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Discover the similarities and differences between the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc and find which is better.
Among the several compelling arcs in anime, two have obtained a special place across different generations. These are Solo Leveling’s Jeju Island Arc and Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc. Both arcs represent the pinnacle of storytelling in their respective series while exploring new aspects of their characters and worlds.
Despite having a gap of over a decade between their airing times, however, fans can’t help but notice how similar both arcs are. Solo Leveling and Hunter x Hunter share similar themes regarding the concept of hunters and their fantasy elements. However, they were never so clearly paralleled with each other till the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc.
Due to this, fans may wonder which one truly stands atop the other. Here is a closer look at which is better among the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc.
What Is Solo Leveling’s Jeju Island Arc About?
Solo Leveling, arguably the hottest new anime right now, tells the tale of a world plagued by gates and dangerous monsters coming through them. Humanity’s only line of defense is hunters blessed with supernatural powers.
The protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, who was initially the world’s weakest hunter gains a mysterious system allowing him to rapidly level up. Through this, he obtains strength at a frightening pace while facing multiple threats against his race.
The Jeju Island Arc follows the biggest rise in the stakes of the series till that point. It centers around an alliance between Japanese and Korean hunters to defeat the S-Rank Gate on Jeju Island. This location is infested by mutated ants capable of killing the most formidable of hunters.
While aiming to wipe out the Ant Queen and cause the other ants to naturally die, things don’t go exactly as planned. This is due to the appearance of the Ant King, an antagonist more powerful than S-Rank Hunters. Capable of easily wiping out the entire raid party, he pushes Jinwoo to interfere and show off his powers publicly for the first time.
The Jeju Island Arc takes Solo Leveling to the global scale for the first time, introducing the cast of diverse hunters. At the center, however, is the protagonist, who impresses with his shadow powers. He takes on the mantle of humanity’s protector while having an electrifying battle against the Ant King.
What Is Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc About?
Hunter x Hunter is an anime following the life of Gon as he aims to become a hunter and chase his father’s footsteps. Through various adventures, Gon gains valuable allies while exploring different aspects of his morality.
The Chimera Ant Arc is considered the best arc in the series, and for good reason. It follows monstrous ants as they take over the nation of NGL and develop their own society. With the king, Meruem, leading them, the rest of the world could be in immense danger at any point.
Recognizing this, the Hunter Association led by Netero moves into action to kill the king before he decides to expand his powers. At the same time, the protagonist Gon has a journey of his own. This revolves around his descent into darkness as his mentor Kite is killed by an ant and Gon struggles to stick true to his ideals.
The Chimera Ant Arc is an all-round package of action, emotion and tragedy. While it starts off on a lighter note, it soon dives deep into philosophical themes and the fine line between humans and monsters. The parallels between Gon and Meruem, the development of the cast, and the conclusion remain ingrained in the minds of every fan.
Similarities Between the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc
The main reason why fans compare the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc is because of the glaring similarities between them. While Solo Leveling’s author has never specifically confirmed it, some fans speculate that Jeju Island Arc is inspired by the Chimera Ant Arc. The similarities between the two include:
1) The Basic Premise –
The outward storyline of both arcs follows the need to defeat ants who have taken over an entire location. They begin with the introduction of the Ant Queen, who gives birth to the rest of the race and creates the ultimate being, the Ant King.
2) The Ant King –
The main antagonist of both arcs is the Ant King. Solo Leveling gives him the name Beru once he turns into a shadow, while Hunter x Hunter calls him Meruem. They are immensely powerful beings who can easily defeat the strongest characters despite being born recently.
Additionally, both antagonists have the exact same ability of Consumption. Through this, they gain the abilities and knowledge of those they eat, assisting in their rapid growth.
3) Protagonist’s Development –
Both Jinwoo and Gon have significant development in their respective arcs. Jinwoo makes his place known as the strongest in Korea who will carry humanity’s hopes forward. He also gains a valuable shadow named Beru, his most loyal soldier.
Gon’s development, though more negative than Jinwoo’s, is still a key element of this arc. Similar to Jinwoo, he is powerful enough to defeat one of the strongest ants, though this comes at a high cost.
4) Tactical Combat –
The Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc feature exhilarating fights that display its varied cast. However, at their core, they rely on tactical combat. Hunters on both sides of the fence have intricate plans on how to infiltrate the enemy and kill the ants.
While Hunter x Hunter’s characters knew of Meruem’s existence, Solo Leveling’s hunters’ plans aimed to kill the Ant Queen. Their strategies and careful coordination play a huge role in the events of each arc.
Differences Between the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc
The Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc share obvious similarities at first glance. However, upon further analysis, we notice that they are not that similar after all. The main testament to this is that the Jeju Island Arc is 5 episodes long. In contrast, the Chimera Ant Arc is a large storyline with 61 episodes.
The amount of time each arc spends helps them cover different themes and topics. These include:
1) Characters –
Solo Leveling is known for being a series that majorly focuses on its protagonist, Sung Jinwoo. Other side characters are present but never play a significant role in any storyline. The Jeju Island Arc reinforces this notion yet again.
While the hunters of Korea and Japan seemed to be formidable, they eventually pale against the enemy. This results in Jinwoo saving the day yet again. It helps push him to the front, though holds the rest of the cast back.
The Chimera Ant Arc is the exact opposite. In this storyline, Gon is an important part, but so is everyone else. The series allocates enough time to deeply explore every character, showcasing their growth and fall from grace. Whether it be Netero’s schemes to achieve victory or Killua’s mental turmoil, none fall short of Gon’s development.
2) Thematic Depth –
The Jeju Island Arc does not deal with any deep themes, sticking with Solo Leveling’s engaging and exciting storyline. While it does show the fear displayed by all-powerful hunters, it does not explore them much.
On the other hand, the Chimera Ant Arc is beloved mainly because of its thematic depth. It highlights profound concepts such as the nature of humanity, morality, and the value of life. In the end, the main teaching point is that good and evil cannot be viewed in black-and-white terms, as there are several complexities surrounding them.
Hence, compared to Solo Leveling’s action and spectacle, this deals with a multifaceted story and narrative complexity.
3) Pacing –
As seen earlier, the Jeju Island Arc is a short arc with a simple structure. It introduces the threat, follows the hunters as they attempt to defeat the monsters and fail, and ultimately depicts Jinwoo stepping in to protect them. It is clear-cut and delivers a short and explosive package.
The Chimera Ant Arc is much slower, taking time for worldbuilding and character exposition. It does not mind spending several episodes on one topic, fleshing out every aspect before bringing them to a grand conclusion.
4) Ending –
Another main difference between the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc is the way they conclude. While the Jeju Island Arc does show the tragic deaths of hunters such as Min Byung-Gyu, it has a much happier ending. It features Jinwoo defeating the Ant King, saving Cha Hae-In, and preparing to represent Korea on the world stage.
We cannot say the same about the Chimera Ant Arc. Considered among the most heartbreaking endings in anime, it showcases Netero’s death, Meruem’s bittersweet parting with Komugi, and Gon’s sacrifice to defeat Pitou. This aligns with the themes of the arc, as there is no single party that can be definitively called a hero nor one that can be outright labeled as a villain.
Why Is the Chimera Ant Arc Better Than the Jeju Island Arc?
There is little doubt that the Chimera Ant Arc is better than the Jeju Island Arc. This is not necessarily because the latter is bad, but simply because it doesn’t leave as much of an impact. Solo Leveling is meant to be an exhilarating series with cool moments of its protagonist.
It doesn’t try much harder to be deeper, simply because that isn’t what fans expect. Hence, the Jeju Island Arc carries its legacy forward, while creating more instances of hype for Jinwoo.
The Chimera Ant Arc’s primary aim is to change the entire landscape of the series and its characters. It provides emotional depth to every element through several episodes, raising deep questions about existentialism and good and evil.
The protagonist’s descent, the antagonist’s redemption, and the relationships between characters are spotlighted, making every conversation and battle prominent. Due to this, it far outlives its runtime, staying in the minds of fans for several years.
Conclusion
While both the Jeju Island Arc and the Chimera Ant Arc offer thrilling battles and intense stakes, Hunter x Hunter’s Chimera Ant Arc stands far above Solo Leveling’s Jeju Island Arc in terms of storytelling, character depth, and thematic richness. Due to this, it is considered among the best arcs ever made and is talked about even to this day.
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