I got to speak with Joey Ansah, the co-writer, director, prosthetics-covered Akuma.
Den of Geek: Ive watched the first few episodes.
What spawned the idea for you to really delve intoStreet Fighterlore like this?
We have something solid to launch from.
If theres going to be a franchise moving forward, were going to need a solid grounding.
And I think fans are frustrated with the kind of lack of clarity of theStreet Fightermythology.
And its just not being done!
So I hope that answers your question in a really convoluted way.
No, I fully agree with all of that.
Im also a big fan of stories in games likeStreet Fighter,Mortal Kombat, so on.
What is it about theStreet Fighterstoryline that really inspires you?
I thinkStreet Fighter IV… See, I dont get why games series do that.
You probably knowTekkendid the same thing, right?
Im a Paul Phoenix fan.
Its essentially a tragedy.
The love triangle and the loss of Gouki to the darkness apparently.
I just think its great storytelling and its very compelling and its very layered.
And thats what attracted me.
Even in bad fighting game movies, the guys there can still stage a fight scene.
Even before the special moves come into play.
How difficult was it to get everyone to fight so true-to-game?
I love you lots for even asking that question.
Aw, youre swell yourself.
Because its those details that I think if the audience picks up on that, we really succeeded.
Its got a very karate base mixed with boxing elements.
So I, along with Christian Howard, created essentially a false martial art.
Their style starts to evolveI dont know if saw episode 4 with Mr. Masters
I saw that, yeah.
So you begin to see, okay, thats where they start to get the form from.
Goukens mindset is kind of liberalism.
Theres always another way.
Im glad you noticed.
It was all by design and none of it was by happy accident.
The basic techniques are in there.
A lot of Kens basic punches and kicks and techniques are in there.
The throws you see them do are the throws from in the game.
So yeah, it has to be authentic.
Wind machines, rain machines, super thousand frames per second shots.Legacycame about…
I then realized that licensing dont have money.
Now, that could be doing a movie deal or doing a lunchbox deal.
So they were like, Why dont you go and pitch something to our marketing department?
Maybe you’re free to get some of that budget.
Kind of as an asset, you know what I mean?
So I pitched to marketing in San Mateo and I pitched to Capcom Europe marketing and they were down!
I really thank them for really believing in my vision and my pitch.
And we made it.
But…they got cold feet.
So I kind of politically was like, Okay, I understand you have fears.
Theyve given permission to do that.
It was financed by them.
The irony is, it came out and broke YouTube records and had a 98.8% approval rating.
And I was like, What part of you guys thought this wasnt going to be a success?
But anyway, thats water under the bridge.
Lets just give them the money to doAssassins Fist!
But that wasnt how it worked.
So heres little me and my team going up against studios.
And we had the means to finance it independently.
And not many companies do!
They sell the license and then whoever buys the license raises the finances.
So thats how this happened.
Now, of course, Capcom is supporting the project with marketing support.
Eventually, Ono-san… its his rights to reject.
He could have torpedoed this, but he believed in what I was doing.
Then I was largely left to have full control.
The rest is history, you know?
As youve probably seen if youve watched episode 4, Ono-san cameos in the series.
Speaking of cameos, there was one line about a certain character that got me very, very happy.
A lot of people have been asking about this person, who shall remain unnamed.
Oh, is he going to be in it?
You do know that he should be in it at this timeline!
And its kind of like, yeah, we know.
Do you find yourself on the lookout for future casting?
Do you keep an eye out and go, That guy is exactly who we need as Sagat!
or, That guy over there would be a perfect Adon!?
Yeah, Im always on the lookout.
Anyone would just have to watchUndisputed 2, look up Scott in action, and picture him as Guile.
So there are people already Ive earmarked for certain characters.
That is the main thing, they have to be able to act.
If you watch episode 5, which I hope you did
I did!
youve seen the heightened level of drama in the series, right?
I mean, just look at the scene between Goutetsu and Gouki during the banishment.
So the need for good actors is as important as the need for great martial artists or physical specimens.
Thats what makes the casting so difficult and so specific on this.
But yeah, Ive got my eye on various people.
Are there any other games youd like to try this magic on?
I know, everyones going on about Terry Bogard and this and the other.
I think as a commercial vehicle, if Capcom stocks their stables:Resident Evil.
I love that game.
Id love to see it done right.
Thank you very much for your time.
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