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As fans ofSolo Levelingprepare for the long wait for season 3, some are feeling appreciative of how the adaptation has gone so far. Recent adaptations of manhwa and webtoon-style anime don’t have the greatest track record, and it is easy to imagine a world whereSolo Levelingdidn’t get the treatment that elevated it from the rest of the crowd.
In the wake of Season 2 ending, fans have been sounding off about their favorite aspects of the artistry on display. These include things like soundtrack, animation, and action that made them feel a special connection to the show and even inspired them in their real lives. The data seems to back up these fan pronouncements, as the show continues to break watch and engagement records across multiple streaming platforms.
An Incredible Adaptation
Fans Thank A-1 Pictures for Raising the Bar
Solo Levelingmanaged to win over fansin various ways, but one of its greatest strengths was how well it animated the action on screen.
“Despite whatever some say, Solo Leveling has really set a new standard for the action anime, something we’ve never seen before, just incredible, big thanks to A1.” -Reddit User AdInternational2526discussingsome of their favorite moments inSolo Leveling.
Its combination of intense action and hype fight scenes ledSolo Levelingto become themost-watched anime on Crunchyrollin 2024. There were multiple instances during the Season 2 airing where an episode drop would crash the servers for streaming websites. Also, multiple episodes reached over 100,000 likes in a matter of hours. In response to the thread declaringSolo Levelinga new standard for action anime to emulate, many fans of the show agreed.
“Absolutely agree Solo Leveling has raised the bar for action anime in a big way. The animation, pacing, and sheer intensity of the battles are on another level. Huge shoutout to A-1 Pictures for bringing it to life with such flair. It’s a game-changer for the genre.” -Reddit User cur53dH4kipraisingA-1 for their adaptation.
Some responses pointed out that there were better highs inother recent successful shows likeDemon Slayer, but the consistency in quality offered in theSolo Levelingstill makes it worthy of being considered a new standard for action anime.
Unapologetic Action
One of the Main Draws of the Show
Another common thread shared among fans who enjoyed the show is that they were grateful thatSolo Levelingtakes its premise and characters seriously, willing to give fans what they want while staying true to its promises.
“I love how Solo Leveling doesn’t pretend to be something it ain’t, it’s just pure action and fun.” -Reddit User Background-Bad141complimentingthe series’ action scenes.
Indeed, the show is often criticized for being toocommitted to its simple storypremise and for having one-note characters and plot. However, this simplicity is also one of its main draws. It hones in on what it wants to do and executes it well while staying focused on delivering great action set pieces. Those who disagreed thatSolo Levelingqualifies as a new standard for action anime felt like recency bias was clouding fans' perceptions of the series and causing them to exaggerate the level of artistry that the show has actually reached.
“I really feel like y’all are exaggerating. Sure it looked nice but,a lot of the choreography was just nonsense anime flashiness. Nothing too special about it. Not sure how that sets a new standard.” -Reddit User Euphoric_Schedule_53respondingto the idea that the show has set a new standard.
Still, the anime has exploded in popularity, drawing tons of new viewers and inspiring watchers with its alluring premise and top-notch execution.
“Anime and MC so good made me go to the gym and lock in in life.” -Reddit User ChainsawEnthusiastpraisingthe show’s strengths.
Despite some criticisms of the show, the numbers pan out to make a great case that the industry will be looking atSolo Levelingas a new standard to emulate.A recent report by White Box Entertainment’sAnime By the Numbers found that the show was 45.5 times more popular than the median anime in March 2025, something they admit has been previously unseen in their data. For comparison, the second-place anime in their engagement ranking,The Apothecary Diaries,was only 14.5 times more popular than the median average anime of the season. With fans settling in for a long potential wait for the next season ofSolo Leveling, the show’s success may inspire others to follow in its footsteps, enriching the anime landscape while its fans wait for its eventual return.
Solo Leveling
Cast
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.
