Fans Have a Bitter Pill to Swallow as Solo Leveling Has Perfectly Captured the Essence of Shonen Anime

Solo Leveling fans, it’s time to “Arise”—the anime’s debut season wowed audiences, and its second season, Arise from the Shadow, is on the horizon. Solo Leveling was among 2024’s most anticipated anime series, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Sung Jinwoo VS Igris in Season 1 finale | Credits: A-1 Pictures

Season 1 was one of the biggest animated spectacles this year, beautifully adapting the Korean Webtoon into a fantastical escapade. Furthermore, the anime has boosted the popularity of the Webtoon series, drawing in new readers. Fans who caught the –ReAwakening– compilation film already have a glimpse of the season’s first two episodes.

Season 2 debuts on January 4, 2025, igniting excitement among fans following the release of its recent exclusive trailer. Building on ReAwakening‘s success, Solo Leveling is set to redefine the shonen genre, with fans praising the anime for perfectly capturing the essence of manhwa.

Solo Leveling: Redefining the Shonen Genre with its unique elements

Solo Leveling‘s success in the anime world proves that manhwa, like manga, features compelling storylines and characters that captivate fans and drive popularity when adapted into anime.

Sung Jinwoo’s physique in Solo Leveling. [Credit: A-1 Pictures]

Over the years, several anime have achieved global success despite being less popular in Japan, and Solo Leveling could be the latest to join this trend. Anime and manga have increasingly gained a more diverse fan base in recent years.

Although Solo Leveling has been a franchise for nearly a decade, it’s only now become a true phenomenon thanks to its anime adaptation.

"Why is SOLO Leveling so popular when it's mostly about fights?"
Was it supposed to be something else? Why do we act like fights make it bad? Isn’t that exactly why people are invested in it? A weak MC using an RPG system, fight cool-looking bosses, and leveling up#SoloLeveling pic.twitter.com/ESKXiJfaCK

The series has quickly become the biggest new anime of the season, surpassing nearly everything else released in recent months. Though the series stars a supremely powerful main character, it chiefly avoids many issues that typically arise from this narrative trope.

Sung Jinwoo with Iron and Igris during the dungeon raid in Solo Leveling manhwa | Credits: Webtoon

Indeed, the anime faces the daunting challenge of honoring the manhwa’s legacy, as many readers fear the studio could risk its success and the reputation of the original work.

While Solo Leveling‘s first season has been widely praised, it also faced criticism, particularly from manhwa fans who had high expectations for its debut. Yet, the fandom fails to recognize the anime’s exceptional execution and its handling of the manhwa’s biggest flaw as the story progresses.

Sung Jinwoo’s shadow army in Solo Leveling | Credits: Webtoon

Solo Leveling stands out in the Webtoon industry not just for its stunning artwork but also for its captivating storytelling. With concepts like dungeons, monsters, and action-packed scenes, it’s a treat for any fan of the shonen genre.

Unlike many other power fantasies that drag on without purpose, Solo Leveling offers a connected story, intriguing mysteries, and well-developed characters, all with clear motivations and answers.

With its unique elements and growing online dominance, Solo Leveling is redefining the shonen genre and boosting the global popularity of the Korean manhwa industry. Additionally, ReAwakening, the franchise’s latest film, is making waves online, earning immense praise from fans and reinforcing that A-1 was the right choice all along.

The fan-favorite Shadow Soldier who stole the spotlight in Solo Leveling – ReAwakening

Beyond Igris and Beru, one shadow soldier stands out—not for strength, but for providing comic relief and stealing the spotlight. Iron is the shadow of Kim Chul, an A-Rank hunter who tried to kill Jinwoo during the Red Gate incident. 

After being extracted as a shadow, Jinwoo gave him the title Iron, and as the name, he remained a loyal shadow of Jinwoo.

Iron from the manhwa | Credits: Webtoon

The ReAwakening movie introduced Iron, delighting fans with the studio’s faithful adaptation of the manhwa’s plot and the addition of Iron’s comedic scenes that stole the spotlight in theaters.

Iron went on to fight countless battles alongside his master and often displayed a dim-witted and humorous side to him several times during his appearances. He eventually became a fan-favorite, who adored him for his brute strength and loyalty to Sung Jinwoo.

Solo Leveling manhwa can be read on Webtoons, while the anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll.