Ikue Ōtani - The Iconic Voice Behind Pikachu

Voice actors, and in anime particularly, are frequently credited for their outstanding work.

By creating moments of nostalgia using their voice, these professionals have engrained memories into our brains. Ask any anime fan to recite the iconic Kamehameha and they will do it note for note, or ask anyone about when they first heard Yugi Moto announce ‘Dark Magic Attack’ and they’ll remember every decibel like it was their morning alarm tone; voice actors are the unsung heroes of entertainment, but one arguably comes above all else. We are talking about Ikue Ōtani, the woman behind Pikachu.

Believe it or not, and to many fans’ disappointment, Pikachu is in fact not voiced by a real electrified mouse. Instead, Ikue Ōtani is a Japanese voice actress, singer, actress, and narrator who through voicing the adorable yellow companion of Ash Ketchum in the Pokémon series has created and immortalized a legacy for her voice like no other.

Whether you are a fan of Pokémon or not, you are very likely to recognize the famous cries of Pikachu. From its kawaii murmurs as it nuzzles up to Ash to its galvanized cries before it fires off a thunderbolt towards its opponent, Pikachu’s voice is quintessential and synonymous with childhood, loving memories, and epic battles and achievements; and this all stems from the 57-year-old woman who only got into voice acting when she was an adult.

Although most famous for being the voice of Pikachu, Ōtani also in fact voices many roles anime and video game fans would be familiar with.

Ranging from Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece, Konohamaru Sarutobi in Naruto, and Morgana in Persona 5, her voice acting is expansive and diverse. She even voices other Pokémon and characters in the series, although none more noteworthy than the mascot of the franchise.