‘Street Fighter’ Goes Full Anime as Titmouse’s Hand-Drawn Flashbacks Reveal Ryu and Ken’s Fractured Past

It has been more than 30 years since ‘Street Fighter’ last hit the big screen, and the new live-action adaptation is almost here. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the Legendary and Capcom film arrives in theaters on October 16 and is the first release under Legendary’s distribution deal with Paramount Pictures.

The movie is set in 1993, the year ‘Street Fighter II’ conquered arcades worldwide. It follows estranged fighters Ryu, played by Andrew Koji, and Ken Masters, played by Noah Centineo, who are recruited by Chun-Li (Callina Liang) for the next World Warrior Tournament, only to discover a deadly conspiracy behind it.

Throughout the promotional campaign, much of the focus has been on how faithfully the film recreates Capcom’s iconic world in live action. As it turns out, the movie has been hiding a major creative surprise.

DiscussingFilm has exclusively revealed that Sakurai partnered with animation studio Titmouse to create hand-drawn 2D sequences for the film. Much like Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill’, the movie explores Ryu and Ken’s backstories through flashbacks drawn entirely in 2D animation.

Exclusive first images for 2D animated sequences from the ‘STREET FIGHTER’ movie. All of Ryu & Ken’s flashbacks throughout the film are told through hand-drawn 2D animation by Titmouse. https://t.co/IjoB9rgCLj

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 9, 2026

The first images showcase the striking style, from a furious Ken mid-strike in a sunlit dojo to Ryu in his classic white gi and headband. Other stills show Ryu unleashing a blue Hadouken during training and the pair sparring side by side.

The director explained the idea in a new behind-the-scenes featurette. A unique aspect of the film, Sakurai said in the featurette, is its flashback sequences “where we see Ken and Ryu growing up and their past.”

His personal history played a big role in the decision. Sakurai shared how his upbringing in Japan and the franchise’s cultural legacy shaped these previously unannounced sections of the film, while his love of ’90s anime classics like ‘Akira’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell’ helped inspire their look.

According to Gizmodo, the choice was also a way for the director to pay homage to the early 1990s era when the franchise’s origin really took shape, even though the rest of the film is a modern, effects-driven blockbuster.

PERFECT! Watch the New Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. https://t.co/jAAPf1k9jf

— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) September 1, 2026

The animated segments aren’t just a stylistic flourish. They explore how Ryu and Ken’s training ultimately drove them apart, giving the flashbacks a key role in the conflicts that play out in the live-action story.

They also introduce Roman Reigns’ Akuma in terrifying fashion, with one image showing the villain emerging from flames. The animated characters are modeled after the cast, who also voice their roles in these scenes.

Fan reactions to the reveal have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the creative choice. For a franchise famous for its bombastic visuals, blending mediums seems like a smart way to capture its larger-than-life energy.

Beyond the leads, the cast is packed with familiar faces. Jason Momoa plays Blanka, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson takes on Balrog, David Dastmalchian is M. Bison, and Cody Rhodes steps in as Guile.

Orville Peck plays Vega, Olivier Richters is Zangief, Hirooki Goto takes on E. Honda, Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim, and Andrew Schulz portrays Dan Hibiki. Eric André also appears as Don Sauvage, while T.J. Fixman and Sakurai wrote the screenplay from a story by Dalan Musson and Gary Dauberman.

The film runs 120 minutes, carries a PG-13 rating, and was filmed for IMAX. With Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ adaptation already earning critical praise, ‘Street Fighter’ has a real chance to cap off a strong year for Capcom on the big screen.

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