Ikue Ohtani is a prominent Japanese voice actress, or seiyuu, born on August 18, 1965, in Tokyo, Japan. She has been active in the industry since 1986 and is affiliated with the talent agency Mausu Promotion. Throughout her extensive career, she has become renowned for her distinctive, high-pitched, and emotive vocal range, often portraying young boys, cute creatures, and energetic characters. Her versatility allows her to take on both male and female roles, and she is sometimes credited under the romanizations Ikue Ootani or Ikue Otani.

Ohtani's career began in the mid-1980s, with her television debut in the anime Ganbare, Kickers!. She gained recognition throughout the 1990s with a variety of roles, such as Merle in The Vision of Escaflowne, Yukina Shiratori in Martian Successor Nadesico, and Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya in the long-running series Detective Conan, a role she has continued for decades. She also voiced Himeko Nonohara in Hime-chan's Ribbon and Signal in the OVA Twin Signal.

However, the role that would define her career and make her a global icon came in 1997 when she was cast as Pikachu in the Pokémon anime series. Her performance, which conveys a wide spectrum of emotions and personality using only variations of the character's name, is considered a landmark in voice acting. She has voiced Pikachu in every subsequent season of the anime, all major theatrical films, and numerous video games, creating a voice recognized by millions worldwide. During a medical leave from January to May 2006, her work as Pikachu was sustained using pre-recorded audio, demonstrating the integral nature of her portrayal to the character.

Another of her most celebrated roles is Tony Tony Chopper in the massively popular anime One Piece, which she began voicing in 1999. Her ability to capture the reindeer doctor's childlike innocence, emotional vulnerability, and fierce determination has made her performance a cornerstone of the series. She has also had significant, long-running roles as Konohamaru Sarutobi in the Naruto series and as Zatch Bell in Konjiki no Gash Bell!!.

In more recent years, Ohtani has continued to take on major roles, showcasing her lasting relevance in the industry. She voices the mischievous mascot character Morgana in the anime and video game adaptations of Persona 5. She also plays Candy in the Smile PreCure! series. Her work extends beyond Japanese animation to video games, where she is known for roles such as Ion in Tales of the Abyss and Tiki in Fire Emblem Awakening. Ohtani's exceptional career and her ability to bring joy to younger audiences were recognized in 2012 when she won the Kids/Family Award at the 6th Seiyu Awards. Her work continues into the 2020s, with roles such as Captain Pikachu in the new series Pokémon Horizons: The Series.