“Rocks!” : Solo Leveling, the series really “better than Attack on Titan”?

What are you doing?

More than ten years have passed since the sudden appearance of strange portals connecting our world to other dimensions. Since then, some people have discovered supernatural powers. These individuals are called hunters. However, among these brave hunters, Jinwu Sun is known as “the weakest of mankind”. One day, Jinwoo is fatally injured when he stumbles upon a hidden double dungeon. Miraculously saved but severely injured, Jinwoo gains a mysterious power that allows him to gain power throughout his battles.

Triple adaptation

Adapted from the literary phenomenon of the same name, Solo Leveling is undoubtedly the most anticipated anime of the new year! Broadcasting in simulcast on Crunchyroll from January 6, it will also be available exclusively on TV from January 9 on MANGAS channel at 11:15 p.m.

This action-fantasy mix written by Chu Gong was originally published in 2016 as a light novel (graphic novel) illustrated by DUBU. However, it is its webtoon format, written by N-Goon and drawn by the late Jang Seong Rak, that really made Solo Leveling known to the general public.

Korean comics published from 2018 to 2021 are a real success, with more than 14 billion pages read online worldwide. Added to this, a paperback format of 14 volumes, Jinwoo Sung’s story is quickly taking the top spot on Piccoma, his Japanese publishing platform.

With figures like these and the enthusiasm of the network’s strong community, an animated adaptation was out of the question! Finally announced in July 2022 as part of the Anime Expo convention in Los Angeles, we had to wait almost two years before this series landed on our screens.

2024 anime?

Born in Korean but animated by Japan, Solo Leveling’s adaptation was then entrusted to the experts of the A-1 Pictures studio, to whom we owe several classics of Japanese animation, such as Fairy Tail, Seven Deadly Sins or even Blue Exorcist.

Censorship, lack of fluidity, character name changes, bad voice actors… there were many fears among webathon readers. Fortunately, the first two episodes of the anime, which premiered at the Grand Rex in Paris on Monday, December 11, 2023, quickly put fans at ease.

Through colorful and dynamic animation, the first 45 minutes of the series offer fight scenes that are as effective as they are thrilling (beware of the heart, which is also prohibited for TV shows for people under 12. In terms of music, composer Sawano Hiroyuki offers OSTs that are perfectly suited for its age Epic, sometimes disturbing atmosphere.

As for the story, expect some additions compared to the original work, but it allows you to get to know the world and its characters better. All this is combined with the perfect division of episodes to maintain suspense and make you want to discover the rest as quickly as possible.

Compared to the memorable debut of Attack on Titan by some, Solo Leveling will definitely not leave you indifferent. As a reminder, it starts airing this Saturday, January 6th on Crunchyroll in VOSTFR and VF with one episode per week, then Tuesday, January 9th on MANGAS channel.