T. Hawk

Lore & Background

T. Hawk is a tall and heavy man from Mexico, standing at 230 centimeters (7 feet 7 inches) and weighing 162 kilograms. He is fond of wildlife and hair decorations, and disapproves of dishonesty. As the guardian of the Thunderfoot tribe, he upholds their traditions and values. His hairstyle resembles that of his father, Arroyo Hawk, serving as a tribute to his memory. T. Hawk has long hair and a strong, manly face with a thin nose and a big jaw. His face is decorated with white paint in a tribal style. He wears a headband made of feathers, leather moccasins on his feet, and clothes that have traditional tribal patterns. All these elements are meant to show his connection with the indigenous culture and heritage.

In Their Own Story

During the development of Super Street Fighter II, T. Hawk was originally named 'Geronimo'. However, the name was changed after an American staff member raised concerns that it could be considered racially insensitive. Additionally, T. Hawk's conceptual Elvis-style haircut was redesigned to better reflect his indigenous heritage. This change was suggested by Steve Patton, a staff member from Capcom's U.S. office who has Native American ancestry. According to character designer Akira Nishitani, the original concept for T. Hawk featured a crown of bird feathers that stretched from his head down to his waist, based on what the team thought was a common Japanese view of Native American culture. However, a Capcom staff member pointed out that this design was similar to using outdated and offensive stereotypes, like showing Japanese people with slanted eyes and buckteeth. Because of this, the team changed the design to avoid cultural stereotypes.

Reader's Guide

T. Hawk made his first appearance in Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers in 1993 as one of the four new playable characters introduced to the roster. He later returned as selectable in major titles like Street Fighter Alpha 3, Super Street Fighter IV, and Ultra Street Fighter IV. In addition to his primary appearances, he made minor appearances in Capcom Fighting Evolution, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Street Fighter 6. Beyond video games, T. Hawk is featured in animated adaptations such as Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie and the Street Fighter animated television series, along with a 1994 live-action film (portrayed by Gregg Rainwater) and a comic book series of Street Fighter published by Udon Entertainment.

Did You Know?

• T. Hawk was originally named 'Geronimo' during development, but the name was changed after concerns it could be considered racially insensitive.
• His original concept featured a crown of bird feathers stretching from his head down to his waist, based on what the team thought was a common Japanese view of Native American culture.
• The redesign of T. Hawk's Elvis-style haircut was suggested by Steve Patton, a Capcom U.S. staff member with Native American ancestry.
• T. Hawk stands at 230 centimeters (7 feet 7 inches) and weighs 162 kilograms.
• In the 1994 live-action film, T. Hawk was portrayed by Gregg Rainwater.