One Piece Has Officially Been Beaten By 2025’s Anime Of The Year

by

I’ve been a huge fan of *One Piece* for years, and it’s amazing to see it still going strong after 28 years for the manga and 26 for the anime! It truly remains one of the most beloved series worldwide, and it’s the best-selling manga of all time – a record that will probably never be broken. Now, while the manga is nearly flawless, the anime has had its struggles. The pacing has often been slow, and the animation wasn’t always great until the Wano arc. This makes it tough for newcomers to jump in, and unfortunately, it led to *Solo Leveling* surpassing *One Piece* in anime popularity in 2025. *Solo Leveling* is Crunchyroll’s most reviewed anime, and it’s been racking up awards, even winning Anime of the Year! That doesn’t necessarily mean *Solo Leveling* is more popular overall, but its anime is just so well-produced and has really captured the fans’ hearts.

One Piece Is Big, But Solo Leveling is The Highest Reviewed Anime on Crunchyroll

Over 600k Reviews for Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling quickly became a global hit, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. The first season, released in 2024, had only 12 episodes, but it was an instant success. Season 2, with 13 episodes, proved even more popular. Despite its short length – just 25 episodes total – Solo Leveling has become Crunchyroll’s highest-rated anime of all time. This is a remarkable achievement considering Crunchyroll is the leading anime streaming service, home to well-known shows like One Piece and Demon Slayer.

I’ve been watching the numbers, and *Solo Leveling* is quickly gaining on *One Piece* in popularity. It’s really remarkable considering *One Piece* has been running for nearly thirty years! *Solo Leveling* managed to make a huge impact with just two seasons. I think *Solo Leveling* is a great entry point for anyone, even if they don’t usually watch anime – it’s fast-paced and full of exciting action. *One Piece*, on the other hand, is a much bigger commitment, and it can be hard to jump into if you’re not already familiar with the series.

Is Solo Leveling More Successful Than One Piece?

  • One Piece is the Best Selling Manga in the World
  • One Piece Is Also The Most Pirated Anime

Although *Solo Leveling* had more views than *One Piece* on Crunchyroll, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more popular overall. *One Piece* is still the most-watched anime in general, but a lot of those views come from unofficial streaming sites, which lowers its reported numbers on official platforms like Crunchyroll.

Atsushi Kaneko, the director of Solo Leveling, has acknowledged that One Piece is a more popular and larger series. He specifically mentioned that Solo Leveling doesn’t reach the same level of popularity as One Piece, particularly within Japan, and that he hopes Solo Leveling can eventually achieve a similar level of success.

Atsushi Kaneko expressed excitement about the series’ reception, but believes it’s not yet a household name, especially in Japan. He notes that while popular, ‘Solo Leveling’ hasn’t reached the same level of widespread recognition as anime giants like ‘Dragon Ball,’ ‘One Piece,’ or ‘Naruto.’ He hopes a third season will help the series achieve that broader appeal.

The upcoming remake of *One Piece* will likely attract a new wave of fans, as it addresses problems with the original anime’s animation and speed. This could make it difficult for *Solo Leveling* to maintain its popularity once the remake is released.

Currently, there are 25 episodes of *Solo Leveling* available – 12 from the first season and 13 from the second. You can watch both seasons on Crunchyroll. If you’re eager for more content before season 3 arrives, reading the original *Solo Leveling* Manhwa is a good way to continue the story.

Read More

2025-09-22 13:34