Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, known simply as Street Fighter II (ストリートファイターII MOVIE) in Japan and United States,[2] is a 1994 adult anime action film and the film adaptation of the Street Fighter II fighting game written by Kenichi Imai, directed by Gisaburō Sugii, animated by Group TAC and featuring character designs by Shuko Murase. It is the first fully animated film in the Street Fighter franchise, distributed by Capcom in Japan (20th Century Fox distributed the film in select countries). The film, originally released in Japan on August 6, 1994, was released theatrically in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, and Spain, and was adapted into English in dubbed and subtitled format by Animaze for Manga Entertainment. In the film, a group of professional fighters become aware of a conspiracy set by Shadowlaw, a criminal organization seeking world domination. Meanwhile, Ryu, unaware of the whole ordeal, seeks to test his skills across the world.

The film was a critical and commercial success. Group TAC later produced a more loose adaptation of the Street Fighter II games, the anime series Street Fighter II V. Though unrelated to the film, a handful of Animaze voice actors reprised their roles for their English dub of the series, produced after ADV Films's dub.

Plot

Japanese martial artist Ryu and Muay Thai champion Sagat engage in a heated battle until Ryu severely scars Sagat across the chest using the Shoryuken. Enraged, Sagat charges at Ryu, but Ryu defeats him using the Hadouken, and Sagat vows revenge.

Several years later, following the assassination of a Justice Minister by Cammy White, a hypnotized MI6 agent, Interpol agent Chun-Li suggests that they join forces with the United States Military to destroy the enigmatic crime syndicate Shadowlaw. Captain Guile, who seeks revenge against Shadowlaw's leader, M. Bison, for the death of his best friend Charlie, initially refuses, but eventually relents after Chun-Li tells him that Bison killed her father years earlier and she also seeks revenge, but knows that her duty comes first. At the Shadowlaw base, Bison, along with his bodyguards Balrog, Vega, and Sagat, orders a worldwide manhunt for Ryu, determined to induct him into his organization, and sends out monitor cyborgs to find more valuable martial artists for their cause. However, Ryu, who is traveling the world to seek out worthy challengers, such as Fei Long, Dhalsim, and E. Honda, remains undetected due to suppressing his Ki.

Meanwhile, Ryu's American best friend and fighting rival, Ken Masters, has settled down with his girlfriend, Eliza, but still seeks challenge and a rematch with Ryu. During a fight with T. Hawk, who had sought out Ken to challenge him, a monitor cyborg witnesses Ken and the footage of the fight is sent to the Shadowlaw base.

Voice cast

Production

The film was formally announced by Capcom Japan at a Street Fighter II Turbo tournament held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on August 19, 1993.[3] Capcom produced the film on a budget of $6million.[4] The fight sequences of the film were choreographed by K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii and professional fighter Andy Hug. Kusanagi, Madhouse Studios and Studio Fuga did the background arts for the film.[5]

Initially, Masashi Ikeda was announced as the director, but due to various circumstances, he was dropped out and replaced by Gisaburo Sugii. The film was completed in six months. Sugii gathers three times the usual number of staff, divides them into three groups, and continues production of the movie by making three 30-minute anime in six months and connecting them to make a 90-minute movie.[6]

English versions

Soundtrack

Reception

Related media

Legacy

The film served as the basis for Street Fighter Alpha. Many elements and character designs were integrated into future games of the series (the Street Fighter Alpha series in particular). The film's final battle is loosely adapted into Ryu's story in Street Fighter Alpha 3, where Ryu's sub-boss is a brainwashed Ken, whom he must defeat before facing Bison.

The film's success also led to the production of a television series, Street Fighter II V, and another animated film, Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation. While neither are set in the same continuity as the film, the Animaze English dubs featured a handful of actors reprising their roles from the film.

Although it was preceded by Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture (which follows the same continuity as 1992's Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf and 1993's Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle) by nearly a month, both films' positive receptions led to more anime adaptations of other fighting game franchises, such as Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture (a month later), Battle Arena Toshinden,

See also

• Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation
• Street Fighter Alpha: Generations

External links