Street Fighter 6 appears to reference Raul Julia's M. Bison from the original Street Fighter film for the dictator's return

In Street Fighter 6, Capcom references Raul Julia's iconic portrayal of M. Bison from the original Street Fighter film through specific elements such as Bison riding a horse. In the 1994 film, there is a famous portrait of Julia as M. Bison atop a black horse, which is painted in the background of scenes like the "It was Tuesday" one. This portrait is based on Napoleon Crossing the Alps.

In the new gameplay trailer for Street Fighter 6, Bison is shown riding a horse, which is a nod to Julia's portrayal in the film. The horse appears again as part of his pre-fight intro and victory animation in the game. While Bison himself doesn't strike the same pose as in the portrait, his horse rears up in a very similar way, making the reference apparent.

Raul Julia's performance as M. Bison in the original Street Fighter film was memorable and quotable, and Capcom's decision to reference his portrayal in Street Fighter 6 is a tribute to the impact his performance had on the franchise.

In Street Fighter 6, M. Bison's character animations involving the horse can be seen in his introduction in the World Tour mode, where he is shown riding the horse from an elevated position and then leaping down to confront the player's avatar. Additionally, the horse appears in his pre-fight intro and victory animation, with the horse rearing up in a manner similar to the portrait of Raul Julia as M. Bison from the 1994 Street Fighter movie.