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Explore why Solo Leveling is so popular in the anime world. Find its webtoon predecessors and what to expect from the series.
Webtoon-to-anime adaptations are not new, but Solo Leveling has been touted as a game-changer by most fans. From its inception as a novel to its blast in popularity as a manhwa before finally delivering on its much-anticipated anime, it has captivated millions throughout the globe. While the praise it receives certainly spells a good future for adaptations, it also begs the question of whether Solo Leveling deserves to be the face of webtoons in anime.
In short, yes, Solo Leveling is highly deserving of its praise since it was considered a trendsetting webtoon long before it became an anime. Let us dive deeper into this.
Solo Leveling as a Global Phenomenon
Solo Leveling’s original story was written by Chugong for the novel form before being gorgeously illustrated by Dubu and debuting on Kakao. The series was unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, both in terms of art and story. It follows a weak hunter named Sung Jinwoo who is forced to enter gates and battle extraterrestrial monsters for the sake of making a living.
After an expedition goes wrong, he gains a system that allows him to level up through missions and objectives. Having become the only hunter in the world who can grow in strength, Jinwoo rapidly gains acclaim while figuring out the secret behind the system and the true forces threatening the world.
This premise keeps us constantly hooked, elevated by one of the coolest protagonists ever. With its gorgeous art and ability to create hype with every chapter, Solo Leveling was one of the first official webtoons to cross the niche of webtoon readers and be appreciated by the general audience too. This brought South Korean stories global acclaim, sparking calls for collaboration with animation studios to do the source material justice.
Hence, soon after the manhwa completed its adaptation, A-1 Pictures took on the project and began airing the series. The rest is history, with Solo Leveling gaining fans worldwide, transcending cultures, languages, and demographic boundaries. It has a foot inside every genre, whether it be action, romance, mystery, or drama. This has made it synonymous with webtoons, consistently ranking as one of the most popular anime of 2024 and 2025.
Why Solo Leveling Appeals to the Anime Audience
Webtoon fans wanted a Solo Leveling anime because they knew it had all the elements to captivate anime audiences. The anime audience craves a balance of relatable characters, gripping narratives, and stunning visuals. Solo Leveling covers all these bases, only improving as time goes on.
It starts off in the standard shonen way, with an underdog protagonist working hard for survival. However, his transformation into the Shadow Monarch introduces the element of being “overpowered.” One common issue anime fans have with the overpowered protagonist trope is that the stakes soon become non-existent, and it only focuses on the “coolness” of the main character.
Solo Leveling is more than just Sung Jinwoo’s charm; it has compelling side characters, antagonists, and rich lore. By tapping into the isekai-esque power fantasy that dominates anime, it feels familiar to fans while offering something new.
The anime is adapted by one of the great studios, A-1 Pictures, and its music is made by yet another recognizable name, Hiroyuki Sawano. Their visuals and scores make the anime a gripping experience for fans, elevating its appeal and emotional impact.
Anime Adaptations of Webtoons Before Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling might be all the buzz nowadays, but you might be surprised to find that there have been webtoon adaptations far before it. The most familiar name for anime fans in this area would be The God of High School by Studio MAPPA. Following a tournament between students, this was meant to have exciting fantasy fights. Unfortunately, The God of High School was plagued with negative reviews for rushing through its source material, resulting in an incomplete feeling.
Similarly, Tower of God and Noblesse, predecessors of Solo Leveling, attempted to set the precedent for webtoon adaptations. Regrettably, the Noblesse story and characters were not engrossing enough to wow anime fans. Tower of God, on the other hand, had the same opportunity as Solo Leveling since the webtoon was extremely popular. Despite this, the series failed to create a proper relationship with anime fans regarding the “towers” concept.
While tower-climbing webtoons are very popular, these are new to anime viewers. Tower of God overly condensed its content, alienating new viewers and appearing unfaithful to its dedicated fanbase.
This is where Solo Leveling comes in, guiding a new path for webtoon-to-anime adaptations. What makes it different is that it feels like the creators of the anime are genuinely trying to respect fans of the source and draw in neutral viewers. They are taking the time necessary to introduce and develop the world, allowing everyone to appreciate it.
Does Solo Leveling Deserve the Hype?
The question of whether Solo Leveling deserves the hype can be looked at through two lenses. One would be strictly focusing on its story and progression, while the other would emphasize the impact it’s had. In the former’s case, Solo Leveling is beloved by many, but there are webtoon and anime fans who would claim that its praise can get overbearing.
The concept of an overpowered protagonist in a fantasy world is enjoyable but not necessarily groundbreaking in webtoons and anime. As the series keeps going, it focuses more just on Jinwoo and him being the world’s protector, sidelining other characters. This may lead to many being disappointed when watching the show considering how much it’s hyped.
However, when talking about how influential Solo Leveling has been in both guiding a new age of webtoon storytelling and their adaptations into anime, it deserves all the hype it gets. We have already seen how former anime adaptations of webtoons have failed, but Solo Leveling has avoided this danger. It has connected fans globally, bringing more eyes to South Korean comics.
The success of the Solo Leveling manhwa has paved the way for several other adaptations, including Omniscient Reader, Tomb Raider King, and The Boxer. Its impact on the industry is unparalleled, as no other webtoon has brought about such a significant change. Hence, failing to acknowledge Solo Leveling’s contribution would be a disservice to the groundbreaking influence it has had.
What To Expect (and What Not to) When You Read or Watch Solo Leveling
Due to the excessive amount of discussions surrounding it, you may go into Solo Leveling with a certain level of expectation. To ensure your assumptions aren’t too far off, here’s what to expect and what not to expect from the series.
What To Expect:
- A memorable main character who has amazing character growth and captivating moments in every episode.
- Stunning artwork and animation that completely elevates the narrative.
- High-intensity action sequences with a wide range of supernatural powers.
- Unique monsters and elements such as gates and dungeons may be new to anime fans.
- Emotionally engaging narratives between Jinwoo, his comrades, and his family.
What Not To Expect:
- In-depth development for the supporting cast; since the story is called Solo Leveling, its primary focus is the protagonist. Hence, most side characters don’t have individual development that doesn’t involve Jinwoo.
- Gradual development, slowly shows the protagonist grow stronger; Sung Jinwoo’s growth is very rapid, where he is able to stand on par with the world’s strongest within the first season.
- Romantic subplots; Solo Leveling does have romance between Sung Jinwoo and Cha Hae-In, but this is never a central focus. It is enjoyable to watch on the side, but the series’ primary goal is to show off its exciting battles and adventures.
Should You Watch Solo Leveling?
We would definitely recommend you to watch Solo Leveling, at least to check out what all the hype is about. It will heavily resonate with action fans, having explosive battles in nearly every episode. The protagonist will have you glued to the screen, waiting to see how he inspires awe next.
The plot may lack nuance for fans of deeper storytelling but offers plenty of unforgettable moments. To stay part of the discussion about an anime destined to be remembered for decades, we strongly recommend giving it a try.
Conclusion
So, does Solo Leveling deserve to be the face of webtoons in the anime world? While it’s not flawless, it’s certainly one of the most well-made and visually captivating stories to emerge from the medium. Its global popularity, stunning art, and flag-bearer status as an anime adaptation make it a worthy contender for the title.
While the series may or may not be your cup of tea, the impact it has had on other webtoons’ popularity and the potential to get more anime adaptations of them will make it go down in history.
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