Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation
DVD cover
Directed by	Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Written by	Reiko Yoshida
Produced by	Kaoru Mfaume
Starring	Kane Kosugi Kazuya Ichijō Reiko Kiuchi Daiki Nakamura Hisao Egawa Yumi Toma Chiaki Osawa Ai Orikasa Tomomichi Nishimura Miki Nagasawa Bin Shimada
Music by	Hayato Matsuo
Production company	Group TAC
Release date	August 31, 2000 (2000-08-31)
Running time	93 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, released in Japan as Street Fighter Zero (ストリートファイターZERO), is a 2000 OVA based on the fighting game Street Fighter Alpha 2 by Capcom, directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. An English dub version was later produced by Manga Entertainment and released in 2001 on the 10th anniversary of Street Fighter II: The World Warrior.

The film is not a prequel or sequel to either Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie or Street Fighter II V, but an independent installment, although several voice actors from previous adaptations reprised their roles for the English version of the movie.

Ryu is the recent world champion martial artist who got recognition after defeating Sagat who was both the host and the final opponent in the ending match of the first street fighter tournament.

Ryu is first seen contemplating the murder of his sensei, Gouken, while struggling with the "Satsui no Hadou" (the "Dark Hadou" in the English dub), this dark ki-force which Gouken's brother, Akuma, succumbed to. While in the city, Ryu fights off armed agents of Shadaloo, gaining the attention of Interpol agent Chun-Li and aspiring martial artist Sakura Kasugano, who becomes his fan and vows to track him down and become his student.

In Japan, a mysterious fortune-teller, Rose, confronts Ryu and questions him about his hold over the Satsui no Hadou and reason for fighting. While visiting Gouken's grave, Ryu meets his old friend and fighting rival, Ken Masters, and they are approached by Shun, a young boy who claims he is Ryu's long-lost brother. According to Shun, their mother raised him in Brazil and sent him to find Ryu before she died. Ken is skeptical, but Ryu takes Shun in and notices his potential as a fighter. One night, Ryu succumbs to the Satsui no Hadou and nearly kills Ken with a Dark Hadouken. He instructs Ken to kill him if he is ever completely possessed by the Satsui no Hadou, which Ken agrees to.

Ken and Shun enter another underground street fighting tournament; while on the way there, they are harassed by a gang of thugs. Ryu and Shun fight them off, but Ryu notices a sadistic streak in his little brother, whom he had to punch Shun to stop from assaulting and killing one of the thugs. Meanwhile, Ken rescues Sakura at a local bar from more harassing street thugs, and agrees to take her to Ryu, but is too late to enter the tournament as Ryu is found by Chun-Li.

In the tournament, held in an abandoned building watched over by its enigmatic organizer, Dr. Sadler, the first fight shows Dan Hibiki being brutally injured by Vega; the next fight shown Shun being pitted against wrestler Zangief. Shun pummels Zangief with his superior speed, but the Satsui no Hadou catches up with him, distracting him long enough for Zangief to attack him. Ryu steps in and fights Zangief, but is also overcome by the Satsui no Hadou and fires another Dark Hadouken which misses Zangief and causes the building to collapse. As Ken takes an injured Sakura to safety, Ryu is confronted by Rosanov and Shun is injured defending him. Enraged, Ryu obliterates Rosanov with another Dark Hadouken. While Ryu is distracted, Shun is abducted by Shadaloo agents.

As Ryu loses the will to fight, Rose appears before him and encourages him to save Shun. Accompanied by Chun-Li, Ryu first visits Akuma at his remote home in the mountains. Akuma, believing that Ryu has come to challenge him, attempts to goad him into succumbing to the Satsui no Hadou. Ryu refuses, and Akuma orders him to leave. Ryu asks Akuma if he is Shun's father or has any family, which he denies.

Chun-Li then travels to Sadler's hideout at a secluded desert via cargo jet to rescue Shun and investigate her missing father's whereabouts, accompanied by nine other elite and competitive martial artists including veterans of Sagat's street fighter tournament such as Ryu, Ken, Adon and Birdie, as well as newcomers such as Dan, Dhalsim, Guy, Rolento and Sodom.

As the other street fighters battle in the arena outside Sadler's lab, Ryu, Ken and Chun-Li sneak inside to find Shun and are confronted by Rosanov, who has been upgraded to a fighting machine. Ryu arrives and realizes that Rosanov is actually an android with Shun inside, who is working for Sadler. Shun goads Ryu into using a Satsui no Hadouken, since he is connected to Sadler and attacking him will increase Sadler's fighting potential through absorption. The Satsui no Hadouken frees Shun and destroys Rosanov. With this sudden increase in power, Sadler bursts out of his lab and attacks Ryu. Rose intervenes, informing Ryu in a vision that "you haven't drawn the death card yet". Inspired, Ryu fires a normal Shinku Hadouken directly into Sadler, who crumbles into dust.

As Shun succumbs to his injuries, he reveals that he lied to Ryu about being his brother and worked with Sadler to raise money for his mother, who had died. Ryu tells Shun that he is still his brother and vows never to use the Satsui no Hadou again as the fighters return to their everyday lives.

The movie ends with the fighters returning to their normal lives. Ryu, however, has sought out a sparring match between with Akuma to show that he is nothing like him. Ryu and Akuma jump at each other and Ryu releases a triumphant shout as he prepares for battle.

Main

Secondary

Anime News Network criticized the open ending of Street Fighter Alpha but praised its plot, detailed animation, music, and the quality of both the Japanese and English voice acting. They gave it an A−.^[1]

• Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia