The appeal and reputation of "Virtua Fighter": A thorough explanation of the masterpiece of fighting games

Virtua Fighter - A legendary anime born from a game

"Virtua Fighter", which aired from 1995 to 1996, is a TV anime series based on Sega's popular fighting game. A total of 35 episodes were broadcast on TV Tokyo, and the spectacular story set in the world of fighting sports and the unique characters captivated many viewers. In this article, we will take a closer look at the appeal of "Virtua Fighter", the production background, character introduction, music, and subsequent influences.

■Overview of the work

"Virtua Fighter" is an anime based on the fighting game of the same name by Sega, with an original story by Suzuki Yu, directed by Tonokatsu Hideki, and produced by Kyokuichi Tokyo Movie. It aired on TV Tokyo from October 9, 1995 to June 27, 1996, with a total of 35 episodes. Each episode is 30 minutes long and features an epic story set in the world of fighting sports.

■ Story

The story begins in America's Chinatown. While Yuki Akira, a Bajiquan fighter in training, is trying to eat a lot of dumplings, a girl named Pai, who is being chased by a group of people wearing black gis, bursts into the diner. Akira saves Pai and decides to join her. The two meet martial artists such as Jackie, Sarah, Wolf, and Lion, and throw themselves into the fight against the martial arts dojo Touenkan, which is after Pai, the merchants of death, Rafal Corporation, and the female scientist Eva.

Although the story is set in the world of martial arts, it depicts universal themes such as friendship, betrayal, and growth, deeply moving viewers. In particular, the relationship between Akira and Pai, as well as the carefully written backstories of each character, are elements that draw viewers in.

■Character Introduction

There are many unique characters in "Virtua Fighter." Below are the main characters.

Akira Yuki (CV: Shinichiro Miki)

The main character is Bajiquan Shi. He fights to save Pai. He is a straightforward and strong-willed character, and is very popular with viewers.

Pai Chan (CV: Naoko Matsui)

A girl being chased by a group of people wearing black gis. As she acts alongside Akira, her past and secrets are gradually revealed. She is a strong-willed and kind character.

Jackie Bryant (CV: Yasunori Matsumoto)

A karateka from the United States. He has a cheerful and bright personality and is a good friend to Akira and Pai.

Sarah Bryant (CV: Maya Okamoto)

Jackie's older sister and a Judo user. A calm and intelligent character, she holds an important key to the story.

Kagemaru (CV: Kiyoyuki Yanada)

A ninja, he is a mysterious character with his own unique code of conduct, adding depth to the story.

Lion Rafale (CV: Tetsuya Iwanaga)

The young leader of the Rafale Company. He has a cold-hearted personality and appears as the antagonist of the story.

Wolf Hawkfield (voiced by Unsho Ishizuka)

A Native American warrior known for his powerful fighting style and caring nature.

Jeffrey McWild (CV: Ryuzaburo Otomo)

A British fighter with plenty of experience, he appears as a mentor to the young warriors.

Emperor Shun (CV: Koichi Kitamura)

A legendary Chinese martial artist, he is a character with deep knowledge and great strength.

Eva (CV: Atsuko Tanaka)

A female scientist and researcher at Rafale Corporation. She appears as the antagonist of the story along with Lion.

Lau Cheng, Narrator (CV: Shigeru Chiba)

Pi's father and an important character in the story. He also serves as the narrator and helps move the story forward.

■Production Background

Virtua Fighter is based on a popular fighting game by Sega. Due to the success of the game, it was decided to make an anime version, and the original story was written by the game's producer, Yu Suzuki. It was directed by Hideki Tonokatsu and produced by Kyokuichi Tokyo Movie.

The production team aimed to develop an original story for the anime while faithfully recreating the worldview of the game. To that end, they carefully depicted the character backstories and relationships, creating a work that deeply moves the audience. They also paid particular attention to the realism and power of the fighting scenes, pursuing visual appeal.

■ Main staff

Many staff members were involved in the production of "Virtua Fighter." The main staff members are introduced below.

plan

Minoru Ohno (Yomiuri Advertising Agency)

producer

Keisuke Iwata (TV Tokyo), Hirokazu Ishita (Yomiuri Advertising Agency), Yasumichi Ozaki (Kyokuichi Tokyo Movie)

Music Producer

Junji Fujita

music

Kaoru Ohori

Musical Collaboration

TV Tokyo Music

Series Composition

Deputy

Supervisor

Fumio Kurokawa (#25~), Masahiro Muto

Character design, animation director

Tanaka Ryo

Art Design

Hiroshi Ohno (until #24), Katsufumi Hariu (from #25)

Director of Photography

Motoaki Ikegami

Sound Director

Satoshi Kato

edit

Takeshi Seyama

Assistant Producer

Motoaki Yashima (#25～)

Production Manager

Ryuichi Okamura (up to #24), Tatsuyo Kobayashi (up to #25)

■ Theme songs and music

The theme songs and insert songs of "Virtua Fighter" are also important elements that enhance the appeal of the work. Below are the theme songs and insert songs.

Opening Theme

[OP1] Song title: WILD VISION (#1-24) / Singer: Koji Hayashi / Lyrics: Masatoshi Ishikawa / Composer: Hidetoshi Sato / Arranger: Yuji Toriyama

[OP2] Song title: Ai ga Tarinai ze (#25-35) / Singer: Mitsuyoshi Takenobu / Lyrics: Mori Yukinojo / Composition: Yonekawa Hideyuki / Arrangement: Ohori Kaoru

Ending Theme

[ED1] Song title: Myth of the Lips (#1-19) / Singer: Vivian Hsu / Lyrics: Kumiko Tomoi / Music: Toshiaki Matsumoto / Arrangement: Yutaka Fukuoka

[ED2] Song title: Accomplice (#20-24) / Singer: Vivian Hsu / Lyrics: Kumiko Tomoi / Composer: Naoki Masumoto / Arrangement: Naoki Masumoto

[ED3] Song title: In the middle of eternity (#25-35) / Singer: Akiko Seko / Lyrics: Yuka Kondo, Arihiro Nakata / Composer: Satoru Sugawara / Arranger: Yuzo Hayashi

■The appeal of the work

The appeal of "Virtua Fighter" lies above all in its epic storyline and unique characters. Although it is set in the world of fighting sports, it depicts universal themes such as friendship, betrayal, and growth, deeply moving viewers. Another point not to be missed is the realism and power of the fighting scenes, and it also pursues visual appeal.

Furthermore, music is also an important element in enhancing the appeal of the work. The opening and ending themes not only enhance the atmosphere of the story, but are also masterpieces that are deeply engraved in the hearts of viewers.

■ Later impacts

"Virtua Fighter" continues to be loved by many fans even after the series has finished airing. In particular, it has been highly praised by game fans as an anime that faithfully reproduces the worldview of the original work, and it has become a monumental work in the world of fighting anime. The characters are also very popular, and many goods and collaboration products have been released.

Furthermore, "Virtua Fighter" had a major influence on subsequent fighting anime and games. Its approach of pursuing the realism and intensity of fighting sports, as well as its careful depiction of character backstories and relationships, have been passed down to many works.

■Recommendation details

"Virtua Fighter" is recommended not only for fighting fans, but also for those who are interested in the story and characters. In particular, the story, which depicts universal themes such as friendship, betrayal, and growth, deeply moves viewers. In addition, the realism and power of the fighting scenes are also points not to be missed, and the series also pursues visual appeal.

Furthermore, music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of the work. The opening and ending themes not only enhance the atmosphere of the story, but are also masterpieces that are deeply engraved in the hearts of viewers. Please watch "Virtua Fighter" and experience its charm for yourself.

■ Summary

"Virtua Fighter" is a TV anime series based on Sega's popular fighting game, which aired from 1995 to 1996. The spectacular story set in the world of fighting sports and the unique characters captivated many viewers and had a major influence on subsequent fighting sports anime and games. Please watch "Virtua Fighter" and experience its charm for yourself.