Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist
Joey Ansah and Christian Howard released a short film called Street Fighter: Legacy on YouTube in 2010. This project served as a proof-of-concept for their vision of the franchise. The pair sought official permission from Capcom to expand the story into a full series. During San Diego Comic-Con in 2012, Capcom granted them the rights to proceed with production. The creators launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project publicly. That crowdsource effort ended abruptly on the 17th of April 2013 when private backers provided all necessary funds. This shift removed the need for public donations and allowed the team to move forward immediately.
Ryu competes against himself rather than any other opponent within the dojo walls. Ken Masters drives his actions through fierce competition rooted in his relationship with his father. The two young men uncover the past of their master Gouken while learning the secrets of Ansatsuken. A scene shows Ken arriving in Japan to join Gouken's training regimen after years away. The narrative explores how each character interprets martial arts mastery differently despite sharing the same teacher. Their contrasting motivations create tension that defines their journey throughout the episodes.
Filming began on the 14th of July 2013 in Simeonovo, Sofia, Bulgaria. Crew members wrapped principal photography by the 24th of August 2013. Patrick Gill composed the musical score with contributions from Ryan Ansah and Daniel Braine. The decision to secure private funding instead of relying on Kickstarter changed the production timeline significantly. This financial shift allowed the team to maintain creative control without donor restrictions. The series aired on Machinima's YouTube channel starting the 23rd of May 2014. IFC Films later released a compiled film version on the 7th of January 2015.
Mike Moh portrays Ryu as a disciplined fighter focused on self-improvement. Christian Howard plays Ken Masters with an aggressive competitive spirit. Akira Koieyama appears as the master Gouken while Shogen depicts his younger self. Togo Igawa takes on dual roles as both Goutetsu and Goma. Joey Ansah plays Older Gouki also known as Akuma. Hal Yamanouchi delivers a performance as Senzo. Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono makes a cameo appearance as a fight promoter. Hyunri plays Sayaka who serves as the love interest of Gouki.
Rotten Tomatoes lists an audience approval rating of 94% for the web series. IGN awarded the show an 8.7 out of 10 score in their review. Critics praised its authenticity compared to larger budgeted feature films from the franchise. Shehzaan Abdulla gave it an 8/10 score noting how well it balanced fan service with humble storytelling. The series stands as one of the best live-action video game adaptations overall. Previous attempts at adapting Street Fighter received poor reviews before this project emerged. Fans consider it the most faithful adaptation of the entire franchise to date.
Funimation acquired home video distribution rights under their Giant Ape label. They released the series on DVD and Blu-ray formats for collectors. Madman Entertainment handled releases in Australia while Manga Entertainment covered the UK market. Content sold worldwide online rights to a major global channel on the 1st of November 2013. Machinima.com announced the airing schedule on the 14th of March 2014. A sequel titled World Warrior was planned but eventually scrapped in favor of Street Fighter: Resurrection. That follow-up project served as a tie-in to Street Fighter V instead of continuing the original story arc.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When was Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist released on Machinima's YouTube channel?
The series aired on Machinima's YouTube channel starting the 23rd of May 2014. IFC Films later released a compiled film version on the 7th of January 2015.
Who plays Ryu and Ken Masters in Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist?
Mike Moh portrays Ryu as a disciplined fighter focused on self-improvement while Christian Howard plays Ken Masters with an aggressive competitive spirit. Akira Koieyama appears as the master Gouken and Shogen depicts his younger self.
Where did filming for Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist take place?
Filming began on the 14th of July 2013 in Simeonovo, Sofia, Bulgaria. Crew members wrapped principal photography by the 24th of August 2013.
Why did Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist skip public crowdfunding?
That crowdsource effort ended abruptly on the 17th of April 2013 when private backers provided all necessary funds. This shift removed the need for public donations and allowed the team to move forward immediately.
What is the Rotten Tomatoes audience approval rating for Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist?
Rotten Tomatoes lists an audience approval rating of 94% for the web series. IGN awarded the show an 8.7 out of 10 score in their review.