No One Saw It Coming, But Solo Leveling's Anime Is Way Better Than the Manhwa

Solo Leveling Season Two is well underway, boasting incredibly impressive visuals and exhilarating action sequences that have kept fans both in awe and on the edge of their seats with each weekly release. The hit power fantasy franchise has long enjoyed widespread popularity, and its anime adaptation from A-1 Pictures has only elevated that success to record-breaking levels. Now nearing the halfway point of its sophomore outing, the series shows no signs of slowing its remarkable momentum.

Originally published in the form of a web novel, Solo Leveling was adapted into a webtoon in 2018, and concluded in 2021 following a massively popular run which introduced Korean comics to countless readers. The ongoing anime is based closely on the manhwa's version of events, though it has taken from both Solo Leveling series at different points. However, a large portion of the franchise's fan base have begun to believe the anime is the definitive version of the story, and there's a point to be made there.

Solo Leveling's Anime Adaptation Is Making Character Focused Changes

Solo Leveling Is Showing a Willingness to Expand on Its Characters

The Solo Leveling anime hasn't hesitated to make subtle changes to the events of its source material. As is the nature of all adaptations, not every panel can be replicated in full on screen. Though very few of the series' changes hold major implications for the overall narrative, like the recent omission of Sung Jinwoo learning that S-Ranks differ greatly in power and ability, one change to Solo Leveling's storytelling is difficult to paint as anything other than an improvement on the webtoon.

Cha Hae-In, one of the webtoon's most important characters, is introduced far earlier in the anime than she is in the manhwa. Initially entering the series during the events of the second season's fourth episode, the fellow S-Rank soldier appears in the anime's opening season, and becomes a plot relevant character far sooner than she did before. Though the change may not seem like much on the surface, it might just be pointing at the possibility of further fleshed out characters to come throughout the story.

Cha Hae-In's swimming pool scene in Solo Leveling season 2

Solo Leveling isn't often the target of criticism throughout the anime and manga world, though one common complaint surrounding the series is that it focuses solely on Sung Jinwoo, instead of taking the time to flesh out the many side characters relevant to the overarching narrative. The anime, by introducing a character like Cha Haie-In earlier episodes, is able to avoid some of the criticism lobbied against the series.

Setting the S-Rank hunter with a keen sense of smell into sections of the story she does not belong shows what immense care the anime's creators have for the series. Spending even a small amount of time with Cha Hae-In before her original encounter helps to build upon her character's portrayal. Originally popping up in the manhwa and falling for Jinwoo with little warning, the anime seems insistent on growing its cast to the best of its ability, in order to maintain cohesive storytelling.

Anime Offers Entertainment That Cannot be Translated onto a Page

The Visual Quality of the Anime Adaptation of Solo Leveling Is Incredibly High

Though Solo Leveling features some absolutely awe-inspiring artwork, courtesy of Dubu, the medium of anime is able to accomplish ceratin feats that manhwa and manga simply cannot. In a seemingly impossible task, however, the Solo Leveling anime is outdoing its preceding adaptation in the visual aspects of the production. A-1 Productions have delivered breathtaking animation and art direction on a consistent basis for the entirety of the series' run, and is seemingly only improving on a weekly basis.

Combined with the anime's willingness to include its own original material in order to build upon certain characters, it isn't difficult to understand why some in the Solo Leveling fan base believe the latest adaptation to be the premiere version of the series. At the very least, it is an incredibly early bid for the title of 2025's anime of the year. The second season is set to include the entirety of the Jeju Island arc, and so long as it continues at its current quality, it will be an unforgettable watch.

Though Solo Leveling has been wonderfully impressive throughout its airing, and a near undeniable upgrade on its source material, very few adaptations can be perfect. Certain elements are always lost in the translation from the page to the screen, and Solo Leveling is not exempt from that rule. Its improvements may outweigh its omissions, though one major change might just hold the anime back from perfection.

Solo Leveling's Anime Leaves Behind Some of the Series' Lightheartedness

Much of the Comedy Was Lost in Solo Leveling's Transition to the Screen

A close-up of Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling's season one finale.

Solo Leveling is a series that takes itself seriously, with a brooding protagonist that exudes the very essence of 'cool'. From the moment he inherits the benefits of the system in the anime, Sung Jinwoo does very little but win. However, the webtoon's version of the character was not quite as ultra serious as his anime counterpart. At least, not all the time. Very often, Jinwoo would wear a comedically blank look on his face as some detail or social cue flew over his head, or something outrageous would occur on his journey.

Sung Jinwoo looking dazed in the Solo Leveling webtoon.

The anime's take on the character results in a Sung Jinwoo that is mostly stoic, rarely breaking from his straightforward gaze. Though which version of the protagonist is better is a highly subjective take, it cannot be denied that some of the whimsy and lightheartedness of the webcomic is lost in the anime's version of events.

Aside from which personality suits Sung Jinwoo best, Solo Leveling has thus far benefited greatly from the changes made in its anime adaptation, as well as simply being put to animation. The anime will almost assuredly continue to impress on a weekly basis throughout the remainder of its second season, and fans won't want to miss the climactic Jeju Island arc just around the corner. There is a ways to go in the year, but the series has set a high bar for any anime releases to come in 2025.