Who has primarily voiced Pikachu in the Pokémon anime and films?

Ikue Ōtani has primarily voiced Pikachu in the Pokémon anime and films.

Ōtani has performed Pikachu since the character’s introduction in the anime. Unlike many international voice roles, Pikachu’s voice has remained associated with the same Japanese performer across much of the franchise’s media history.

In the anime, Pikachu generally communicates by repeating its name in different tones rather than speaking ordinary human sentences. This vocal style became one of the character’s most recognizable traits and helped make Pikachu understandable across language barriers.

Other performers have voiced Pikachu in specific adaptations, including English-language roles and live-action versions. Those actors should not be confused with Ōtani’s long-running Japanese performance. Ōtani also voiced Pikachu in several video games and Pokémon films.