This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling series.
Ever since its glorious debut, Solo Leveling has been incredibly successful internationally. Solo Leveling’s first season delivered immense quality and clinched many awards during this year’s Crunchyroll Awards, known to be the biggest anime awards outside of Japan. Solo Leveling was so big that it beat many big anime series in the most prestigious award of the event, Anime of the Year 2025. The series only keeps growing in popularity as, even months after its conclusion, Solo Leveling is still going strong.
Solo Leveling's Biggest Rival Is Officially Over (For Now)
Solo Leveling's biggest rival, Frieren, has reached a sudden stop.
Naturally, fans believe it could have the same success next year at the Crunchyroll Awards with its second season. The Solo Leveling anime has most certainly proven to be the biggest series this year internationally, but in Japan, it still has a lot of catching up to do as it didn’t manage to win the title of Anime of the Year. Instead, a series known as ‘MAKEINE: Too Many Losing Heroines!’ took the title, and Solo Leveling only managed to take 4th place.
‘MAKEINE: Too Many Losing Heroines!’ Wins The Title of Anime of The Year in Japan
- Solo Leveling Won In the West, But In Japan It’s Been Beaten
- Solo Leveling Ends Up In The 4th Spot
Crunchyroll isn’t the only anime award out there, but it is definitely the biggest one overseas. In Japan, however, they have their own awards, and Japan's Newtype Anime Awards is one of them. This year, they have already chosen their “Anime of the Year,” and Solo Leveling did not win. Instead, a series most people outside of Japan have probably not heard of, called ‘MAKEINE: Too Many Losing Heroines!’, took the award home. This anime has proven to be absolutely huge in Japan, but it has yet to become mainstream globally.
It's Time To Say Goodbye To Solo Leveling's Protagonist Forever
Solo Leveling is saying goodbye to its beloved protagonist as the story takes a different focus.
While some fans expected Solo Leveling to pull through and win the award, the reality was very different. Solo Leveling didn’t even make it into the Top 3. The series ended up in 4th position, but by all means, that's not bad either, and might be a sign that the anime is growing in Japan.
Solo Leveling Is A Global Phenomenon, But It Still Needs To Grow In Japan
The Likes of Makeine and The Apothecary Diaries Are Far More Popular
Solo Leveling is a series based on a Korean manhwa, which is very different from the usual anime that adapts Japanese manga or light novels. Solo Leveling has definitely become the biggest Korean-based anime story, surpassing even the likes of Tower of God. In Japan, however, it still has a long way to go to become as massive as it is abroad.
“One thing I regret is that if I had known my novel would be this popular in Japan, even if I couldn't have changed Goto Ryuji to a protagonist, I should have written him as stronger and cooler."
Solo Leveling is good, but it is not treated as something out of the ordinary in Japan, and people who have worked on it have already addressed this before. Chugong, the creator of Solo Leveling, regrets not including a bigger role for a Japanese character, especially as he has himself faced anti-Japan allegations. One of the directors has said that someday, he hopes more people get to know Solo Leveling, and he hopes for Season 3 to boost its popularity.
“While thrilled with the response, I personally don't feel like the series is known by everyone at this point. Solo Leveling isn't as universally recognized in Japan yet. As a Japanese person living in Japan, the anime is not at the level of Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Naruto. But if season three happens, that’s when I want to truly break that boundary.” - Atsushi Kaneko
For now, the series is surpassed by many in Japan like other iconic series, such as One Piece or Naruto, and even newer series like The Apothecary Diaries or Makeine.
Solo Leveling has two seasons out right now, one with 12 episodes and the other with 13, for a combined episode count of 25 available to watch currently. The series can be streamed on Crunchyroll for fans to enjoy while awaiting any more news concerning the third season. For fans who can’t wait for season 3 to come out, checking out the manhwa might be a great option.
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
- Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki
- Writers
- Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii
Cast
-
Taito BanSung Jin-woo -
Genta NakamuraYoo Jin-ho
A-1 Pictures' Solo Leveling is an anime based on Chugong's popular web novel. Set in an unforgiving fantasy world where hunters explore dungeons filled with monsters, the vulnerable Sung Jinwoo gains a significant power boost after he is picked to be a solo player by the System.
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Chugong
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.28 (Season 1); 8.86 (Season 2)
