Sorry to double post but I want to expand the VF history from
@DestructionBomb 's post:
メディアコンテンツ研究家の黒川文雄氏が，ビデオゲームの歴史で記録・記憶しておくべき人々や場所などを振り返る連載「ビデオゲームの語り部たち」。第2部は，「バーチャファイター」のベースとなったプロトタイプについて，同作のディレクションを担当した石井精一氏に聞きました。
www-4gamer-net.translate.goog
Jacky is not only inspired by Goku's Super Saiyan form but also from the Terminator (image of John Connor).
Since Lau = Tao Pai Pai and even had his name during development as Tao Chan, of course, this was how Pai's name came from. Lau's design came from a model for a tea commercial.
If everyone didn't know, Jeffry's original name was Willie, directly from Willie Williams aka "Bear Killer". His final name came from a cut character, Jeffrey "Jeff" Buchanan/Buckman, who was strikingly looks exactly like Jack from Tekken. There's another prototype name for Jeffry before the final: Willie Roberts.
Because Akira went through numerous designs, and even one point, Siba was part of the main cast (went by Majido), his fighting style, Bajiquan/Hakkyoku-ken came from the manga, Kenji, Seichi Ishii's favorite. Akira's model is based on the K-1 fighter, Masaki Satake. Prototype names of Akira were Takeru Ryushoji and Akira Ryuzaki.
Kage was created because the team needed a ninja character. His prototype name was Yagyu.
Wolf was developed by a new designer at the time from five different design choices that came up in one night.
Dural was based on from the character Count Duralumin from Knight of the Ribbon. At one point, Dural had 3 human male designs before decided on a soulless, metallic, nude female cyborg.
Nothing on Sarah from this interview though, but someone stated that she was based on Sarah Connor from The Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Other mentioned stuff I added that was not in the interview came from The Cutting Room Floor article:
https://tcrf.net/Virtua_Fighter_(Arcade)
