Who voices Pikachu in the Japanese Pokémon anime?

Ikue Ōtani voices Pikachu in the Japanese Pokémon anime. She has performed Pikachu’s voice since the character’s earliest animated appearances and is strongly identified with the Pokémon worldwide.

Unlike many anime characters, Pikachu generally keeps the same recognizable vocal performance in international dubs rather than receiving a fully translated spoken voice. Pikachu’s name and expressive cries are usually retained, allowing Ōtani’s performance to carry across language versions.

Ōtani has also voiced other notable Japanese animation characters, including Chopper in One Piece and Konohamaru in Naruto. Rica Matsumoto, another name often associated with the Pokémon anime, voices Ash Ketchum in Japanese, not Pikachu. Pikachu’s role as the franchise mascot made Ōtani’s performance one of the most recognizable character voices in Japanese popular culture.