Pokémon/Characters/Norman

Norman is the Petalburg City Gym Leader in Generation III. An expert of Normal Types, he will give you the Balancebadge when defeated.

In the anime, he is the father of May and Max, and the husband of Caroline.

In Japanese, he is voiced by 小杉十郎太 Jūrōta Kosugi, Élcio Sodré in Portuguese and Dan Green in English.

Very early in his Hoenn journey, Ash arrived with May in Petalburg City in the hope of getting his first gym battle. Ash found the Petalburg Gym and met Max. May stopped him and allowed Ash to meet her parents, Caroline and Norman. Norman turned out to the real Petalburg City Gym Leader. Norman used his Pokémon, a Vigoroth to save May's Torchic from Team Rocket.

Norman is a good friend of Professor Birch and was most likely to have been the person to send May to Littleroot Town to get her first Pokémon. As May did not initially like Pokémon, this seems to have created some distance between the two. Before Ash knew that Norman was May's father, he comments that it sounds like she knows the Petalburg Gym Leader pretty well, to which she replies, "No, I just wish I did" and becomes subdued.

Sometime later, May had to deal with some angry fans who were conned by Team Rocket.

The day after that, May and Max tried to figure out why Norman and Caroline are getting all worked up as Ash Ketchum tries to save Norman's three Pokémon from Team Rocket. It all turned out that Norman had Nurse Joy build a firework launcher to make fireworks in a form of a Beautifly in anniversy of their own wedding day.

Soon it was time for Ash Ketchum's battle with Norman. Using his Grovyle, Pikachu, and Torkoal, Ash defeated Norman's Pokémon, much to Max's dismay. Max stole the Balance Badge and locked himself up in Norman's greenhouse. Norman was able to get Max under control and give Ash his Balance Badge.

This listing is of Norman's Pokémon in the Pokémon anime.

• Slaking
• Vigoroth
• Slakoth

Norman is also your character's father, no matter which character you select to play. (Your rival will then be the child of Professor Birch).

Although you encounter him first, he refuses to fight you until you have four badges, so he is the fifth to battle you. Once you conquer his Normal-types, he gives you the Balance Badge.

Norman is originally from Johto. He just recently moved to Hoenn and took up the position of Gym Leader. People who've met him describe him as someone who "lives for Pokémon."

Norman also provides special items scanned in via e-Reader to the player.

This listing is for Norman's Pokémon in the video games in which he has appeared.

• Level 7 Zigzagoon: Tackle

• Level 28 Slaking: Faint attack, Facade, Yawn, Encore
• Level 30 Vigoroth: Slash, Facade, Encore, Faint attack
• Level 31 Slaking: Focus punch, Facade, Faint attack, Slack off

• Level 7 Zigzagoon

In Pokémon Adventures, Norman is the father of Ruby, and his wife is nameless. He is a man who believes in power and he is very skillful in battling. Because of that, he strongly disagreed with Ruby's obsession with contests. When Ruby reaches his 11th birthday, however, he decided that Ruby is old enough to make his decision and finally let him has his own way.

Physically, he is so strong that he can squeeze a phone receiver into pieces without an effort, and he won't hesitate to use this strength on his son when he deems necessary. However, he still cares for Ruby very much: He asked his wife to arrange their move to Hoenn on the date of Ruby's birthday so that he can tell him about his permission for Ruby to take part in contests in person. He also prepared a pair of special running shoes made by Devon Corporation for his birthday. Later, he also gave a PokéBlock holder to Ruby.

There are several hints from the series showing Norman had had unpleasant encounters with the Pokémon Association. The beginning of all could possibly be traced back to 7 years prior to the start of the Ruby/Sapphire Saga, where Norman failed his Gym Leader Test in Johto. The whole story is to be unfolded in Volune 22, which is said to be the last volume on the RS Saga.

This listing is for Norman's Pokémon in the Pokémon Special manga.

• Vigoroth
• Slaking
• Spinda

• Flygon (Given to Wally)