Pikachu is the mascot of the Pokémon franchise, which began as Nintendo games in 1996 before the anime series launched in Japan in 1997. Voiced by Ikue Ōtani, Pikachu communicates almost entirely through variations of its own name, and the elongated screaming version appears whenever it unleashes electricity or takes a heavy hit. Short rips of that stretched cry became staples of meme soundboards and anime compilation videos, where the instantly recognisable voice signals playful overload. Its fame keeps it in constant rotation for reaction edits.