Why Street Fighter Fans Must Relive the Nostalgia of the 90s Animated Film

Adapting a video game into a successful movie has proven to be a difficult task, as seen through various failed attempts, particularly in the live-action genre. However, animated adaptations have generally performed better, with Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie standing out as one of the best examples. The franchise's complex storytelling, often overlooked by casual viewers, requires an adaptation that can effectively convey the intricate details and depth of its lore.

What Happens in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie?

In this film, M. Bison, the leader of the criminal organization Shadowlaw, creates an army of robots to locate and recruit the most powerful warriors in the world, with his main target being Ryu, a wandering Japanese martial artist. However, Bison's attempts to locate Ryu are hindered by his mystical abilities and nomadic nature. In his search, Bison finds Ryu's rival, Ken, but he requires a warrior with limitless potential to fulfill his scheme. Meanwhile, Interpol agent Chun-Li and US Air Force Major Guile join forces to bring Bison to justice after he murdered Chun-Li's father and Guile's best friend. As Ryu and Ken continue on their own paths, Chun-Li and Guile attempt to thwart Shadowlaw's plans. The story may be straightforward with various subplots, but the film offers numerous thrilling fight scenes and impressive set pieces.

How Does Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie Hold Up?

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie stands out not only as the greatest Street Fighter film, but as one of the best video game movies ever produced. Despite some minor flaws in the writing, the movie's abundance of breathtaking action scenes more than make up for it. The opening scene, which portrays Ryu's battle against Sagat, still remains the preeminent version of that pivotal moment in the franchise to this day, almost three decades later. While Ryu's relationship with Ken could have used more development, it is nonetheless aptly established. Even the minor characters like Fei Long, E. Honda, Blanka, Zangief, and Dhalsim have their moment to shine, although a few of them feel out of place. Every fight scene in the film is impressive, but Chun-Li's prolonged fight with Vega is particularly noteworthy. Additionally, even moments outside of the fights, such as Ken's proposal to Eliza or Cammy's assassination of a target, are instantly memorable. With an exceptional soundtrack and stunning fight choreography, this movie perfectly encapsulates the essence of the franchise during this era. As the upcoming Street Fighter film is evaluated, it will be measured against this exceptional standard.

What Other Animated Street Fighter Movies Are There?

The Street Fighter franchise has seen numerous cinematic adaptations over the years, including Street Fighter: Alpha films and Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind, which delves deeper into the game's plot. Motion-comic adaptations of UDON's graphic novel series, Street Fighter - Round One: Fight! and Street Fighter - The New Challenger, were also released. In addition, the franchise had a Saturday morning cartoon series, as well as a more serious anime series in 1995.

The Animated Movie adaptation of Street Fighter II is a timeless masterpiece that stands as a shining example of how to make a great video game movie. Its charm lies in the fact that it has aged gracefully, adding to its appeal. The movie was able to explore elements of the game that were not possible on the arcade machine, while still maintaining the essence of what made the game so beloved. Fans of the game owe it to themselves to experience this gem. Let's hope that filmmakers working on future adaptations take note of its success.