Professor (Hakase)

• Japanese Name: Hakase (ハカセ)
• First Appearance: Ape Escape (1999, PlayStation)
• Age: 60 years old
• Height: 170 cm
• Weight: 80 kg
• Role: Inventor, scientist and head of the laboratory
• Family: Natalie, Kei and Yumi's grandfather
• Japanese Voice: Jōji Yanami
• English Voice: Michael Sousa in Ape Escape

1. OVERVIEW & DESIGN

The Professor, known as Hakase in Japanese, is one of the most important supporting characters in the Ape Escape series. He is a scientist and inventor who works from his laboratory and provides the protagonists with the technology they need during their missions.

The Professor is responsible for several inventions that are central to the series, including the Peak Point Helmet, the Time Station and the various Gotcha Gadgets used to capture monkeys.

Although his inventions are responsible for many of the events in the series, the Professor is fundamentally a good-hearted person who wants to use science to help others.

2. APPEARANCE

The Professor has the appearance of a traditional eccentric scientist. His design makes him immediately recognizable among the characters of the Ape Escape series.

• Hair: He has short, light-colored hair that blends with his large white mustache.
• Face: His large nose, mustache and expressive eyes are some of his most recognizable features.
• Glasses: He normally wears small round glasses.
• Clothing: His usual outfit consists of a white laboratory coat worn over a yellow shirt with dark trousers.
• Laboratory Equipment: He is frequently shown working with computers, inventions and other scientific equipment.

3. PERSONALITY

The Professor is intelligent, kind-hearted and enthusiastic about science. He enjoys creating new inventions and is constantly working on technology that can help his friends and family.

At the same time, the Professor can be absent-minded and somewhat clumsy. His tendency to become distracted by his inventions occasionally causes problems for everyone around him.

Despite his eccentric behavior, the Professor takes the safety of his friends and family seriously. When Specter threatens the world, he works together with the heroes to stop him.

4. BEGINNING OF THE SERIES

Before the events of the original Ape Escape, the Professor develops a device known as the Peak Point Helmet. The helmet was designed to increase intelligence.

Specter, a white monkey from an amusement park, discovers the prototype helmet and puts it on. The device dramatically increases his intelligence and gives him extraordinary abilities.

Specter eventually gathers an army of monkeys and invades the Professor's laboratory. He then uses the Professor's Time Station to travel through history and begin his plan to change the world.

Spike and Jake arrive at the laboratory during the attack. They are sent through time along with Specter and the escaped monkeys, beginning the main adventure of Ape Escape.

5. THE PEAK POINT HELMET

The Peak Point Helmet, also known as the Pipo Helmet or Monkey Helmet in later English releases, is one of the Professor's most important inventions.

• Purpose: The helmet was created to increase the intelligence of its wearer.
• Specter: Specter's use of the prototype dramatically increases his intelligence and gives him unusual powers.
• Monkey Army: Specter later uses copies of the helmet to increase the intelligence of other monkeys.
• Series Importance: The helmet is directly connected to the central conflict of the Ape Escape series.

6. THE TIME STATION

The Professor develops the Time Station, a machine capable of sending people and objects through different periods of history.

The invention becomes the main reason Specter is able to travel through time during the events of the original Ape Escape.

After Specter takes control of the laboratory, Spike must use the Time Station to pursue the escaped monkeys across different historical periods.

7. GOTCHA GADGETS

The Professor creates and maintains the Gotcha Gadgets used by the protagonists. These devices allow them to capture monkeys, move through difficult environments and deal with enemies.

• Stun Club: A close-range gadget used to stun monkeys and attack enemies.
• Time Net: The primary device used to capture stunned monkeys.
• Super Hoop: A movement gadget that allows the user to move rapidly through areas.
• Slingback Shooter: A ranged gadget used to hit distant targets.
• Sky Flyer: A gadget that allows the user to fly across gaps and reach higher areas.
• RC Car: A remote-controlled vehicle used to reach places that the protagonist cannot enter directly.

8. APE ESCAPE 2

In Ape Escape 2, the Professor leaves the laboratory while he goes on vacation, leaving Natalie and Jimmy to handle things in his absence.

Jimmy accidentally sends Monkey Helmets to the zoo together with a shipment of monkey pants. One of the helmets reaches Specter, allowing him to regain his intelligence and begin another attempt at world domination.

Although the Professor is away for much of the beginning of the game, his inventions and laboratory equipment remain essential to Jimmy's mission.

9. APE ESCAPE 3

The Professor returns in Ape Escape 3, where he continues to assist the protagonists and remains connected to the scientific research surrounding the Monkey Helmets.

The game also introduces Dr. Tomoki, who reveals that he previously worked with the Professor and Aki on the development of the Monkey Helmets.

The Professor remains an important member of the group supporting Kei and Yumi during their battle against Specter's new plan.

10. RELATIONSHIP WITH NATALIE

Natalie is the Professor's granddaughter and one of his closest assistants.

Natalie frequently helps keep the laboratory organized and assists with the Professor's work. Her practical attitude also balances the Professor's tendency to become distracted by his experiments.

Their relationship combines family affection with a working partnership. Natalie can become frustrated with her grandfather's absent-minded behavior, but she continues to support him and the rest of the team.

11. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEROES

The Professor serves as a mentor and technological support figure for the protagonists of the series.

• Spike: The Professor provides Spike with the Gotcha Gadgets needed to capture the escaped monkeys.
• Jimmy: The Professor's inventions become essential to Jimmy's mission in Ape Escape 2.
• Kei and Yumi: The Professor supports the twins during the events of Ape Escape 3.
• Natalie: His granddaughter works alongside him and helps operate the laboratory.

12. OTHER APPEARANCES

• Ape Escape: Major supporting character and inventor of the Time Station and Peak Point Helmet.
• Ape Escape 2: Returns as the inventor behind the laboratory's equipment and Jimmy's gadgets.
• Ape Escape 3: Returns as part of the supporting cast.
• Ape Escape: On the Loose: Appears in the PSP remake of the original game.
• Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed: Appears as part of the game's Ape Escape cast.
• Saru! Get You! Million Monkeys: Returns as a recurring character in the Japanese PlayStation 2 title.
• Saru! Get You! SaruSaru Big Mission: Appears in the Japanese PSP spin-off.
• PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale: Appears at the Time Station and also appears in Spike's related content.

13. NAME & VOICE HISTORY

The Professor is usually called Hakase in Japanese. In English releases he is simply called the Professor, although the name Dr. Ozel or Dr. Zizel can appear in certain materials.

• Hakase: His Japanese name, literally meaning "Professor."
• Japanese Voice: Jōji Yanami.
• Original English Voice: Michael Sousa in Ape Escape.
• Later English Voices: Different English actors were used across later releases, including Jay Snyder and Phil Proctor.

14. TRIVIA

• The Professor is known as Hakase (ハカセ) in Japanese.
• He is 60 years old in the original Ape Escape.
• He is listed as 170 cm tall and weighs 80 kg.
• Natalie is his granddaughter.
• The Professor created the Peak Point Helmet, which becomes the source of Specter's increased intelligence.
• His Time Station is responsible for the time-travel element of the original game.
• The Professor's inventions are responsible for many of the gadgets used by the series' protagonists.
• Despite being a brilliant scientist, the Professor is frequently portrayed as absent-minded and clumsy.