Chun-Li
504832
226154127
2008-07-17T01:48:49Z
24.185.201.149
/* Cameo appearances */
{{For|the member of [[Morning Musume]]|Li Chun}}
{{General CVG character
|name=Chun-Li
|image=[[Image:Chunli sf4.png|200px]]
|caption=Chun-Li as she appears in ''[[Street Fighter IV]]''. Illustration by Daigo Ikeno.
|series=[[Street Fighter (series)|''Street Fighter'' series]]
|firstgame=''[[Street Fighter II]]''
|artist=Akira "[[Akiman]]" Yasuda (''Street Fighter II'')
|voiceactor=[[Lia Sargent]] (''Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie'', ''Street Fighter II V'', ''Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie'')<br>[[Donna Yamamoto]] (''Street Fighter'' TV series)
|japanactor=[[Yuko Miyamura]] (''Street Fighter Alpha'' series, ''Street Fighter EX'' series, ''Vs.'' series)<br>[[Atsuko Tanaka]] (''Street Fighter III: Third Strike'', ''Namco x Capcom'')<br>[[Michiko Neya]] (''Capcom vs. SNK'' series)<br>[[Mari Jitsukawa]] (''SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom'')<br>[[Fumiko Orikasa]] (''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom'')<br>[[Yumi Tōma]] (''Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie'')<br>[[Chisa Yokoyama]] (''Street Fighter II V'', ''Street Fighter Alpha'' drama CD)<br>[[Miki Fujitani]] (''Street Fighter II: The Movie'')<br>[[Rika Fukami]] (Japanese dub of the ''Street Fighter'' film)
|liveactor=[[Ming-Na]] (''[[Street Fighter (film)|Street Fighter]]'')<br>[[Kristin Kreuk]] (''Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li'') (upcoming)
|inuniverse={{Street Fighter character
|birthplace = [[Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg|25px]] [[People's Republic of China|China]]
|affiliation = former [[ICPO]] Special Detective
|fightingstyle = [[Tai Chi Chuan|Tai Chi]]
|specialskill = Shooting (ranked 6th in an international contest)
|likes = Fruit, European treats
|dislikes = Crime, Indecisive People, Bison
}}}}
{{nihongo|'''Chun-Li'''|チュンリー|Chun-Rī|based on Chinese [simplified: 春丽 traditional: 春麗] ''Chūn-Lì''}} is a [[video game character]] created by [[Capcom]]. First introduced in ''[[Street Fighter II: The World Warrior]]'', she has since appeared as a [[player character]] in each subsequent ''Street Fighter'' title. Her name is [[Mandarin dialects|Mandarin]] (''chun'' 春 "spring", ''lì'' 丽 "beautiful"), meaning "spring beauty".<ref name="gradar">[http://www.gamesradar.com/f/street-fighter-week-the-evolution-of-chun-li-and-blanka/a-2008031412554863001 ''Street Fighter'' Week: The Evolution of Chun-Li and Blanka]. [http://www.gamesradar.com/ gamesradar.com]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 1|4-1]].</ref>
An undercover [[Interpol]] agent, Chun-Li enters ''Street Fighter II'' 's fighting [[tournament]] as a way of getting to its founder, [[M. Bison]]. She seeks to avenge her father, who was murdered while investigating Bison's [[crime syndicate]], Shadaloo. Her signature move is the ''Hyakuretsukyaku'' (''Hundred Rending Leg'', commonly known as the ''Lightning Kick''), which involves repeatedly kicking her opponent from a tilted standing position. Chun-Li is notable for being the first female to appear in a single-player [[fighting game]],<ref name="gradar"/><ref>[http://stars.ign.com/objects/142/14221626_biography.html Chun-Li Biography]. [http://www.ign.com IGN]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 1|4-1]].</ref> and has acquired the [[nickname]] "First Lady of Fighting Games" among enthusiasts.<ref name="rjunk">[http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/569/ Chun-Li]. [http://www.retrojunk.com/ Retro Junk]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 1|4-1]].</ref>
==History==
===''Street Fighter'' series===
[[Image:Chun-Li Alpha 3.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Street Fighter Alpha'' series depiction of Chun-Li.]]
Chun-Li made her debut in the original version of ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' as one of the game's eight playable characters and the sole female character in the game (before the addition of later characters such as [[Cammy]], [[Rose (Street Fighter)|Rose]] and [[Sakura Kasugano|Sakura]]). Chun-Li's backstory centers around her quest to avenger her father's death, an undercover police agent who disappeared while investigating [[M. Bison]]'s organization. In her ending, she fulfills her revenge and decides to return to her life as an ordinary girl. In ''[[Super Street Fighter II]]'', the player is given the option to make Chun-Li return to ordinary life or continue her work as a police officer.
Chun-Li is brought back in ''[[Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams]]'', which is set prior to the events of the ''Street Fighter II''. Chun-Li is depicted as an undercover [[ICPO]] agent who is after M. Bison and his drug cartel. Chun-Li is dressed in a Chinese acrobatic outfit in the original, although the two sequels produced afterwards: ''[[Street Fighter Alpha 2|Alpha 2]]'' and ''[[Street Fighter Alpha 3|Alpha 3]]'', features Chun-Li's original outfit as an alternate version of the character.
She appears as a playable character in ''[[Street Fighter III|Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike]]'', the third iteration of the ''Street Fighter III'' as one of five added characters, making her one of the few ''Street Fighter'' characters to appear in all major sub-series. Set years after the ''Street Fighter II'', Chun-Li has retired from street fighting to teach [[martial arts]] to young children,<ref>[http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/a/sf3-3chu.htm Ending for ''Street Fighter III 3rd Strike'' - Chun Li (Arcade)]. [http://www.vgmuseum.com/ VGMuseum]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 4|4-4]].</ref> but is forced to return to law enforcement after one of her students is [[kidnapping|abducted]] by [[Urien (Street Fighter)|Urien]].
Chun-Li is set to appear in the upcoming ''[[Street Fighter IV]]'' as one of the returning World Warriors in the game with her brand new Ultra Move, ''Housenka'' (鳳扇華).
===Other games===
Chun-Li has made appearances in several other Capcom-produced fighting games including all of the ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom (series)|Marvel vs. Capcom]]'' and ''[[SNK vs. Capcom (series)|Capcom vs. SNK]]'' crossovers. She also appears in the puzzle game ''[[Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo]]'' and its sequel, ''[[Pocket Fighter]]''. She is also a playable character in the upcoming [[Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]] game.
==Characteristics==
In the ''Street Fighter II'' sub-series and most of her later apperances, Chun-Li wears a [[qipao]], an early 20th century Chinese dress.<ref name="rjunk"/> In the [[beta]] version of ''Street Fighter II'', Chun-Li was originally depicted wearing an orange qipao instead of blue.<ref name="gradar"/> The dress is modified to allow a far wider range of movement than a generic qipao. Her ensemble also includes a pair of white [[combat boot]]s and brown [[pantyhose]]. Chun-Li famously wears her hair in "[[Bun (hairstyle)#Double bun|ox horns]]";<ref name="gradar"/> , she wears [[silk]] brocades and ribbons in her hair, signifying the mourning of her father.
In the ''Street Fighter Alpha'' games (set during the time period before ''Street Fighter II''), Chun-Li wears an embroidered vest, a [[unitard]],<ref name="gradar"/> and [[Sneaker (footwear)|athletic shoes]]. She wears her ox horns unadorned. She also wears her original ''Street Fighter II'' outfit as an alternate version of her character.
Chun-Li is known for her speed and aerial attacks. Her signature move is the ''Hyakuretsu Kyaku'', a flurry of vicious kicks which are performed while standing on one leg. Its easy accessibility (bluntly pressing a kick button over and over again) has become a staple in many games. For her ''Spinning Bird Kick'', Chun-li spins through the air while kicking in a propeller motion. Chun-Li can also leap off nearby walls; while performing a wall jump, she is able to [[backflip]] and stomp on her opponent's head.
==Appearances in other media==
===Live-action===
====''Street Fighter'' (1994)====
Chun-Li was portrayed in the 1994 [[action film]] ''[[Street Fighter (film)|Street Fighter]]'' by actress [[Ming Na]]. She poses as a television [[reporter]] in order to infiltrate the nation of Ŝadoluo and kill M. Bison, a [[warlord]] who murdered her father during a peasant uprising. Chun-Li's [[surname]] in the film is Zang/Xiang,<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111301/ ''Street Fighter'' (1994)]. [http://www.imdb.com/ IMBD]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 8|4-8]].</ref> though Capcom has not officially recognized it.
===''Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li''===
{{main|Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li}}
In October 2006, Hyde Park Entertainment and [[Capcom]] announced its intention to produce another film adaptation with the storyline to focus on Chun-Li. This film will be more character-centered and story-based rather than following a "nebulous plot."<ref name="capcom"/> Also, apparently it won't be just a ''Street Fighter'' movie with Chun-Li as the main character, along the lines of Guile in the first one, but it will be an actual Chun-Li film.<ref name="capcom"/> Screenwriter Justin Marks was attached to write a script for the adaptation. ''Street Fighter'' is set for a February 2009 release for the 20th anniversary of the fighting game series.<ref>{{cite news |author=Pamela McClintock |coauthors=Nicole Laporte |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952892.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |title='Street Fighter' packs Hyde Park punch |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=[[2006-10-29]] |accessdate=2007-02-10}}</ref> The film adaptation is part of Capcom's multi-platform launch for 2008 that will also launch video games and a potential TV series in 2008. It's been recently confirmed on Comingsoon.com that [[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]] actress, [[Kristin Kreuk]] will be playing Chun Li in the 2009 adaptation.<ref name=capcom>{{cite news |author=John Gaudiosi |url=http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14303&page=1 |title=Exclusive: Capcom Talks New Street Fighter Movie |publisher=GameDaily BIZ |date=[[2006-11-01]] |accessdate=2007-02-10}}</ref>
===Animation===
====''Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie''====
Chun-Li is a central character in ''[[Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie]]''. An Interpol agent, she is investigating M. Bison's organization of ''Shadowlaw'', which is suspected of murdering several [[diplomat]]s.<ref name="anime">[http://www.absoluteanime.com/street_fighter/chun-li.htm Character Profile: Chun-Li Xiang]. http:///www.absoulteanime Absolute Anime]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 8|4-8]].</ref> She requests to work with Guile to investigate Bison's organization. Guile is initially reluctant to work with her, more eager to pursue Bison himself. By the end of the movie, however, they have become inseparable. Chun-Li is voiced by [[Miki Fujitani]] in the Japanese release. In the [[English (language)|English]] [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dub]], she is voiced by [[Lia Sargent]].<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0114563/fullcredits#cast ''Sutorîto Faitâ II gekijô-ban'']. [http://imdb.com IMBD]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 8|4-8]].</ref>
In a famous instance of [[fan service]], an explicit scene shows Chun-Li showering in her apartment as a Shadolaw [[assassin]], [[Vega (Street Fighter)|Vega]], arrives to kill her.<ref name="anime"/> The shower scene has been censored to varying degrees in versions of the English dub.<ref>Noah Davis. [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/film/reviews/street-fighter-ii-the-animated-movie-1994 ''Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie'' (1994)]. [http://www.popmatters.com/ PopMatters]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 8|4-8]].</ref> Although she manages to drive Vega off — kicking him through a wall and sending him hurtling several stories to the ground<ref>[http://www.absoluteanime.com/street_fighter/vega.htm Character Profile: Vega]. [http://www.absoluteanime.com/ Absolute Anime]. Retrieved on 2008-[[April 8|4-8]].</ref> — Chun-Li succumbs to her injuries and slips into a [[coma]]; she remains hospitalized for the rest of the movie. A distraught Guile promises her that he will make M. Bison pay. Following Bison's defeat at the hands of Ryu and [[Ken (Street Fighter)|Ken]], Chun-Li pulls a [[prank]] on Guile by making it appear as if she has died while he was away. As Guile grieves beside her empty bed, she surprises him with a newspaper headline announcing the downfall of Bison's operations.
====''Street Fighter II V''====
In [[Street Fighter II V|the 29-episode anime series]], Chun-Li appears as the spirited tour guide to Ken and Ryu. Her character in this adaption is a far cry from ''The world's strongest woman'', since she's mostly a Kung-Fu student under the guidance of her father, the highest-ranked police chief in [[Hong Kong]]. Chun-Li plays a sizeable role in the finale when she is brainwashed by Bison's psycho power.
====''Street Fighter'' Television series====
Chun-Li was a regular character in the [[USA Network]]'s animated television series ''[[Street Fighter (TV series)|Street Fighter]]''. She was voiced by Donna Yamamoto.
===Comics===
====''Street Fighter II: Ryu'' manga====
In a ''Street Fighter II'' manga published in the 1990s (by [[Masaomi Kanzaki]]), Chun-Li remains in her established role of an interpol agent investigating Bison, yet frequently expresses her desire to earn Ryu's praise as a genuine fighter. As the Manga progresses, she eventually participates in a tournament arranged by Shadaloo, and outlasts many of the other warriors, eventually coming up against Vega, portrayed here as her father's killer. Chun-Li defeats Vega, but as in the SF II movie, she is exhausted from the fight, and she is pulled from the tournament. Her injuries prevent her from doing much when Ryu and Bison confront one another, except call off an air strike by Interpol. Chun-Li appears one final time in the closing pages of the final issue of the Manga in a panel illustration depicting her arrest of a drug peddler, she remains eager to prove herself to Ryu, and sends him a letter conveying that wish.
Much like the anime SF II movie, the story stands alone from the established canon. Chun-Li's hero worship of Ryu was later used for the character of [[Sakura]] in the Alpha games.
====''Street Fighter Alpha'' anime and manga====
In the anime and manga based on ''Street Fighter Alpha'', Chun-Li is again an agent of interpol as she is in almost all iterations save for the live action film. In the anime, she begins tracking down Ryu because of his battle with Sagat and Shadaloo's apparent interest in Ryu. Believing this information will in some way lead to further dismantling of Shadaloo, she seeks out Ryu and becomes involved in his struggle to defeat the temptation of the Dark Hadou.
In the manga, she encounters Ryu, who has fallen from grace when he began to give in to the Dark Hadou, and had hired himself out as a bodyguard to some drug smugglers. She winds up befriending Ryu and Birdie as well as Ken (which also happens in the anime), and Chun-Li, Ken, and Ryu begin trying to deal with the Dark Hadou, though Chun Li plays mostly a minor role in that regard. However, the three friends encounter members of Shadaloo, and Chun-Li, at the end of the first volume of the manga, rescues Cammy from being captured (or possibly killed, the manga doesn't say which, only that losers are 'stored' somewhere) after having her hand apparently crushed or at the least injured in some way by Sodom. Shadaloo in the manga is once again responsible for the death of her father, though the exact identity of the killer has yet to be revealed.
====In comics====
In the 1990s, Malibu Comics produced a short-lived series of ''Street Fighter'' comics, which featured Chun-Li as a starring character. She is depicted as having known [[Ryu (Street Fighter)|Ryu]] and [[Ken (Street Fighter)|Ken]] since her late teens, as well as having a romantic interest in Ryu. The story primarily focuses not on Chun-Li or Ryu in particular, but rather on the events which follow the murder of Ken Masters. Due to the comic's abrupt end (it was cancelled after three issues), the storyline was never resolved.
When Udon comics picked up the comic book license for the Street Fighter franchise for American distribution, Chun-Li again became a central character, involved in the hunt for Bison and Shadaloo. However, in the new comic, it is not Bison or Vega who is the killer of Chun-Li's father, but rather [[Cammy]], prior to her being freed from Bison's control. Chun-Li battles Cammy when they meet face to face for the first time. Chun-Li ultimately forgives Cammy for her actions, due to the fact that she was brainwashed to serve Bison at that time. As a result, Chun-Li turns her sights on Bison himself.
Chun-Li's mode of dress changes several times throughout the Udon comics, from the outfits worn in ''Street Fighter Alpha'', to her more traditional qipao from the Street Fighter II games. She has received an invitation from Shadaloo to enter a tournament being held by Bison. The comic appears to be mixing elements of the various games together. The story is currently ongoing, though Udon has yet to release the next volume of the series.
===Cameo appearances===
Chun-Li has made cameos in various settings from the [[manga]] ''[[Faeries' Landing]]'' to a background scene in the U.S. [[cartoon]] ''[[Jackie Chan Adventures]]''. She is also a regularly-used cameo character in other Capcom games, such as the RPG ''[[Breath of Fire]]'', ''[[Final Fight 2]]'', and ''[[Mega Man 9]]''. She is a playable character in the crossover game ''[[Namco x Capcom]]'', eventually pairing up with Cammy.
==Media influences==
===Music===
Chun-Li has inspired some influence on the music industry. The British [[rock music|rock]] [[Rock band|band]] [[Arctic Monkeys]] have an instrumental song titled "Chun Li's Spinning Bird Kick" and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. [[Wyclef Jean]] sings in his version of the song [[Guantanamera]]: "If your name was Chun-Li, we'd be playin' Street Fighter." The Japanese rap/rock band Orange Range mentions Chun-Li in the Japanese side of Viva Rock. [[Nerdcore hip-hop]] artist [[Beefy (artist)|Beefy]] dedicated a song to Chun-Li.
===Films===
In the [[Jackie Chan]] live-action movie ''[[City Hunter (film)|City Hunter]]'', Chan's character magically transformed to Chun-Li and fought against his adversaries (he was first transformed into [[E. Honda]]).
There is a fight scene in the [[Shrek 2]] movie where princess Fiona performs Chun-Li's Spinning Kick against her opponents. She also performs a ''[[Shoryuken]]'', a special move of the Ken, Ryu and Akuma characters.
===Comic Books===
Issue #5 of the widely acclaimed comic book series ''[[Demo (comics)|Demo]]'' deals with a young woman whose physical appearance changes to match the desires and perceptions of those around her. In one scene, her body and clothing briefly change to match those of Chun-Li from the ''Street Fighter Alpha'' series.
==Appearances==
Over the years, Chun-Li has appeared in almost all of Capcom fighting games. After the release of ''Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike'', she became the only character besides Ryu, Ken and Akuma to appear in all three major ''Street Fighter'' incarnations (''Street Fighter II'', ''Street Fighter Alpha'' and ''Street Fighter III'') and has appeared in all crossovers involving the series (i.e. ''[[Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes]]'' and ''[[SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom]]'').
Chun-Li was also confirmed as a playable character for ''[[Street Fighter IV]]'' on [[December 7]], [[2007]].<ref name=1up>[http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164756 ''Street Fighter IV'' preview, 1Up.com]</ref>
==Actresses==
*In a number of games since ''Street Fighter Alpha'', her voice is performed by [[actor|actress]]/[[singer]] [[Yuko Miyamura]].
*In the animated movie, her voice actress is [[Miki Fujitani]].
*In ''Street Fighter III'', ''[[Capcom Fighting Evolution]]'', and the RPG ''[[Namco x Capcom]]'' she is performed by [[Atsuko Tanaka]].
*In ''[[SNK vs. series|Capcom vs. SNK]]'' and ''[[SNK vs. series|Capcom vs. SNK 2]]'', Chun-Li is voiced by [[Michiko Neya]].
*In ''SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom'', Chun-Li is voiced by Mari Jitsukawa.
*Chun-Li is portrayed by [[Ming-Na]] alongside with Jean-Claude Van Damme in the live action movie (1994). After being captured by M. Bison, she is dressed in a red ''qipao'' in contrast of the signature blue portrayed in the video games. Ming Na played a [[news]] [[reporter]] in this movie, instead of an Interpol agent. The character is dubbed over by ''Sailor Moon'' actress [[Rika Fukami]] in the Japanese dub of the film.
*In the English dubs of ''[[Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie]]'', ''[[Street Fighter II V]]'' and ''[[Street Fighter Alpha: The Movie]]'', Chun-Li is voiced by [[Lia Sargent]].
*[[Jackie Chan]] humorously parodies several characters from the game in the film [[City Hunter (film)|City Hunter]]. He briefly dons Chun-li's attire in the movie to defeat a thug who modeled himself after [[Ken Masters]].
*In the film ''[[Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li]]'', she will be portrayed by [[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]] actress [[Kristin Kreuk]]. This film is scheduled for a 2009 release.
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.gamesradar.com/f/street-fighter-week-the-evolution-of-chun-li-and-blanka/a-2008031412554863001/p-1 The Evolution of Chun-Li and Blanka]
*[http://kikouken.com/ Kikouken.Com]
*[http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0001120/ Chun-Li] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
{{Major Street Fighter Characters}}
[[Category:Chinese video game characters]]
[[Category:Female video game characters]]
[[Category:Fictional detectives]]
[[Category:Fictional martial artists]]
[[Category:Fictional police officers]]
[[Category:Street Fighter characters]]
[[es:Chun-Li]]
[[fr:Chun-Li (Street Fighter)]]
[[it:Chun-Li]]
[[ja:春麗]]
[[pt:Chun-Li]]
[[ur:چن لی (اسٹریٹ فائٹر)]]
[[zh:春麗]]