Who voices Pikachu in the original Pokémon anime?

Ikue Ōtani voices Pikachu in the original Pokémon anime.

Ōtani has performed Pikachu’s Japanese voice since the animated series began in 1997. Pikachu usually communicates through repeated forms of its name rather than ordinary human dialogue, so the performance depends heavily on pitch, rhythm, emotion, and timing.

The same recognizable Pikachu voice has been retained across many Pokémon anime episodes, films, promotional productions, and video games. This continuity helped make Pikachu’s cry one of the franchise’s most recognizable sounds internationally.

Ōtani is sometimes confused with the voice actor for Ash Ketchum in the Japanese version. Ash is voiced by Rica Matsumoto, while Pikachu is voiced by Ōtani. In English-language productions, Pikachu’s spoken performances may be credited to different actors, but Ōtani remains the original Japanese voice associated with the character.