New Pokémon Snap: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Professor Mirror

No region in Pokémon would be complete without its flagship professor, and the Lental region is no exception! In Nintendo Switch’s New Pokémon Snap, players will follow the tutelage and guidance of Professor Mirror – lead researcher in Lental and founder of the Laboratory of Ecology and Natural Sciences (AKA L.E.N.S.).

On the surface, Mirror seems like an average, run-of-the-mill Pokémon professor: intelligent, dedicated, and able to rock a lab coat. But throughout the main campaign of the game, and after spending enough time with him, the player will discover some things about him that might not be immediately obvious.

10 Relatively “Unique” Name

Thus far, each major Pokémon game features a professor whose last name is synonymous with a real-life tree. Mirror is one of the only ones in recent memory to break this rule, with a name that represents something that’s anything but organic or tree-like.

It’s very likely that his name is supposed to reflect his dedication to photography as a means to further his studies, as well as his interest in technology. After all, his Lental photography expedition is supposed to document natural Pokémon behavior in the wild – a “mirroring” of reality, so to speak.

9 Left-Brained Kind Of Guy

Mirror approaches everything in the game with a calm, analytical eye. Even when the player is met with intense situations – such as when they’re chasing a Steelix through a narrow cave – Mirror is primarily concerned with the data, and how to get the best pics possible.

This is most evident in a cute cutscene at the end of the game. He’s a brainy sort of guy who doesn’t get out much, so he has a very particular approach to his research. This isn’t a bad thing, however – it’s the reason he’s become such an accomplished professor, after all!

8 Hands-Off Learning

On that note, notice how he never goes on expeditions himself. Before the player even shows up to L.E.N.S., Mirror relies on his assistant and mentee, Rita, to go and take photos for him. Clearly, he’s comfortable letting others do the grunt work for him while he watches from afar.

However, this doesn’t mean that he just sits around with the photos and doesn’t do anything with them. Mirror seems to know his strengths, which lie in research and data analysis. Moreover, he’s wise enough to know that in order to get far in his field, he’s gotta play up to his strengths, instead of trying to do everything.

7 Esteemed In His Field

The Lental region is vast and expansive, with a plethora of different biomes and ecosystems co-existing with one another. Yet nobody has put as much effort into studying and exploring it as Mirror, which has earned him a rightful spot as one of the most recognized professors in the Pokémon universe.

It’s this kind of recognition that allowed him to get L.E.N.S. up and running, as well as fund his project in its entirety. Although his area of interest may be niche, he’s clearly proven that he’s up to the task of uncovering as much as he can about it.

6 A Talented Engineer

Just like how Professor Oak built Todd’s transportation device, called the Zero-One, Mirror created his very own: the NEO-ONE. As the player’s trusty ride throughout each of Lental’s islands, it holds up as a fantastic piece of technology, all thanks to Professor Mirror.

The NEO doesn’t just protect the player from certain harm – it can also teleport them from place to place. All the player has to do is place their camera against its console, and the NEO will go wherever they choose. For Mirror to have made it all by himself speaks to his skill and ingenuity.

5 Ambitious

Mirror rarely stops to smell the roses, let alone celebrate any victory the player brings home. Whether it’s as small as a new 2-star pic, or as big as a perfect shot of an Illumina Wishiwashi, he’s always looking forward to the next major thing in his research trajectory.

At times, this can be frustrating for players, who just want some recognition for all the hard work they do. But Mirror isn’t intentionally callous – he’s just thrilled to finally be making headway in something he’s dedicated his life to.

4 Old Friends With Todd

At a certain point at the beginning of the campaign, the player will be introduced to Todd: the player-character from the first Pokémon Snap game, as well as an established cameo character in the original anime series.

When asked how the two know each other, Mirror will first laud Todd with his accomplishments, then go on to explain how they used to travel together. This makes it sound like the two go way back, which is a sweet detail that fleshes both characters out.

3 An Excellent Mentor

It’s obvious that the player, Rita, and Phil (Todd’s protege) are all pretty young. It’s frankly surprising that they’re all being sent out to do these potentially dangerous tasks. But it’s not like Mirror is sending these kids out with reckless abandon.

It’s clear in how they treat him and look up to him that he’s a phenomenal mentor. He’s constantly giving them interesting things to do, and when they do them, he’s encouraging and kind. Mirror is the sort of mentor that inspires his pupils to go as far as they can doing what they love.

2 Genuinely Cares

It might be easy to assume that Mirror only got involved with the Lental region because there wasn’t much competition to begin with, but that’s simply not the case. As he states casually during the game, Mirror has been invested in studying the Illumina Phenomenon ever since he was a little boy.

His childhood fascinations have stayed with him well into his adult life, past his carefree days as a traveling young man. That’s the mark of a truly dedicated man, who will give his all to the things he values the most. And on that note …

1 He’s Single!

It seems that most players on social media either love Mirror or hate him. Some think he’s dreamy and take screenshots of him whenever he’s in a cutscene. Others rue the day they met him, chiding his strange way of rating their photos and his willingness to bonk Pokémon on the head to get a good shot.

Either way, fans might delight in knowing there’s no ring on his finger, nor any mention of a significant other. Fans of Mirror should have plenty of material for fan fiction, while those who can’t stand him might find the thought of his bachelor lifestyle amusing and maybe even a little endearing.

About The Author

Madeline Carpou
(52 Articles Published)

Madeline is a list writer specializing in video games. She has a diverse background in media production, from hosting a folk music show at her college radio station to co-producing a local history podcast.
When she’s not writing, gaming, or writing about games, she enjoys reading, playing guitar, and hanging out with her dogs.

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