The Real Reason Behind Solo Leveling Not Adapting the Manhwa’s Comedic Side Might Not Be the Director’s Fault

Solo Leveling is kicking off the New Year with plenty of fresh content and updates as the countdown to Season 2’s release date begins. Building on its success as an early hit in the Winter 2024 anime season, a second wave of episodes was greenlit, continuing the adaptation of Chugong’s South Korean fantasy novels.

Sung Jinwoo in Season 2 trailer | Credits: A-1 Pictures

Furthermore, the anime has significantly boosted the Webtoon series’ popularity, drawing in a plethora of new readers. Fans who caught the –ReAwakening– compilation film already got a glimpse of the season’s first two episodes. Though Season 1 did face some criticism, the ReAwakening film teased a sequel ready to silence the negativity.

Amid the buzz surrounding ReAwakening, manhwa readers fear Season 2 is doomed accusing the studio of mishandling Jinwoo’s character by ignoring his comedic charm, with much of the criticism directed at the anime director.

Solo Leveling sparks controversy ahead of Season 2’s release

Solo Leveling has been a top-tier manhwa, and its anime adaptation is already dominating the internet buzz. Season 2 premieres on January 4, 2025, with fans buzzing after the release of its new trailer.

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

Undoubtedly, Solo Leveling has made a name for itself in the manhwa scene, boasting immense popularity even among those less familiar with the Korean webtoon industry. The manhwa blends violence with humor, offering funny reactions and comic relief, a balance fans really appreciate.

Although Solo Leveling has been a franchise for nearly a decade, it’s only now become a true phenomenon thanks to its anime adaptation. The series has quickly become the biggest new anime of the season, surpassing nearly every other release in recent memory.

In the wake of ReAwakening‘s phenomenal success, the two episodes of Season 2 in the movie are now trending online. ReAwakening is a recap movie that takes the main plot points of Season 1 and condenses it into 116 minutes of big-screen experience.

Following the success of ReAwakening, fans are filled with renewed hope, eagerly anticipating a bright future for the acclaimed manhwa series.

Baruka from Solo Leveling Season 2 first two episodes | Credits: A-1 Pictures

However, some manhwa readers are criticizing the anime director for missing one of Jinwoo’s most important character traits from the original work.

As the anime focuses solely on Sung Jinwoo as a powerful, independent hunter, many manhwa readers feel the studio is overlooking his emotional depth and comedic charm.

Interestingly, the anime seems to have altered one of Jinwoo’s most comedic manhwa scenes, sparking discussions among fans about whether the director is intentionally downplaying the manhwa’s humor to make Jinwoo appear more stoic and cool.

Sung Jinwoo’s adorable moment from the manhwa | Credits: Webtoon

While it’s understandable that manhwa fans are upset, targeting the anime director and criticizing their choices is inappropriate. Many fans have high expectations and fail to recognize the creativity and hard work the production studio has put in.

Solo Leveling will balance both manhwa and light novel elements, providing a richer experience, but some fans are getting impatient with slight differences from the source material. This rising frustration may be the one that eventually kills the success of Season 2, based on unrealistic expectations.

Solo Leveling‘s producer reveals his biggest regret

Indeed, Solo Leveling is a super-popular manhwa, but all of this would not have been possible without Dubu, the manhwa artist behind SL, whose breathtaking panels left countless fans in awe

Sung Jinwoo VS the Dragon Monarch in the manhwa | Credits: Webtoon

Solo Leveling‘s producer, Atsushi Kaneko, once revealed his biggest regret, which was not able to collaborate with the manhwa artist. Indeed, with Dubu’s passing, Solo Leveling lost the gem that helped elevate the manhwa to new heights.

Sadly, the heartbreaking news of his passing at the age of 40 in 2022 profoundly shook the fandom, leaving many fans in despair.

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

One of the key factors behind SL‘s immense popularity and dedicated fanbase was its stunning art and breathtaking panels, all crafted by Dubu. Naturally, the SL producer felt Dubu’s absence, believing his presence would have helped the anime achieve phenomenal success.

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