr. Andonuts from ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994''. He's pretty [[AbsentMindedProfessor absent minded]] however, as he forgot he even had a son.
180	* Horace from ''VideoGame/TheLastStory'' functions like this. He proclaims himself an archaeologist, but he seems to know a lot about architecture, geology, and dark magic (merely as an academic curiosity, of course), aiding the protagonists in a series of optional chapters.
181	* "The Professor" from ''VideoGame/ApeEscape''.
182	* Dr Ein of the VideoGame/{{Bomberman}} franchise.
183	* Dr. Casper Darling in ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'', an enthusiastic scientist who is the FBC's top mind when it comes to the many strange items or interdimensional incursions that the bureau has to deal with. He likes to record his findings in cheesy no-budget newsreels, which you'll find throughout the building [[MrExposition to learn about various things in the game]]. [[spoiler:Though you never meet him in person because it's implied by one of his recordings that he's AscendedToAHigherPlaneOfExistence.]] To a lesser extent his number two, Emily Pope, shares a lot of the same qualities.
184	[[/folder]]
185
186	[[folder:Webcomics]]
187	* Professor T.X. from ''Webcomic/M9Girls''. He is a geneticist who invites the M9 Girls to an internship that ends up with them gaining cosmic powers in a FreakLabAccident. Though he fulfills TheMentor role for the M9 Girls, he is also a MadScientist who may not have the best interests of the girls in mind.
188	* Riff from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', despite being a master of wacky hijinks and BrilliantButLazy, is actually a very skilled scientist who invents anything from a Dimensional Flux Agitator to a toaster that can shoot toast through walls.
189	* ''Webcomic/ThePhoenixRequiem'': Moretty.
190	* Kevyn Andreyasn of ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'', and lately Para Ventura as well.
191	[[/folder]]
192
193	[[folder:Web Original]]
194	* Doctor Pandemia from [[WebVideo/AitorMolinaVs Aitor Molina vs]].
195	* Dr. Amos Messing of the Amazing Three, in the Literature/WhateleyUniverse. Not that he's a parody of anyone else on this list whose initials might be 'RR'...
196	* A minor character in ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers: Card of Ten'' is referred to only as "the professor."
197	* Professor Lambert, a ''Website/{{Neopets}}'' character, is the leader of a group of intellectuals known as the Seekers.
198	[[/folder]]
199
200	[[folder:Western Animation]]
201	* Professor Membrane ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' is a prime example going so far as to make the Perpetual Energy Generator AKA P.E.G.
202	** "The man without whom this world falls into chaos, and the inventor of SUPER-TOAST!"
203	* Professor Utonium from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' is possibly one of the kindest and [[MotherlyScientist most fatherly]] characters here -- although in one episode he realises that pretty much everything good he ever invented was [[FreakLabAccident by accident]], from the eponymous girls to Sloppy Joe's.
204	* Professor Frink of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. He may have HollywoodTourettes thanks to his "Who-hey, Glavin" tic. He also qualifies as an amicable MadScientist thanks to his crazy inventions.
205	** Also a parody of the original Jerry Lewis version of ''The Nutty Professor''.
206	* Professor Hubert Farnsworth from ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' is a subversion. He's capable of making many wondrous and useful inventions at times and some incredibly odd/hilariously simple ones but due to his age (160 years old as of the second season), he often has many odd habits that belie his intelligence. He also has MadScientist tendencies, perhaps more so than Doc Brown from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture''.
207	--> '''Prof. Farnsworth:''' [[CharacterCatchphrase Good]] [[OhCrap news,]] [[ThisIsGonnaSuck everyone!]] I've taught the toaster to feel love!
208	* Dexter from ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'', despite his age, almost exemplifies this trope.
209	* Dr. Benton Quest from ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' is an especially egregious example. One must presume he holds multiple degrees and doctorates, as he is apparently qualified to work in an absurdly diverse number of science fields from anthropology to astrophysics without much assistance.
210	* XJ-9’s mother and creator, Dr. Nora Wakeman from ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot''.
211	* Parodied in the form of Dr. Thaddeus Venture of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', who is not actually a doctor, having dropped out of school two months before getting his degree. While most of his inventions do actually work, his success is often due more to blind luck and other people's perceptions of him than any actual skill. Also an example of a MadScientist, as many of his inventions are monstrously destructive or unethical, including an "Ooo-ray" that somehow melts buildings with sound waves, and a dream machine powered by [[PoweredByAForsakenChild the heart of an orphan.]] Venture's twin brother, Jonas Venture Jr., [[EvilTwin his good fraternal twin]], is a more straight application of the trope, but is still played for comedic value.
212	* In the sequel-series ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'', Egon Spengler found himself playing his role to the new blood.
213	* Cornelius Robinson, [[spoiler: the older form of the protagonist]] in ''WesternAnimation/MeetTheRobinsons''. Graduated college at age 14 and went on to invent flying cars, self constructing buildings, time machines and much of the rest of the future's technology.
214	* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' gets a quick shot-in at this when Dale believes he's been transported into a distant future. As he looks around the landscape, he remarks, "It's times like this I wish I had a friend called 'The Professor!'"
215	* Disney's Professor Ludwig Von Drake.
216	* There happen to be so many of these characters in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'' -- often dubbed appropriately-- that it is, eventually, commented upon by our resident [[TeenGenius Teen Professor]]:
217	-->'''Donatello:''' Professor!\
218	'''Professor Honeycutt:''' Yes?\
219	'''Donatello:''' No, the other [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep professor]].
220	* Daedalus in ''WesternAnimation/TheMightyHercules''.
221	* Rick Sanchez, one half of the eponymous ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', is basically a jaded, alcoholic version of Doc Brown.
222	* In Creator/SabanEntertainment's ''The Why Why Family'' Eartha, Baby Victor's grandmother, is a professor and an expert on geology, paleontology, the WeatherAndEnvironment, biology and evolution, and other sciences. She is often accompanied by [[OurDragonsAreDifferent a pet dragon named Basalt]], and in some episodes, she takes Basalt and Victor [[OurTimeTravelIsDifferent time-traveling]] to the distant past and/or the time of the dinosaurs to make a demonstration on how our Earth is changing.
223	* The Professor on ''WesternAnimation/FelixTheCatJoeOriolo'' (billed in one episode as Professor Nutmeg) is an evil variant in that he is always trying to steal Felix's bag of tricks. Otherwise he and stooge Rock Bottom scheme to commit crimes in quests for being rich.
224	* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' had two Professor Squawkenclucks within two runs, both employed to kit DM out with whatever he needs for his mission. The first was a German male mole, the second a Scottish female budgie (niece of the original) who doesn't suffer DM's foolishness lightly.
225	* Professor [[PunnyName Pat Pending]] on ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces'' is an inventor that can change his vehicle into anything that will give him an advantage. In a comic book story where Dick Dastardly sends the racers 400 years in the past ("The San Diego Go-Go", Gold Key #7), Pending gets all the racers to join bumpers then he spins a time device on his dashboard to get everyone back to present day (1972, when the issue was published).
226	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretShow'' had Professor Professor aiding [[FunWithAcronyms U.Z.Z.]] against the nefarious forces of [[FunWithAcronyms T.H.E.M.]], led by the nefarious [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate Doctor Doctor]].
227	[[/folder]]
228

Context Main / TheProfessor