The Korean web novel-based anime series Solo Leveling has been a breakout hit among fans since its debut earlier this year. The show is set in a world populated by gifted monsters and hunters and follows Sung Jinwoo, a weak hunter given extraordinary strength through a mysterious program. Sung embarks on a journey to various dungeons to discover the source of his newfound powers. The anime version premiered in January 2021 and has been produced by A-1 Pictures, with Shunsuke Nakashige directing and Noboru Kimura writing the scripts.
In addition to the anime adaptation, there are plans for a live-action television series and a role-playing video game based on the Solo Leveling franchise. The original web novel series spanned 14 books published from 2016 to 2021, while the webtoon version was nine volumes long, released from 2018 to 2021. Characters for the series were designed by Tomoko Sudo, with Hiroyuki Sawano helming the music.
The show is available to stream via Crunchyroll, with new episodes premiering every Sunday. The first season of the series consists of 25 episodes, split into two halves of 12 and 13 episodes. Two more episodes are yet to premiere on March 24 and March 31. Fans can expect the remaining episodes to air later this year. There is no official announcement yet on whether Solo Leveling will return for a second season, but given its popularity among viewers, it appears highly likely.
An animated trailer for the series is available for fans to watch on YouTube, and promotional runs for the show have been frequent on cable TV. The franchise’s success demonstrates a growing appetite for anime adaptations of Korean webtoons, with more works expected to come from the industry in the near future
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