The future is bright forSolo Leveling, with the amount of support the anime community continues to give to Sung Jin-Woo. It’s now a powerhouse anime in the action fantasy genre and could continue to do so onceSolo LevelingSeason 3 is announced. After all, it’s the kind of anime that checks all the boxes for mainstream success, from having a charismatic main character with cool abilities to intense boss fights.
On top of that,Solo Levelingeven won Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year title, elbowing strong contenders likeFrieren,The Apothecary Diaries, and evenDan Da Dan. A huge part of this success is the fans around the world who quickly madeSolo Levelinga cultural phenomenon. But even with all that muscle,Solo Leveling is nowhere near the successof one big anime that’s shattering records at the moment.
Solo Leveling Is a Successful Anime Series
Solo Leveling Wins Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year Award
Even before A-1 Pictures picked up Solo Leveling, it was already an incredibly successful novel and manhwa series, especially in Korea. The novel alone has millions of reads, and there’s no telling how much higher it will become as soon asA-1 Pictures drops Solo Leveling Season 3. With each adaptation, Solo Leveling easily proves itself as a successful and effective series.
When Solo Leveling Season 1 aired, Jin-Woo took the world by storm, and the same goes for Season 2. Almost all the episodes created social media buzz, with fans discussing their opinions and hot takes. They also praisedSolo Leveling for its fluid animationand stylish battles, in addition to its zero-to-godhood story. In such a short amount of time, Solo Leveling became a gold standard for weak main characters who eventually ascend to power.
I feel like I lose a part of myself every time I get stronger. —Jin-Woo
With this, fans already expected Solo Leveling to take home some major awards from thepreviously held Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Aside from bagging the prestigious Anime of the Year Award, Sung Jin-Woo was also hailed as the Best Main Character. This recognition is proof that Solo Leveling moved thousands, if not millions, of fans. Despite these achievements, Solo Leveling is still behind Demon Slayer’s success.
Demon Slayer Continues to Break Records
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Just Set a New Milestone
Solo Leveling’s Anime of the Year winis not new toDemon Slayer. In fact, the first season of the anime series won the same award in 2020, beating Vinland Saga, Mob Psycho 100 Season 2, The Promised Neverland, and Carole & Tuesday, to name a few. In addition, the original manga series by Koyoharu Gotouge is one of the best-selling not just in its original country but around the world.
Now that Demon Slayer is back on the playing field with the first Infinity Castle movie,Akaza Returns, fans know it’s going to be massive. True enough, the first movie is alreadybreaking box office records and earning billionsin Japan, replacing its very own Mugen Train movie from the number one spot. The only way for Demon Slayer is up, with more countries screening the first Infinity Castle movie in theaters.
“Helping others often ends up helping yourself”—Tanjiro Kamado
While the Demon Slayer anime is nearing its end, it will still be around for a long time. The last two movies of the Infinity Castle trilogy are expected to be released every two years, which could make it difficult for any anime, including Solo Leveling, to achieve the same impact as Demon Slayer.
Demon Slayer’s Success Is Still Untouchable
Solo Leveling Might Never Match Demon Slayer
Solo Leveling is one of the most successful anime of modern times, but against Demon Slayer, it still falls short, especially when it comes to animation and record-breaking success. However, that doesn’t mean Solo Leveling can’t close the gap. If the series plays its cards right by improving areas that need work and polish, it could deliver the same results as Demon Slayer in the future.
Perhaps the biggest problem Solo Leveling will face to beatDemon Slayeris the reception from anime viewers in Japan. According to reports,Solo Leveling did not blow up in Japan, compared to the treatment it received from international viewers. It’s not as popular and successful, but that could still change in future seasons ofSolo Leveling.
