Street Fighter ZERO THE ANIMATION - A masterpiece that recreates the appeal of fighting games through animation

Street Fighter ZERO THE ANIMATION

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

game

■ Release date

August 30, 2000

■Release and sales

Publisher: KADOKAWA Media Factory

■Frequencies

150 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Capcom

■ Director

Shigeyasu Yamauchi

■ Production

Animation production: Group Tuck, Plum

■Works

©1999 CAPCOM USA/Polydor ・Manga Entertainment

■ Story

Will Ryu be engulfed in the "Murderous Intent Hado"?

Ryu, who is plagued by the "murderous intent", is approached by a boy named Shun who claims to be his younger brother. Ryu gradually grows close to Shun. Then, at a fighting tournament, Shun displays the same "murderous intent" as Ryu, and is kidnapped by someone. Is Shun really Ryu's younger brother? What is the purpose of the person who kidnapped Shun?

*Quoted from Bandai Channel

■Explanation

"Street Fighter II" 10th Anniversary

*Quoted from Bandai Channel

■Cast

Ryu/Kain/Kosugi/Ken/Ichijo Kazuya/Chun-Li/Touma Yumi/Wallace/Shimada Satoshi/Sakura/Osawa Chiaki/Shun/Kiuchi Reiko/Rose/Orikasa Ai/Gouki/Nishimura Tomomichi/Kei/Nagasawa Miki

■ Main staff

・Original work by Capcom ・Director by Shigeyasu Yamauchi ・Script by Reiko Yoshida ・Character design and chief animation director by Yoshihiko Umakoshi ・Music by Hayato Matsuo ・Art director by Hiroshi Kato ・Director of photography by Kazushi Torikoshi ・Animation production by Group TAC, Plum ・Production by Capcom, Polydor, Manga Entertainment

■ Main Characters

Ryu continues his journey of training with the goal of becoming a "true fighter," but his body is being eaten away by a powerful destructive impulse called "Murderous Intent Hado."
A fellow fighter from the same school as Kenryu. He came to Japan to take part in a fighting tournament.
Chun-Li: A female Interpol investigator. She is also a martial artist. She is searching for her missing father.
Wallace: An Interpol investigator who is investigating the case with Chun-Li.
A high school girl who admires Sakura Ryu. She searches for him so that she can meet him again.
A boy who calls himself Shunryu's younger brother. Like Ryu, he displays the "murderous intent"...
A mysterious beauty appears before Rose Ryu. Ryu, who is suffering from the "Murderous Intent Hado", speaks some mysterious words to her.
Akuma: A powerful martial artist possessed by the "Murderous Intent Hado." He murdered his master, Todoroki Tetsu.
Kei is Sakura's best friend. She has a hard time dealing with Sakura's actions.

■ Related works

・Street Fighter ZERO Generations

Street Fighter ZERO THE ANIMATION - Review and Recommendation

"Street Fighter ZERO THE ANIMATION" is an OVA based on the 1995 arcade game "Street Fighter ZERO" released by Capcom, and was released by KADOKAWA Media Factory on August 30, 2000. The work is a 150-minute feature-length film that delves deeply into the world of Street Fighter. It is directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi, written by Reiko Yoshida, character design and general animation direction by Yoshihiko Magoshi, and music by Hayato Matsuo. Animation is produced jointly by Group TAC and Plum, and production is handled by Capcom, Polydor, and Manga Entertainment.

The story begins when the main character Ryu is plagued by his "Murderous Intent Hado," and a boy named Shun appears, claiming to be his younger brother. Ryu begins to feel close to Shun, but after Shun displays his "Murderous Intent Hado" at a fighting tournament, he is kidnapped by someone. The story depicts Ryu and his friends' struggle to solve this mystery. Two big mysteries lie at the heart of the story: is Shun really Ryu's younger brother, and what is the purpose of the person who kidnapped him?

This work was created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the birth of "Street Fighter II," and holds a special meaning for fans. By faithfully recreating the worldview of the game while developing an original story, it can be enjoyed by both existing fans and new viewers alike.

The cast is filled with impressive voice actors, including Kane Kosugi as Ryu, Kazuya Ichijo as Ken, and Yumi Touma as Chun-Li. In particular, Kane Kosugi as Ryu leaves a strong impression on viewers with his powerful performance in the fighting scenes. In addition, Reiko Kiuchi as Shun, Ai Orikasa as Rose, and Tomomichi Nishimura as Akuma all shine with performances that bring out the individuality of each character.

The main characters are also fascinating. Ryu aims to be a "true fighter" but is also suffering from the "Murderous Intent Hado". Ken is a fellow student of Ryu who comes to Japan to participate in a fighting tournament. Chun-Li is a female Interpol investigator who struggles to find her missing father. Sakura is a high school girl who admires Ryu and continues her journey in search of him. Shun is a boy who claims to be Ryu's younger brother and is a mysterious being who displays the "Murderous Intent Hado". Rose is a mysterious beauty who appears before Ryu and gives him advice. Akuma is a powerful fighter who is possessed by the "Murderous Intent Hado" and has a past of killing his master, Todoroki Tetsu. Kei is Sakura's best friend and is shown struggling to deal with her actions.

The appeal of this work lies above all in the power and beauty of its fighting scenes. The character designs and chief animation director, Yoshihiko Umakoshi, draw the viewer in with their fluid movements and powerful depictions. Additionally, Hayato Matsuo's music is also an important element in heightening the tension of the fighting scenes. The fight scene between Ryu and Akuma in particular leaves a strong impression on the viewer, with a spectacular combination of direction and music.

A related work is "Street Fighter ZERO Generations," which is also an OVA that depicts the world of "Street Fighter ZERO" and is a work that fans cannot miss.

"Street Fighter ZERO THE ANIMATION" is a must-see for Street Fighter fans, and is recommended for viewers who want to enjoy fighting action. Ryu's battle with the "Satsui no Hado", the mystery of Shun, and the powerful fighting scenes with a stellar cast and crew are sure to draw viewers in. Be sure to pick up this movie and experience the world of Street Fighter.