A poster on SRK named bakfromon has been doing yeoman's service translating all sorts of JPN stuff of late, including all the profiles posted accompanying these pieces of artwork. He's most active in the SFV Story Thread on SRK for anyone who cares. Mostly he's been going over scans and translating them directly so we now know what comes from what. Most of it is old stuff, but he's revealed some new info here and there (like Lee apparently being a chef).
As for the new artwork, these are not just concept designs. They have been accompanied by profiles on Capcom JPN's site, many written in the form of a Shadaloo soldier commenting on them. These contain data compiled by Shadaloo themselves, and thus seem to refer to current canon. Some interesting tidbits:
- Abel tried to inflitrate a Shadaloo base and got injured. This isn't written in Shadaloo soldier form. Instead, the Shadaloo soldier notes that "We've seen a Shadaloow solider bearing a striking resemblance (shows picture of Abel in Shadaloow solider outfit)"
- Akuma is stated to have "defeated" Gouken (i.e. not killed) and is interested in the presence of Necalli.
- Azam is a "butler of legend" who is Rashid's attendant and body guard. Was also a good professional wrestler. He's bigger than Gief (219cm/ 7'2"), but smaller than Hawk or Hugo.
- Birdie has three profiles: One for when he was younger and slimmer circa SF1/Alpha, one for after he joined Shadaloo and started to get fat (Shadaloo outfit), and his current one where he's escaped Shadaloo and is chilling with Karin.
- Don Savage is the guy listed on TFG as "unknown". He's basically a MC/hypeman (think "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart), who appeared as a background character in Boxer's SF2 stage. He was a ring announcer for the CWA and now hosts a talk show in Las Vegas.
- Dorai, Chun-li's father, is still officially listed as "missing", not dead, and they specifically mention Claw has one who "likely knows something". He's the one who trained Chun-li and taught her Gen's Legendary Assasin Kick (Gendenasatushu, a.k.a. her Crouching HK sweep, which suggests that it was Gen who taught Dorai; not sure if that detail has ever been mentioned before; I always assumed that it was Gen himself who taught it to Chun-li, but I could be wrong).
- El Fuerte and El Stinger from Muscle Bomber were taught by the same luchador, a legendary wrestler named Meteorite Jr. The Shadaloo soldier comments that El Stinger is a "way more competent luchadore" than El Fuerte.
- Not mentioned in the files, but on a separate page showing actual early-concept designs, Gen had a student wh owas ultimately scrapped for Necalli. They don't state if Gen is dead or not, but probably not.
- The reason why I say not is because Geki is stated to be dead. The Geki in the SFV files is Geki "Super", the second generation Geki. His profile says he still uses claw and shuriken, even though he now has a sword on his back. He earns hisl iving as a spy and bodyguard.
- Go HIbiki's fighting style is a Karate-based art known as "Kenhasappo Burai-Ken" (*Law of the Killing Quarrel: Outlaw Fist). Sounds like his signature move is basically Takuma's running knees to the face attack.
- Gorbachev (Great Person), in addition to being Russia's leader, conducts social international wrestling events.
- Contrary to how we imagined him, Goutetsu is a tall (188 cm/6'2") staff-wielding badass. Apparently he's a Chinese immigrant, which is why he looks like a Shaolin monk. He has techniques that he did not pass down to Gouki/Gouken, and some of some of them are listed.
- Haggar is still mayor of Metro City. They give a bullshit excuse about how doesn't want to appear in SF as an opponent.
- Joe is from Missouri. Officially a kickboxer who was undefeated in the US, but "due to financial troubles and violent outbursts he was was forced to live as an outlaw on the road". Goes by the ring name of "Super Star".
- All the Delta Red members have profiles. Keith Wolfman got his scar from a "Spanish fighter" (they don't specify Claw); Lita Luwanda has a foul mouth and is apparently from Mozambique; Matthew McCoy seems to have been given the Birdie treatment has is now black, also has superman strength but is also very dexterous with cooking and painting being his hobbies; George Ginzu is from Singapore and that blob thing that rides with him might be an alien and is named Oracle-kun.
- Lee a master of Baijiquan and Drunken Fist(!), now semi-retired and runs a real estate agency (!!).
- Max, the black guy from SF2 intro, is yet another heavyweight black boxer (smallest of the SF bunch though, at only 187 cm/6'2" and 93 kg/205 lbs) who got into trouble. Allegedly appears in SFV "somewhere".
- Mike, on the other hand, who was always a separate character to M.Bison/Balrog/Boxer, is now really different. Now he's a reformed ex-con who teaches children how to box and is a great contributor to his community. Also has a great relationship with his family and has a sister five years younger.
- Retsu is not only friends with Gouken and Dhalsim, he also apparently has a past history with Oro(!).
- Sagat is currently residing in a village deep in the mountains of Thailand, keeping his past a secret.
- Scott is the white guy from the SF2 intro. Apparently a former boxer. The profile specifically mentions "He is not Cody", though from his profile description, he basically IS Cody, or what Cody would be if Cody were not in prison.
- Tom is mentioned as being a "pretty good MMA fighter in the military, but was forced to retire in the wake of a 'certain incident'". No other details about said incident are given, but whatever it was, it was pretty bad, said to be a "detestable act by citizens and military personannel alike".
- Tom's daughter Patricia is noted as "not a fighter, but a lovely young lady.... Shadaloo has marked these people, so it makes no difference and we must keep her blacklisted". I guess it means that they must keep tabs on her. Says he does not like horror movies but zombie films are her favourite, eh.
- Yamato Nadeshiko's heel persona's name is "Yasha Nadeshiko".