In the world of Solo Leveling, the strong dominate the weak. Based on the most successful manhwa (Korean comic) of all time, the fantasy anime was produced by A-1 Pictures (Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Sword Art Online) and threw us into a story of discovery and terror. Here, modern society is forced to fight monsters to preserve the peace we all know and love.
The protectors of humanity are called Hunters, ranked from strongest to weakest and from S rank to E rank. Our protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, is one of the weakest in the E rank, and there is no hope of becoming stronger. strong. Solo Leveling shows the difficulties of fighting these creatures: once you encounter a monster of a rank higher than yours, you will inevitably suffer a gruesome death, creating a heart-wrenching drama where viewers don't know what will happen next.
Creator: Chugong
Stars: Aleks Le, Taito Ban
The first two episodes of Solo Leveling serve as an introduction to the world and threats of these monsters. While it can be very expositional at times, seeing different people of different ranks interact with these threats makes for a compelling story. Jinwoo is intelligent and in a short time we can sympathize with his struggles. He cannot earn money hunting monsters and has to take a highly skilled job to make a living.
Like other fantasy shows, we're introduced to a host of new characters, and while some range from intriguing, like Mr. Song and Joohee, to cannon fodder, the show tries to flesh out the world enough for the Impending doom has stakes. While it's a brave attempt to breathe life into these supporting characters, they simply feel like they exist to help Jimwoo survive, especially Joohee, who serves as the group's healer but lacks much depth beyond her usefulness.
As they continue forward, Jinwoo and his comrades find themselves in an Elden Ring-like dungeon where they have to think quickly or die horribly. This is a great scenario because it forces these characters out of their comfort zone and plays to Jinwoo's strengths. His intelligence makes up for his lack of physique and combat training. It also draws the viewer into the mystery as we try to decipher the clues on how to escape.
Sword Art Online greatly inspires the series, and that influence is clear throughout. It inherently feels like a video game with dungeons, a leveling system, and boss battles where you need to have specific stats to survive. The good premiere of a series should make the viewer involved in the story, feel affection for the main character and make the world a place to which they would like to return. Only Leveling does it quite well, but the series is held back mainly by what happens before Episode 3.
The adventures are about to truly begin, and that's what makes Episode 2's cliffhanger so shocking. A new game is about to start, which only increases the tension of this premiere. The uncertainty raises the stakes because no one is safe, not even Jinwoo. In the end, he has been given a choice that will change the course of his life forever, and although we don't quite know where it will take him or who he will meet along the way, it is a journey he will want to take. see until the end.
That intrigue carries Solo Leveling, and its sense of tension is heightened by its gorgeous animation. A-1 Pictures continues to prove that it is one of the best studios working today, using 2D animation with CGI elements. The combination of the two styles doesn't always work on some shows, but Solo Leveling uses it well by allowing giant creatures and statues to take up space, making the human characters feel minuscule in comparison.
All of this means that Solo Leveling is off to a great start. As one of the most anticipated anime of 2024, it lives up to the hype and barely scratches the surface of what's to come. The only major complaint one can have is the fact that the supporting cast lacks depth, and Jinwoo's real journey won't really begin until Episode 3. Fortunately, we have yet to meet all of the show's main actors, and Viewers won't have to wait too long to see where the story goes from here.
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