Summary
- Solo Leveling has risen in popularity, winning awards and becoming the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll.
- However, unfair comparisons with other popular anime series, like One Piece, are harming the recognition of Solo Leveling's success.
- Fans should appreciate each anime for its unique qualities, rather than perpetuating toxic comparisons.
Solo Leveling has become one of the most popular anime series, especially after A-1 Pictures delivered a solid second season. Not only did the anime adaptation of the popular manhwa series grab the attention of millions of anime fans, but the first season of the anime also bagged the 2025 Anime of the Year award.
So far, we've only got two seasons of the anime series, but it still managed to reach the popularity level of One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer. In fact, Sony recently confirmed that Solo Leveling has become the most-watched anime series on Crunchyroll. Of course, a series of recognitions is good news for Solo Leveling fans and the studio, but it also leaves room for constant and unfair comparisons. Given how Solo Leveling instantly rose to popularity, it's no surprise that fans are comparing it with other big names like One Piece. However, it seems like a major part of the fandom is now starting to grow tired of these comparisons.
Solo Leveling Overtakes Demon Slayer In Terms Of Popularity
After beating Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling is aiming to surpass Eiichiro Oda's One Piece.
Solo Leveling Vs. One Piece Debate Is Getting Out Of Hand
Fans Think It's About Time We Stop Comparing These Two Anime
There's no doubt that S olo Leveling is a great anime that features some of the greatest action sequences. The second season, especially the fight between Jinwoo and the Ant King, helped the series garner the attention of millions of anime fans. Jinwoo's story has only begun, and fans have yet to see him become the Shadow Monarch and fight against powerful Monarchs like Antares. Additionally, there's the spin-off series Solo Leveling Ragnarok, which is expanding the universe and focusing more on the Itarim race.
In short, Solo Leveling has enough potential and source material to go on for several decades. The anime series or the Solo Leveling universe as a whole has every right to be praised. However, what's not sitting well with some anime fans is how the anime is being unfairly compared to One Piece, or with every other popular anime series, for that matter. It all started when Solo Leveling won Anime of the Year at Crunchyroll's 2025 AOTY Awards. While some fans were happy with Solo Leveling bagging the title, there were fans who thought Frieren: Beyond Journey's End was more deserving and was way better than Solo Leveling in terms of animation, direction, story, and character development.
If the pain doesn’t kill me, it will almost make me stronger - Jinwoo
"Solo Leveling Vs. Frieren" debate went on for too long, and now that we've finally moved past it, the fandom is facing the "Solo Leveling Vs. One Piece" debate. The comparison with One Piece started when Solo Leveling officially became the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll. Several fans went on to social media platforms to share their feelings, and one of those fans implied on Reddit that One Piece, an anime with over 1000 episodes, lost to a new anime series with twenty-four episodes. The now-deleted post got several comments from frustrated anime fans, most of them urging the community to stop comparing these two entirely different shows. Several fans expressed their disappointment over the fact that Solo Leveling's success can't be celebrated without comparing it to another show.
Unfair Comparison Only Undermines Solo Leveling's Success
The Anime Doesn't Have To Be Better Than Every Other Show Out There To Be Successful
Solo Leveling has great potential, and it's a fact that the anime adaptation will gain even more popularity when Season 3 releases. However, the anime doesn't have to be better than One Piece or any other show to be called successful. What Solo Leveling did in just two seasons is truly astounding, but these unfair comparisons only undermine what the anime has accomplished.
Honestly, fans can enjoy both One Piece and Solo Leveling, as they are both entirely different anime series. While One Piece is popular for establishing a massive world featuring several characters, Solo Leveling has become popular because of an overpowered protagonist whose powers have no limits. Solo Leveling feels great because it puts focus on the growth of a single character, which makes it easy for fans to follow the narrative. One Piece, on the other hand, established a world where every character feels crucial to the story. In short, Solo Leveling is good in its own right, and it will stay successful and popular if we throw these comparisons out the window.
Solo Leveling Is Anime Of The Year, But It Is Set To Win An Even Bigger Title
Solo Leveling won Anime of The Year, but its popularity might surpass even that in the coming years.
Of course, it's perfectly normal for someone to like one anime over another; however, unnecessarily comparing or being toxic towards fans of one particular anime only destroys the reputation of the show you're rooting for. In the past, we've seen Attack on Titan being compared to One Piece or other ongoing anime series, and now, Solo Leveling is going down the same path. Well, it seems like fans who enjoy more than one anime show have had enough of all this.
- 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.
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Where To Watch
- Crunchyroll
