In the anime Street Fighter II V, Chun-Li is reimagined as a spirited and youthful martial artist, depicted as being around fifteen to seventeen years old. She is the daughter of Dorai, a highly respected police chief in Hong Kong, and works as a tour guide in the city. It is in this capacity that she first encounters the two wandering martial artists, Ryu and Ken, becoming their companion and guide throughout much of their journey. Unlike her more seasoned Interpol officer portrayal from the video games, this version of Chun-Li is a capable but still developing fighter who is actively training in kung fu under her father's tutelage.

Her personality is defined by a blend of youthful energy, strong-willed determination, and a deep-seated sense of justice. She is a resourceful and cheerful young woman, but she also possesses a serious side that emerges when protecting others or confronting evil. Her motivations are initially tied to her role as a guide and friend, but they evolve as the series progresses. She is fiercely loyal to those she cares about, and this loyalty ultimately drives her to confront the shadowy crime syndicate Shadaloo and its leader, M. Bison. This confrontation stems from a desire to protect her loved ones and proves to be a pivotal moment in her development, as she is overpowered by Bison and subjected to his brainwashing, becoming one of his unwilling soldiers.

Chun-Li's role in the story is that of a central protagonist whose journey is closely intertwined with those of Ryu and Ken. She starts as a local presence who helps the two visitors navigate the world, but she quickly becomes an active participant in the escalating conflict against Shadaloo. A key subplot involves the Spanish assassin Vega, who becomes infatuated with her beauty and uses a love potion to place her under his spell, leading to a tense encounter where she is nearly abducted. This event foreshadows her later, more profound loss of autonomy when she is fully brainwashed by M. Bison. Her most significant relationship is with Ken Masters, with whom she shares a romantic connection that develops over the course of the series. After Bison's defeat and her return to her senses, she and Ken officially begin a romantic relationship. Her relationship with her father is also a foundational element, as his position as a police chief fighting crime serves as an inspiration for her own moral compass.

Throughout the series, Chun-Li undergoes a dramatic development arc, transforming from a relatively carefree young tour guide and martial arts student into a victim of mind control, and finally into a recovered fighter who has faced and overcome immense psychological trauma. This arc forces her to mature rapidly, moving from a supporting role to a central figure in the final confrontation against Shadaloo. Her abduction and subsequent brainwashing serve as a major catalyst for the story's climax, directly motivating Ryu and Ken to confront Bison.

In terms of notable abilities, Chun-Li is an expert in Chinese martial arts, demonstrating remarkable agility, speed, and powerful kicking techniques. Her fighting style is a form of kung fu taught to her by her father, emphasizing acrobatic kicks and rapid strikes. While she does not possess the raw power of Ryu or Ken, her agility is her greatest asset, allowing her to perform complex maneuvers and dodge attacks with grace. She is shown to be a formidable fighter in her own right, capable of holding her own against many opponents, though she is outmatched by the sheer power of the series' main villain, M. Bison. Her specialized techniques, such as her rapid series of kicks, are presented more as natural extensions of her martial arts training rather than the superhuman special attacks seen in the video games, grounding the action in a more realistic, albeit still highly stylized, interpretation of combat.