It is not an easy job to adapt a hit manhwa such as Solo Leveling into an anime. The fans who have been watching Sung Jinwoo’s development from the start of the series realize that his coolest and scariest moments have a special gravity in the static artwork of the manhwa. However, not everything can be faithfully translated into animation.
The manhwa uses heavily shaded, highly detailed illustrations to convey Sung Jinwoo’s dominating presence, but the adaptation into anime done by A-1 Pictures opted to downplay these elements for a more clean-cut, typical anime look. This transition necessarily changes the way some moments are felt by fans and, for better or worse, comes with an audible change in the tone of the story.
The shift in the art style of Solo Leveling: A necessary change?
One of the biggest challenges of adapting Solo Leveling is maintaining the intensity of its most iconic moments. In the manhwa, such important panels depend on thick contrast, dark shadows, and fine details to emphasize Jinwoo’s transformation into an unstoppable force.
But animation works differently. Motion can dilute the impact of singular frames, and animators must balance fluidity with clarity. Extremely detailed stills tend to get streamlined for the sake of sustained motion, making some of Jinwoo’s most frightening expressions and fight poses seem less intimidating in the anime.
Comment
byu/the_omnipotent666 from discussion
insololeveling
Perhaps the most notable of the tonal changes in the anime adaptation is the elimination of the ‘killing intent’ aspect. In the manhwa, Sung Jinwoo’s change is signified by how detached he becomes from humanity and how much he frightens people around him. This is typically highlighted through melodramatic lighting, harsh close-ups, and the reactions of horrified onlookers.
Comment
byu/the_omnipotent666 from discussion
insololeveling
In the anime, though, these elements are downplayed. The anime’s choice to eliminate or mute these scenes changes the way Jinwoo’s power is understood. For instance, in his fight with Goto, the manhwa features an obvious power imbalance, with Goto clearly intimidated by Jinwoo’s presence alone. In the anime, this scene is much less intense, diminishing the feeling of crushing fear and power that defined the scene in the original.
Although some fans will be upset about this change, it is a consistent and intentional choice. The anime is presenting Solo Leveling in a more conventional shonen anime style, which naturally softens some of the more intense elements from the manhwa. And this doesn’t necessarily make the adaptation bad, just different.
Solo Leveling anime: A different experience, not a bad one
Ultimately, while some of Sung Jinwoo’s cooler moments may not feel as successfully translated to the anime, that does not make the adaptation a failure. The anime continues to convey the essence of Solo Leveling and adds its own positives to the mix, including slick fight choreography, voice acting, and an immersive soundtrack.
And we should all know by now, how amazingly A-1 Picture has done its job in the Solo Leveling adaptation right? While the anime doesn’t lean as heavily into Jinwoo’s psychological disconnect from humanity, it is still an enjoyable ride for fans.
For fans of the darker tone of the manhwa, the anime might seem like a departure, but for new fans and old alike, it is still a thrilling way to see Solo Leveling from a different perspective. Therefore, whether one prefers the manhwa’s darker and more intense aesthetic or the anime’s more streamlined and polished presentation, Solo Leveling remains a compelling story worth experiencing in both forms.
Solo Leveling is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
