In the anime Street Fighter II V, Ken Masters is presented as a seventeen-year-old martial artist from a wealthy American family. He travels to Japan to reunite with his childhood friend and training partner, Ryu, after sending a letter inviting him to visit San Francisco. This version of the character differs notably from his original video game counterpart, as he is depicted with red hair instead of his iconic blonde. As the heir to the Masters family fortune, Ken enjoys a life of privilege and is accustomed to getting what he wants.

Personality wise, Ken is characterized as being cocky, confident, and affable. He is a natural show-off who enjoys the spotlight and is quick to flirt, such as when he attempts to charm women at a bar, which directly leads to an altercation with members of the U.S. Air Force. His brash and arrogant demeanor, however, is balanced by a genuine friendship with the more simple-minded and cheerful Ryu. While he has a fiery and competitive spirit, he is not portrayed as malicious, instead coming across as a thrill-seeking teenager eager to test his skills.

The primary motivation for Ken throughout the series, alongside Ryu, is to become a stronger fighter. Their journey begins after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the professional soldier Guile, which forces them to realize that traditional karate tournaments have not prepared them for the ruthless, no-holds-barred style of real street fighting. This loss ignites a desire for revenge and a deeper need to understand what it truly means to be a fighter. Consequently, Ken and Ryu travel the world, from Hong Kong to Thailand, India, and Spain, seeking out new opponents and masters to learn from.

In the story, Ken serves as Ryu’s closest companion and rival. Their bond is the emotional core of the narrative, with the series exploring the depth of their friendship as they face dangerous situations together. Ken is often the more aggressive and impulsive of the two, frequently getting them into trouble, while also using his family’s wealth to facilitate their globe-trotting adventures. His role in the plot places him in conflict with several characters from the Street Fighter mythos. A significant arc involves his rivalry with the Spanish ninja Vega, who takes an obsessive interest in their companion Chun-Li. Ken engages in a brutal fight with Vega, suffering severe injuries from Vega’s claw before ultimately defeating him.

Key relationships for Ken include his friendship with Ryu, which is the series’ central dynamic, and his connection to their new ally Chun-Li. The series presents an unusual subplot where Ken proposes to a fifteen-year-old Chun-Li, a detail that stands out as a significant departure from the main canon. He also interacts with other fighters such as the movie star Fei-Long and the Muay Thai champion Sagat.

In terms of development, Ken’s journey is one of humbling. He begins as a talented but arrogant rich kid who relies on natural ability. His defeat by Guile and the subsequent challenges he faces around the world force him to mature and take fighting more seriously. One of the most notable developments in the series is his descent into becoming Violent Ken. This is a form he takes after being captured and brainwashed by the evil M. Bison and his Psycho Power. In this controlled state, he becomes a ruthless, aggressive fighter obsessed with power, serving as a puppet for the villain until he is freed.

Ken is a highly capable martial artist whose fighting style is based on Ansatsuken, a martial art he learned alongside Ryu. In this series, his abilities evolve as he learns to harness his inner strength. He is proficient in the signature techniques of the franchise, most notably the Shoryuken, or Dragon Punch, a powerful rising uppercut, and the Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku, a spinning hurricane kick. Unlike the video games, this anime focuses on the characters learning to master the concept of Ki or Hadou, an inner energy, with Ken’s fighting style being typically flashy and aggressive to match his personality.