Solo Leveling Is A Success, But These Two Anime Did What It Never Could

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2025 was a fantastic year for anime! Popular new shows like *Gachiakuta* and *Sakamoto Days* arrived, while favorites such as *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* continued to impress. The highly anticipated Season 2 of *Solo Leveling* finally premiered and exceeded expectations, culminating in a major victory at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. It was named Anime of the Year, triumphing over strong competition like *The Apothecary Diaries* and *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End*. *Solo Leveling* also won several other awards, including Best New Series, Best Action, Best Main Character, Best Score, and Best Ending.

The incredible success of *Solo Leveling* has surprised many, becoming a prime example of how manhwa and anime can work together. It’s been hugely popular, critically acclaimed, and broken viewing records, successfully bringing manhwa into the mainstream. However, even with all its achievements, *Solo Leveling* feels incomplete to some viewers, suggesting there’s potential for even better stories. This is where series like *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* are starting to shine.

Sung Jinwoo Embodies The Archetype Of Power Fantasy

I’m a huge fan of power fantasies, and when I first jumped into *Solo Leveling*, I was immediately intrigued by Sung Jinwoo. He starts out as seriously weak – like, the weakest hunter you could imagine, constantly needing help just to stay alive. Everyone pretty much sees him as dead weight, and he doesn’t get much respect. It’s a classic setup, really: an underdog with a sad past and a lot on his shoulders. From the very beginning, you *know* he’s going to become incredibly powerful, so there aren’t a lot of surprises there. Honestly, that’s where some of the criticism comes from. He just keeps getting stronger and stronger with no limits, which can make the story feel a little predictable. A lot of fans feel like that constant power-up overshadows his actual character development, and there are plenty of other characters in the series who feel more complex and interesting. While I still enjoy his journey, I can definitely see why some people find Jinwoo a bit underdeveloped.

While Jinwoo remains a likable protagonist and viewers continue to support him, *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* create more intense and captivating worlds. *Dandadan* excels with its unpredictable plot, clever humor, and fresh take on familiar themes like aliens and the supernatural. *Solo Leveling*, on the other hand, tells a more direct and conventional story, which, while not a flaw, prevents it from reaching the same level of excitement.

Solo Leveling’s Cast Of Spectators

Great stories aren’t just about the main character – strong supporting characters can really make a narrative shine, adding depth to the hero’s journey, heightening emotions, and driving the plot forward. While *Solo Leveling* has a compelling main character, its supporting cast isn’t as well-developed as those in anime like *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8*. In those series, the supporting characters play a significant role in moving the story forward and making it more impactful.

While *Solo Leveling* largely focuses on the main character Jinwoo, *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* give significant attention to their supporting characters. In *Dandadan*, Momo and Okarun are both crucial to the story, and in *Kaiju No. 8*, characters like Kikoru and Hoshina are just as well-developed as the protagonist, Kafka Hibino.

The way characters grow and the strong use of supporting characters really sets this series apart from *Solo Leveling*. In *Solo Leveling*, once the main character, Jinwoo, becomes powerful, even the top-ranked hunters just end up watching. He wins every fight easily, which makes the action less exciting. Unlike *Solo Leveling*, where the supporting characters mostly stand on the sidelines, series like *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* feature supporting characters who are actively involved, just as important and influential as the main characters.

Solo Leveling: A Noticeable Drop In Battle Quality

Given that *Solo Leveling* is presented as a high-quality action anime, its battles deserve attention. However, they often fall short. Instead of adding excitement, the fights become predictable and don’t live up to their potential. In contrast, anime like *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* handle battles much better, spreading them out over several episodes to create genuine tension and allow the action to develop organically.

Many battles in *Solo Leveling* feel too short and lack emotional impact, often wrapping up within a single episode. Season 2 especially falls into a predictable pattern: the story progresses, but because you can easily anticipate how each episode will end, it loses much of its suspense and excitement. The show focuses heavily on displaying Jinwoo’s power and coolness, with him consistently winning fights. While this is expected of the main character, the lack of genuine opposition makes his victories feel repetitive and stale. This contrasts sharply with the first season, which brilliantly portrayed Jinwoo’s journey from underdog to hero and set a high bar for the sequel. Ultimately, Jinwoo’s easy wins became less engaging and the story began to feel drawn out.

One thing that felt off about *Solo Leveling* was how quickly every fight ended – usually within a single episode. Shows like *Dandadan* and *Kaiju No. 8* build tension by stretching major battles across multiple episodes, which allows for more character development and shows how they struggle and grow during tough times. These longer fights often lead to important emotional changes for the characters, but *Solo Leveling* didn’t really have that. The lack of truly high-stakes battles and predictable outcomes was disappointing, and ultimately made me realize other anime were simply doing more with their stories. While *Solo Leveling* seemed promising on paper, other series were just more engaging.

Solo Leveling Season 3: Will It Be Able To Maintain Its Momentum?

Solo Leveling has become incredibly popular worldwide, introducing many people to Manhwa. However, some believe the series is starting to show its age. It’s common for hugely successful stories to lose steam, and there’s a worry that Solo Leveling might face this same challenge. Many fans feel that the initial magic of Seasons 1 and 2 is hard to replicate.

If the upcoming season of *Solo Leveling* doesn’t improve on its weaknesses, there’s little justification for continuing the series beyond a third season. The long wait for confirmation of Season 3 is also hurting its potential. It’s been months since Season 2 ended, and the studio still hasn’t announced any firm plans for Season 3. Initially, this delay seemed unnecessary, but it’s possible the creators are carefully planning to deliver a high-quality season that lives up to fans’ high expectations.

Where To Watch Solo Leveling Seasons 1 And 2

I’ve been following *Solo Leveling*, and the first season had 12 episodes. Season 2 added one more, bringing the total currently available on Crunchyroll to 25. With no news about a potential Season 3, many fans, myself included, are starting to look at the original Manhwa to keep up with the story. It’s frustrating to wait, and a lot of us are unhappy with the lack of updates from the studio. Honestly, there’s a worry that people might lose interest and find something else to watch, given how many other anime are out there.

Popular anime like *One Piece* and *Jujutsu Kaisen* are already very well-known, which makes it harder for *Solo Leveling* to gain the same level of recognition, particularly in Japan. While *Solo Leveling* has become incredibly popular with fans outside of Japan, producer Atsushi Kaneko needs the studio to move quickly with Season 3 if they want to reach an even wider audience.

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2025-09-15 05:05