Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture

Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture is an anime TV Special based on the fighting game Samurai Shodown. It originally aired on Fuji TV sometime in 1994. The movie was directed by Hiroshi Ishiodori and features character designs by Kazunori Iwakura, who also did the designs for the Art of Fighting adaption. The English version of the movie was distributed by ADV Films in 1994 and re-released for DVD in 2005. The ending theme song was "Daisuki to iu uso o tsuita" by GWINKO.

The film has an infamous reputation of taking liberties with the game's original concept; this is because SNK's marketers allowed the studios involved to change whatever they deemed necessary to "appeal to a large audience". The original game developers, however, had little creative control over the anime's development and were somewhat displeased by the results. Since then, SNK has kept a more weary eye on their artistic licenses, taking time to target talented fans of their games for designs as well as selecting limited and faithful sponsors.

Story
The story begins during a bloody war, dated to be taking place during the Warring states of Japan. An earthquake erupts around the world and six respective warriors around the globe take heed of the events. As the dark god, Ambrosia, is resurrected the battlefield is set ablaze. In the ashes, Haohmaru searches for traitor, Shiro Tokisada Amakusa. He is upset that she betrayed her vows as one of the "Holy Warriors", warriors who keep the seal over Ambrosia from being broken. Though she tempts him to join her, Haohmaru resists and is eventually backed up by the remaining Holy Warriors: Charlotte, Wan-fu, Nakoruru, Tam Tam, and Galford. Their events are vain as Amakusa effortlessly defeats them and burns them alive. Though their bodies die, she is unable to destroy their souls.

A hundred years pass and Amakusa has manipulated the shogunate to serve her so she can raise her army of Jashin soldiers without suspicion. Her actions are under observation by Hanzo Hattori, Jubei Yagyu, and Kyoshiro Senryo; all three plot to overthrow Amakusa's reign of tyranny though lack the manpower to do so. Hanzo tells the other two that Amakusa's weakness which appears to be six Holy Warriors. They agree to search for them as they are the only hope of freeing the Tokugawa from Ambrosia.

Meanwhile, all of the Holy Warriors have been reincarnated and are searching for their missing members. All of them remember their past lives and mission save Haohmaru, a rambunctious youth who lives with his mother in a poor village. While away from the village to slay a wild bear, Amakusa's army -lead by Earthquake- attacks his village due to one of the residents alerting them to Haohmaru's presence. Several of the people are killed during the attack, including Haohmaru's mother. Enraged, Haohmaru slays many soldiers and Earthquake, which partially invokes his lost memories and powers. After the attack, he runs to his dying mother. She reveals to him that she isn't her birth mother: she found him as an infant along with his sword in the mountains. His divine appearance in the mountains convinced her that he is destined for a greater destiny, encouraging him to follow it. She dies, leaving a grief stricken Haohmaru to bury her and the other victims.

He is then approached by the other Holy Warriors who try to get him to join them. More concerned for getting revenge for his home, Haohmaru races off to Amakusa's castle. During their pursuit of Haohmaru, Galford holds off one of Amakusa's minions Genan Shiranui so the others can try to stop him. There he meets Jubei who informs him of the resistance against Amakusa.

At the castle, Haohmaru charges through the courtyard calling for Amakusa. The other Holy Warriors search for him with Charlotte finding him first. By then, they fall into Amakusa's trap. She taunts the inexperienced Haohmaru, again trying to tempt him to join Ambrosia's forces. His anger fuels the dark god and the other Holy Warriors are eventually trapped in a sealing entrapment. They use their powers to break the evil barrier surrounding the castle, allowing Charlotte to flee with Haohmaru.

The two arrive near Haohmaru's village with some of the surviving children helping the then incapacitated Haohmaru to find shelter. A week passes but Haohmaru's condition has yet to improve. Charlotte recognizes the problem lies in Haohmaru's spirit and dives her own spirit into his soul. Unfortunately, Haohmaru's spirit is in Amakusa's hands. She reveals to him the reason why she betrayed her mission: her commanding officer had struck her down in an attempt to kill her. She broke the seal of Ambrosia with her dying breath and was revived as a servant for the dark god. Charlotte pleads with Haohmaru to remember his destiny, her words echoing the message from his mother. He finally remembers his role as a Holy Warrior and frees his spirit. Awakened, he quickly defeats Genan, who was ordered to find and kill both of them. Hanzo greets them and requests for their assistance to defeat Amakusa.

They join forces and attack the castle once more, freeing the other Holy Warriors and fighting with a moralized peasant army lead by Hanzo and company. Haohmaru delivers the final blow to Amakusa, who is freed from Ambrosia's grasp and dies as a Holy Warrior. Ambrosia uses her body to materialize itself, forcing them to somehow create a new seal without Amakusa's help. Her spirit entreats Haohmaru to use her sword, ensuring that it will use both their powers to defeat the god. He uses it and decimates Ambrosia. The story ends with the implication that the shogunate will rebuild the country with help from the people. The Holy Warriors destiny from then on is left open to interpretation.

Trivia

 * It's a common misconception that Amakusa's female gender is mistake made from the English dubbing company. This is not the case as Amakusa is mentioned to be female in both versions.
 * Though several concepts have been ignored, a few of them have been incorporated into canon. One of them is romantic implications between Haohmaru and Charlotte.
 * Reiko Chiba later makes two cameos in Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture. One of her appearances alludes to her voice work for Nakoruru.
 * One of the main marketing schemes used to promote ratings in Japan was Shingo Katori's role for Haohmaru as Shingo is one of the members to SMAP, a popular Jpop boys group.