Solo Leveling May Have Won Anime Of The Year, But Frieren Director Explains Why His Series Is Better

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Observing this year’s Crunchyroll Awards, there was undeniably no shortage of debate – particularly concerning the recognition bestowed upon the series Solo Leveling. The amount of accolades it secured certainly sparked quite a stir among the audience.

The current popularity of the series is undeniably massive, yet it’s worth discussing which types of anime are gaining traction internationally. Recently, the director of Frieren, Keiichirou Saitou, shared some thoughts on this topic.

Solo Leveling Is All About the Hype And Battles

Frieren Is Slow-Paced Deeper Story

Solo Leveling, currently one of the most sought-after animated series, has garnered immense popularity. Its first season and the recently aired second season have been hugely successful among viewers, earning it the title of ‘Anime of the Year‘. This accolade wasn’t handed out lightly, as it bested other highly acclaimed shows such as Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, The Apothecary Diaries, and even Dandadan.

This victor, in reality, sparked significant debate. Many spectators felt it wasn’t worthy of the crown, given that its narrative primarily revolved around combat, rather than delving deeply into a storyline.

Although it’s undeniable that Solo Leveling enjoys a significant fanbase, it’s important to note that its popularity primarily extends beyond national borders. In contrast, within Japan, the series doesn’t create much of a stir or garner substantial popularity, marking it as less revolutionary in that region.

Keiichirou Saitou, director of Frieren anime, has commented on international fans and their preference for popular anime shows that typically follow common themes. Although he didn’t directly name any specific series like Solo Leveling, he pointed out that these overseas viewers often overlook more unique storylines. According to him, this preference gap between Japanese creators and foreign fans sometimes leads to a divide in the anime community.

As an anime enthusiast who’s been fortunate enough to participate in international conventions and engage with fellow fans abroad, I can’t help but feel there might be a slight skew in the hype surrounding Japanese anime among overseas fans. Popularity, as we all know, tends to breed popularity, creating a wave that sweeps many off their feet. For creators like myself, this phenomenon could potentially lead to a disconnect – a gap between our creative intentions and the audience’s expectations.

The strong current in our work often overshadows its other appealing aspects, making it seem one-dimensional. To prevent this, I believe we should showcase the many facets of anime to the world, aiming to create works that capture global attention through various approaches.

Keiichirou Saitou advocates for a broader range of anime series, including those like Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries, to receive global exposure, allowing them to garner the same level of acclaim as popular series such as Solo Leveling.

However, it’s worth noting that it seems somewhat unjust for Saitou to primarily address the concerns of overseas fans in this matter, given that Japanese fans too have often shown similar behavior towards numerous other series.

Where To Watch Solo Leveling?

Available on Crunchyroll

Currently, Solo Leveling consists of two seasons that are currently airing. One has 12 episodes and the other boasts 13, totaling 25 episodes you can watch right now. Excited enthusiasts can stream this series on Crunchyroll until updates on season 3 become available.

For fans who can’t wait for season 3 to come out, checking out the Manhwa might be a great option.

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2025-08-16 23:36