Editing Ken Masters (section)

===Designs===
{{multiple image
 | footer    = Originally too similar to Ryu, Ken has been redesigned by Capcom with new outfits for ''Street Fighter V'' (left) and ''Street Fighter 6'' to become more original
 | total_width = 330
 | image1    = KenMastersVdesign.png
 | alt1      = Ken MastersV
 | image2    = KenMastersix.png
 | alt2      = Ken Masters
}}
In the original ''Street Fighter'', Ken fought [[barefoot]] and wore yellow arm bands without gloves. Ken and Ryu were designed to be nearly identical and share the same moves despite their different races.<ref name="design"/> Y.S. was in charge of Ken and Ryu in ''Street Fighter II''. Ken has neck-length dyed-blonde hair, black eyebrows, and wears a red sleeveless [[keikogi]] with a black belt.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molina |first1=Brett |title=Five things you didn't know about 'Super Street Fighter IV' |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/05/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-super-street-fighter-iv/1 |access-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031705/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/05/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-super-street-fighter-iv/1#.X6i0tezP3UI |archive-date=9 November 2020}}</ref>

The Karate duo which coined the term Shotocon for sharing the same moves and similar designs. Shotocons were created in other franchises and more in ''Street Fighter'' follow ups. This includes the antagonistic [[Akuma (Street Fighter)|Akuma]], the young [[Sakura Kasugano]] and the parody character [[Dan Hibiki]].<ref name="designs"/> In the prequel ''Street Fighter Alpha'' Capcom did not want to end up with just Japanese and Asian characters. As much as we could, they wanted to think in terms of creating a good balance, with all sorts of different skin colors. The secret of ''Street Fighter Alpha'' is the Ryu and Ken vs. Bison team up mode, where if word did not get out, we figured we would just stay silent.<ref name="alpha"/>

For ''Street Fighter III'', Capcom, had planned to add more moves for Ken, but his special was already qualified as Shoryuken so strong, he kind of became a "one-trick pony character". Even if players had problems with him, he was still strong enough to defeat several other characters. Capcom noted Ken and Ryu have a more American style of Karate, so they created fellow fighter [[Makoto (Street Fighter)|Makoto]] to have a more Japanese style. They tried to make her moveset and controls reflect that, too. Ken remained as one of the most requested characters in location tests of the games.<ref>{{cite web|author=blackoak|url=http://shmuplations.com/sfiii/|publisher=Shmuplations|title=The Making of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826193804/http://shmuplations.com/sfiii/|url-status=live}}</ref> With ''Street Fighter IV'', the producer said that while Ryu comes across as an ordinary man, Ken contrast him with a more well-defined face. Furthermore, they said he has "a cool, fun-loving guy." which made him easier to design.<ref>{{cite book|title=Super Street Fighter IV Official Complete Works|year=2011|publisher=Udon Entertainment|url=https://archive.org/details/super-street-fighter-iv-official-complete-works/page/n23/mode/2up}}</ref> For the crossover game with ''[[Tekken]]'', ''[[Street Fighter X Tekken]]'', Ken was given an alternate costume based on ''Tekken'' fighter [[Lars Alexandersson]], while several fashionable American-like clothing was scrapped.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NWY9DwAAQBAJ&dq=ken+masters+undisputed+street+fighter&pg=PA18 |title=Street Fighter X Tekken - Character Profiles and Development Concept Artwork: Street Fighter Characters|work=Capcom|publisher=Dynamite Entertainment |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-5241-0466-5 |access-date=April 2, 2025|page=3}}</ref>

By the time of ''Street Fighter V'', Ken's appearance underwent a design change. Ken's gi top now hangs around his waist and he wears a black v-neck training shirt with several red linings in its place. He sports black sparring gloves and has his hair tied back in a topknot instead of hanging loose which it was grown into medium length after the events of ''Street Fighter III'' series and now wears black ankle wraps with red linings instead of barefoot. For this game, Capcom wanted to differentiate Ken and Ryu's moves since they have been seen as "clones". According to ''Street Fighter V'' Senior Manager Matt Dahlgren, "Ken's more of the hothead. He's the one that's gonna rush you down and be in your face, so his V-Skill is a run move that can be used to constantly pressure your opponent."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2015-08-03/street-fighter-v-peter-rosas-and-matt-dahlgren/.90689|title=Interview: Street Fighter V's Peter Rosas and Matt Dahlgren|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=2015-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804204502/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2015-08-03/street-fighter-v-peter-rosas-and-matt-dahlgren/.90689|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''Undisputed Street Fighter: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective'', it was noted that while Ken was already a popular character in previous games, his redesign in ''Street Fighter V'' helped to improve it thanks to its more original take. This also was helped by the fact that Ken's special moves have flames in contrast to Ryu's electric Denjin Hadoken. After 30 years in ''Street Fighter V'', the moves and new designs help Ken look his own.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NWY9DwAAQBAJ&dq=ken+masters+undisputed+street+fighter&pg=PA18 |title=Undisputed Street Fighter: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective |publisher=Dynamite Entertainment |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-5241-0466-5 |access-date=20 October 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313150531/https://books.google.com/books?id=NWY9DwAAQBAJ&q=Noritaka+Funamizu+akuma&pg=PA245#v=snippet&q=Noritaka%20Funamizu%20akuma&f=false |url-status=live |page=156}}</ref> 

While still performing similar moves in ''[[Street Fighter 6]]'', Ken and Ryu were designed to play different; Ken became more aggressive and dynamic whereas Ryu was more defensive and strategic.<ref name="designs"/> By this game, Capcom decided to alter Ken's design far more than in ''Street Fighter V'' dropping his red gi. Takayuki Nakayama and art director Kaname Fujioka addressed this change in the character claimed that with every installment Ken's life became more stable and wanted to create a reason. When comparing the two heroes in ''Street Fighter II'', Fujioka says "Ken as a fiery and explosive character" when compared to the serious Ryu. In the ''Alpha'' series, he was a little more playful and lighthearted in a way. Capcom wanted to contrast Ken to the new lead Luke. As a result, Capcom decided to give Ken a more serious situation in the story compared to his previous appearances as he can no longer see his family. In writing this, Capcom closely worked with Udon Entertainment to write Ken's decay. Fujioka believes the team were successful at changing Ken's character.<ref>{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228173742/https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2022/11/09/a-deep-dive-into-kens-new-look|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2022/11/09/a-deep-dive-into-kens-new-look|title=Street Fighter 6|magazine=Game Informer|archive-date=February 28, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>