Shinobu Otake is a highly decorated Japanese actress whose career spans over five decades, beginning in 1973. While she is primarily known for her extensive and award-winning work in live-action film, television, and stage, she has also contributed her voice to a number of notable animated features. Born in Tokyo on July 17, 1957, Otake has received numerous accolades for her live-action performances, including multiple Japanese Academy Awards.

Otake's voice acting roles, while not the central focus of her career, demonstrate her versatility and have brought her to the attention of animation audiences. Her work in anime includes the role of Kiwa in the 2021 film The House of the Lost on the Cape. That same year, she provided the voice for the title character, Nikuko, in the anime film Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko. One of her earlier and more prominent voice roles was as Homily, the mother of the tiny borrower, in the 2010 Studio Ghibli film The Secret World of Arrietty. Her association with animated projects dates back several decades, including the role of Seal in the 1977 film The Mouse and His Child and the role of Anja in the 1980 film Sekai Meisaku Dōwa: Mori wa Ikiteiru. She also voiced the character of Charlotte in the 2017 film Mary and The Witch's Flower. More recently, she had a voice role in the 2023 Studio Ghibli film The Boy and the Heron. Beyond these feature films, her filmography includes other voice credits, such as Mrs. Kurokawa in The Wind Rises. These performances highlight a recurring, though selective, engagement with animation, often in high-profile productions.