My favourite SF6 animation for each character

Street Fighter 6 has some absolutely stellar animation work, it takes passion for tailor each character's animations to fit in with their fighting style and wider character. Honestly, picking just one for each character was really hard.

Alex might just have the best and most satisfyingly animated moves in the game. i love throws, and as a dynamic grappler Alex has them in abundance. His Overdrive Powerbomb is a perfect mix of a satisfyingly smooth powerbomb with a hard-hitting double stomp. The addition of the theatrical hands-behind-head of the stomp is the cherry on top, it's a beautiful way of making something so simple just hit that extra bit harder.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Dee Jay's Critical Art is basically perfect. Him sending his opponent flying too far with the first hit and rushing over to continue the juggle is pretty funny, but how he takes it in his stride and turns it into a stylish series of uppercuts fits his character perfectly. Finishing up the move with a cheeky thumbs up and a grin for the camera really fit his laid back attitude as well, he's just in this fight for a good time.

Ed is one of my favourite characters in the game, and his Level 3 Super Art is suuuuch a premium animation. He's obviously showing off his boxing roots with the fast footwork (complete with squeaky shoes) and quick strikes, using his opponent as an improvised punching bag. The final uppercut is such a cinematic moment as well, the camera focusing on his opponent's newly stunned face with Ed's action freezeframe in the background is soooo good.

Jamie is the most stylish character in the game. A mixture of breakdancing and drunken fist kung fu?? Nobody else stood a chance. Jamie's Level 1 Super Art shows off this talent perfectly, you can even have a swig at the end if you use the right command.

JP's Bartitsu style (mixed with magical psycho crystals of course) is really cool, but i love his Drive Rush animation. It's just so...dignified.

How strange, my favourite animation for the foot fetish lady is one where you can't see her feet. i just think the backwards lean is a really cool image, especially with the psycho engine activating in her eye.

i love it when characters interact with the wall, and Kimberley's Level 2 Super Art is probably the best display of this in the game. The back-to-back walljumps create such great vertical motion and a demonstration of high-flying acrobatics, and sending the opponent crashing back down is the perfect cap to the move.

It's funny. Splat.

M Bison's animations are so cartoonishly evil and i absolutely love them. The sheer domination of kicking the opponent into the air before catching them with a leg and sending them backwards to the ground is perfect for the tyrant himself. For him, it was Tuesday...

Manon gains medals as she lands successful command throws, with them increasing in power up to a maximum of 5 levels. This is my favourite one, when she's on level 3. It's such a satisfyingly smooth start with the twirl, then the snappy throw to the ground is a perfect contrast. It's representative of why i love Manon as a character, it's not about beating your opponent, it's about looking graceful while doing it.

Marisa has some of the most hard-hitting moves in the game, and this throw (Enfold) where she wrestles the opponent to the ground before BAM is one such move.

Sagat's Level 2 Super Art has 4 different variations depending on the direction you hold during the first part of the move, all with different effects with different uses. Savage Tiger Stomp is for when you want to punch things, a lot.

So iconic.

If throws are what you're after Zangief has got you covered. Like Alex it was really hard to choose just one, but his Level 2 Super Art juuuuust slips ahead for me. i think it's the callout to the camera that does it for me, he's really playing up to his pro-wrestling roots.

i don't care that she's not even out yet look at this. ORBITAL LASERS!!! MAGICAL GIRL ORBITAL LASERS!!!! The animators have done an incredible job making her seem like an extradimensional being, she's so floaty and ethereal.

i really like Luke's win animation, it's the perfect demonstration of his confidence and cockiness. The way he points towards all of the cameras makes it feel like a real fight that he's just won, calling back to his mma roots. Bonus when you're playing in the Macho Ring.

nom...hungry...nom...lunch...this taunt actually does have a purpose, if Akuma finishes his snack then he gets POWERED UP into Shin Akuma, gaining 2 new super arts and double fireballs. It's a cool hidden secret!

Okay this might be cheating because the sound plays into it a lot for me, or rather the lack of it. The music cutting out to focus purely on the power of Ryu's ultimate attack is great, especially compared to every other relatively loud move in the game. It reminds you he's truly Mr Street Fighter, even after all these years.

She just really likes poison okay? God forbid a girl have a hobby.

Perfect, she kicks the teeth out of you in high heels and then steals your passport.

Cammy's so serious and professional all the time that it's nice to get a brief glimpse behind the super-soldier-spy character - her interrupting her mission report to pet a cat is a purrfect way to do this.

Chun Li's got a lot of very stylish moves, but her Falling Crane Kick takes the top place for me. It's such an elegant and acrobatic move that fits her character so well, and plays into her overall style of mixing aerial and grounded attacks.

YOGA. YOGA. YOGA. YOGA. YOGA.

i want Elena to be my friend.

Guile's Reverse Spin Kick is great for attacking while avoiding enemy low attacks, but apart from that it just looks quite funny. Wheeeeeee!

The flaming sumo wring Honda draws using his opponent is an awesome visual, showing he's got a true Yokozuna's spirit. Attempting a ring-out throw before sticking them with a devastating headbutt is not only cool but funny as well.

TATSU ELEVATOR OF FIERY DEATH.

i don't know how many energy drinks Rashid chugged to move that fast and i'm too scared to ask.

Mai's critical art has very 'you're already dead' energy in the best possible way. The filter and music change is so stylish, the subtle freezeframes with each strike culimating with the final blow construct a finishing move that feels incredibly cinematic.

Woah! That's one animation for every character in Street Fighter 6! It was really hard to pick just one for almost everyone, the animation work in this game really is top-tier. Don't ask why Luke changed to Guile halfway through, my timelines got mixed up. i hope you enjoyed, sorry there wasn't really much substance to this post, it was mainly just an excuse to share things i think are cool. i hope everyone else likes looking at animations as much as i do. oh no.