What Makes Solo Leveling Unique Among Game-Based Anime?

Solo Leveling Anime Successfully Adapts the Source Material

Bringing Solo Leveling from its manhwa and light novel origins into an anime format has been handled exceptionally well, with adjustments made to fit the new medium without introducing any drawbacks.

The adaptation refines and reorganizes certain elements, ensuring a smooth transition into an animated format while preserving the core of the original story.

Some minor modifications can be spotted in character interactions and scene executions, such as removing a moment where Sung Jinwoo requests coffee or changing the individual who opens the doors to the double dungeon.

Additionally, key figures like President Go Gunhee appear earlier in the anime, offering hints at the larger political schemes that will unfurl later.

Differences Between the Anime and the Manhwa

While the moves between the manhwa and the anime might seem minor at first glance, they have a real impact on how the story is presented in this new format.

The first episode alone introduces around ten adjustments, whether through added material, omitted details, or completely restructured story segments.

These changes range from small inconsistencies to entirely new content designed to enhance the pacing and structure of the anime.

Even with these modifications, the adaptation remains faithful to fans’ high expectations, avoiding any alterations that might negatively affect the viewing experience.

Given the challenge of adapting a manhwa that itself was originally derived from a light novel, this is no small feat. The anime must streamline and refine existing material while incorporating content that may have never been depicted before, and A-1 Pictures manages to do so with precision.

Jinwoo’s Conversation with Jinah About the Raid

A crucial turning point in Jinwoo’s character development occurs when he is forced to eliminate Hwang Dongsuk and his entire raid party in a C-rank dungeon.

To emphasize the gravity of this moment, episode #7 of the anime introduces an additional scene that was not present in the manhwa.

In the manhwa, this section is relatively simple—Jinwoo is shown eating and drinking with his younger sister Jinah, engaging in minimal conversation.

She casually asks if he is in a good mood since he is treating her to chicken wings, and the next moment moves directly to Jinwoo discovering that he is unable to get drunk.

The anime expands on this by having Jinah directly ask about his recent raid, prompting Jinwoo to confront his thoughts about the drastic measures he had to take.

This addition adds more depth to his character, offering a clearer picture of how much the System has transformed him in such a short amount of time.

Kim Sangshik’s Death Handled Differently

Another deviation from the manhwa appears in episode #9, concerning the fate of Kim Sangshik, one of the few survivors of the Double Dungeon.

In the manhwa, as Sangshik lies injured, he recalls heartfelt moments with his wife and children, reflecting on the reasons he became a hunter and his promise to return home safely. Overwhelmed by these thoughts, he clings desperately to life until Jinwoo and his group find him.

The anime, however, takes a different approach. Instead of showing Sangshik’s internal monologue at the time of his death, the series includes a short scene in an earlier episode, depicting him with his family before the raid takes place.

When Jinwoo and his team discover him in the anime, Sangshik simply apologizes to Jinwoo before succumbing to his injuries, despite Joohee’s attempts to save him.

While still impactful, this change results in a less emotionally intense farewell compared to the original version, where his dying thoughts were presented in real time.

Hunters Guild Prepares for the Jeju Expedition

A major change introduced in the final episode involves the Hunters Guild taking proactive steps to scout Jeju Island before the raid officially begins. While en route, the hunters spot a newly evolved monster ant in the ocean and decide to capture it.

This leads them to discover that these creatures have already developed wings, pushing them to accelerate preparations for the upcoming Jeju Island Raid.

By contrast, the manhwa reveals this evolution much later, only after one of these ants attacks a Japanese coastal island, causing numerous casualties. The Korean Hunters Association then collaborates with Japanese hunters to strategize a response.

This alteration in the anime appears to be an effort to build anticipation for the Jeju Island Raid well in advance, heightening excitement for the arc.

Jinwoo Uses Kasaka’s Venom in His Fight Against Cerberus

Among the various modifications made in the anime adaptation, one of the more striking ones involves Jinwoo’s battle against Cerberus.

The anime enhances the intensity of this confrontation by incorporating a clever twist—Jinwoo recalls that he still possesses Kasaka’s venom and utilizes it at a critical moment to gain an advantage over the three-headed beast.

The venom reduces the damage he receives by 20% while also lowering his strength by 35%, making it a crucial element of the fight. This scene progresses differently in the manhwa, where Kasaka’s venom is never used in the battle against Cerberus.

Instead, Jinwoo experiments with the venom much earlier—he drinks it after realizing he is immune to poison while testing his alcohol tolerance at home with Jinah. However, his automatic detoxification negates any benefits the venom might have provided, rendering it virtually useless.

Joohee Receives a Call from Her Parents

Although Joohee, the B-rank healer who befriends Jinwoo early in the series, plays a relatively small role in the larger story, the anime takes an opportunity to expand on her character.

A brief anime-exclusive scene in episode #8 depicts Joohee receiving a phone call from her mother, who expresses concern for her well-being.

During the conversation, her mother urges her to leave behind the dangerous life of a hunter and return home to help with the family business instead.

This addition serves to develop not only Joohee’s character but also the broader world of Solo Leveling, giving viewers more insight into the lives of hunters beyond their dungeon battles.

Joohee Faces Her Trauma and Reunites With Jinwoo

Still grappling with the psychological wounds left by the Double Dungeon, Joohee reaches a moment of realization about her abilities and refuses to give up entirely. Just then, she receives an invitation to take part in a D-rank raid, leading to an unexpected reunion with Jinwoo.

Though brief, this scene sheds light on the harsher realities of hunter society, where individuals like Joohee often suffer lasting emotional damage, even if they are not physically weak E-rank hunters.

Jinwoo Does Not Attempt to Get Coffee

Following the prologue of Solo Leveling’s debut episode, Sung Jinwoo is introduced as he joins a group of lower-ranked hunters preparing to enter a dungeon at a construction site.

The sequence remains largely faithful to the manhwa, with only a minor alteration in the way Jinwoo makes his entrance.

In the manhwa, Jinwoo asks a vendor for a cup of coffee, only to find out that it has run out just before he gets his turn. This moment subtly underscores his insignificance within the larger hunter community.

However, the anime omits this small yet telling moment, opting instead to have Jinwoo casually exchange greetings with hunter Kim Sangshik, who, unlike him, successfully gets a cup.

Kim Sangshik Takes on a Different Role in Opening the Double Dungeon

As Solo Leveling’s first episode progresses, Sung Jinwoo and his fellow hunters encounter an unusual situation inside what was initially classified as a D-rank dungeon. A long tunnel leads them to a hidden chamber, a rare phenomenon referred to as a double dungeon.

The group, consisting of 13 members in the anime (compared to 17 in the manhwa), is divided on whether to proceed, finally deciding to enter by a narrow vote, with Jinwoo serving as the tie-breaker.

While this scenario is largely unchanged between adaptations, there is a slight move in who initiates the final step. In the manhwa, it is team leader Song who pushes the doors open, whereas in the anime, Kim Sangshik takes on this role instead.

Though seemingly minor, this adjustment raises questions about how it may influence the portrayal of guilt and responsibility that both Song and Kim experience later in the story.

President Go Gunhee Appears Earlier than Expected

The first episode of Solo Leveling is filled with intricate details that longtime fans of the manhwa and light novel will quickly recognize.

The structure of the anime assumes that viewers familiar with the series will appreciate these early introductions rather than find them disorienting.

Among the characters who make an unexpected early debut is President Go Gunhee, head of the Korean Hunters Association, an organization that serves as the governing body for hunters.

Though the association wields less influence compared to modern governmental institutions, Go Gunhee himself stands out as an S-rank hunter and one of the strongest figures in the story.

His inclusion in the anime’s opening episode not only reminds audiences of his formidable presence but also subtly foreshadows the political dynamics that will come into play later in the series.

Sung Jinwoo Suffers a More Severe Injury

Establishing Sung Jinwoo as an underdog is a crucial aspect of both the Solo Leveling manhwa and anime, with his initial portrayal emphasizing his weakness as the lowest-ranked E-rank hunter. The anime, however, intensifies this perception by incorporating more visceral combat details in the first dungeon sequence.

In the manhwa, battles against goblins are depicted through quick, stylized panels, effectively contrasting the capabilities of higher-ranked hunters with Jinwoo’s own struggles.

He manages to defeat a single goblin and obtain its stone while sustaining minor injuries. The anime, on the other hand, takes a more dramatic approach.

After successfully taking down a goblin, Jinwoo is caught off guard by another and stabbed in the stomach, resulting in a severe wound that leaves a pool of blood beneath him. This addition heightens the sense of danger surrounding Jinwoo’s situation and further emphasizes his initial weakness.

Jinwoo’s Initial Weapon Choice Sees a Change

Since hunters’ strengths are fixed after awakening, the weapons they wield become crucial to their effectiveness in battle. This is especially true for Sung Jinwoo, who is introduced in the anime carrying a knife as he enters the construction site dungeon.

When he later engages in combat with goblins, his knife breaks, leaving him vulnerable and leading to a situation where he is stabbed.

While the second goblin encounter is an exclusive addition in the anime, there is another key difference worth noting. In the manhwa, Jinwoo does not bring any weapons into the dungeon at all.

Instead, a flashback in Chapter 4 reveals that he deliberately stopped using weapons because the ones he could afford would break easily, making them financially unsustainable.

This detail underscores Jinwoo’s desperation as a hunter, highlighting how his struggles are not just about survival but also about earning enough money to afford his mother’s treatment.

Yoo Jinho and Han Song-Yi Appear Together in an Early Cameo

The Solo Leveling manhwa introduces a range of beloved characters, and the anime creators were deliberate in selecting familiar faces to heighten fan engagement.

Midway through the first episode, a scene showcases newly awakened hunters undergoing rank evaluations and training with the Korean Hunters Association. While this sequence primarily serves as additional worldbuilding, it also features an unexpected treat for long-time readers.

Two characters, Yoo Jinho and Han Song-Yi, are briefly shown together in this scene. Yoo Jinho, a D-rank hunter, later becomes Jinwoo’s vice-guild master, while Han Song-Yi, an E-rank hunter, is a classmate of Jinwoo’s sister.

Though their relationships with Jinwoo differ in the manhwa, the anime’s decision to present them side by side in this early moment adds an interesting twist to their introductions.

Jinwoo Appears Slightly More Social in the Anime

As the protagonist of a series titled Solo Leveling, Sung Jinwoo is naturally portrayed as a lone fighter. In the manhwa, this aspect of his character is evident early on, with his journey through dungeons often taking place in isolation.

The anime, however, introduces subtle changes that hint at a slightly more social version of Jinwoo before his transformation. When Jinwoo arrives at the construction site, he initially greets hunter Kim Sangshik before another hunter leads him around to acknowledge other members of the team.

Kim remarks that Jinwoo’s presence is a sign that the dungeon will be easy. By contrast, the manhwa presents Jinwoo as failing to get a cup of coffee before being approached directly by healer Lee Joohee.

These additional interactions in the anime create a brief sense of camaraderie, which is soon undercut by the other hunters’ dismissive treatment of him.

Cha Hae-In Makes an Early and Impressive Introduction

With Solo Leveling’s first episode emphasizing the presence of S-rank hunters, it was inevitable that Cha Hae-In, vice-guild master of the Hunters Guild, would be introduced ahead of schedule.

The Hunters Guild, led by S-rank mage Choi Jong-In, stands as Korea’s most powerful guild, but it is Hae-In’s arrival that generates the most excitement among fans.

In the manhwa, she does not make her first appearance until Chapter 65, but she quickly becomes the series’ leading female character.

The anime’s decision to showcase a stunning sequence in which she effortlessly stops a purse-snatcher using her signature graceful movements was a brilliant touch. This early moment undoubtedly thrilled both dedicated fans of the manhwa and new viewers alike.

The Anime is Voiced in Japanese

Since Solo Leveling is being produced by A-1 Pictures, a Japanese animation studio, discussions surrounding cultural adaptation were inevitable.

The original light novel and manhwa were written in Korean, but the anime’s primary language is Japanese due to its production origins. This change raises questions about how later story arcs, which involve interactions with international hunters, will be handled.

Efforts were made to maintain consistency in the international release, yet the Japanese broadcast introduced localized changes, such as renaming Sung Jinwoo to Shun Mizushino and replacing Seoul with Tokyo to better suit local audiences.

Although these alterations initially caused controversy when announced nearly two years ago, the global version retaining Korean names has helped minimize concerns.

A Jeju Island Prologue that Did Not Exist in the Manhwa

Opening Solo Leveling’s first episode, a flashback sequence depicts Jeju Island’s devastation as an S-rank Gate unleashes monstrous ants.

This extended scene establishes the dangers of the series’ universe while also offering fans an early overlook of high-ranking hunters such as Baek Yoonho, Choi Jong-In, and Min Byung-Gyu.

Unlike the rest of the episode, this event was never depicted in the manhwa. While consistent with the story’s established lore, the specific expedition shown in the anime had not been illustrated before.

The designs for the ants were directly drawn from the later Jeju Island arc, filling in a previously unexplored moment while setting up future developments.