Why Solo Leveling Is Almost The Perfect Action Anime

Summary

SL’s brisk pacing ensures no arc lingers, maintaining excellent storytelling flow.
A1’s stellar animation brings the manhwa’s incredible art to life for engaging action.
Limited romantic subplot allows focus on action, meeting fans’ expectations for a power fantasy.

Over the past two years, Solo Leveling has garnered significant attention, becoming a hot topic within anime discussions. On one side, it’s praised for sparking increased interest in Korean comic books, or manhwa. However, on the other hand, it’s criticized for being overly simplistic, with limited depth in its storyline.

Without a doubt, Solo Leveling stands out as one of the finest action-packed animes from the past ten years or so. It manages to achieve this feat despite having a relatively simple narrative. This is due to several factors that may have gone unnoticed by some viewers.

1. The Pacing

SL Moves At A Brisk Pace

In the first two seasons of “Solo Leveling,” which encompass about 110 chapters from the manhwa, there are a total of 25 episodes that span various arcs and present a well-structured narrative. This results in an outstanding pace for the show, ensuring no arc overstays its welcome.

In my opinion, what sets “Solo Leveling” apart from many other action shows is its clever avoidance of filler episodes. Instead, the storyline moves at a rapid pace, ensuring every moment is meaningful and purposeful. Some might argue that this makes it seem brief, but I’d rather have a concise, well-paced narrative than one that overstays its welcome.

2. The Art And Animation

A1 Did An Excellent Job

Animation series that focus on action are designed to captivate viewers with their visual grandeur. To keep spectators engaged, they often rely on exceptional artwork and animation quality. The manhwa “Solo Leveling” became highly popular due to its stunning artistry, and as an anime, it stands out for its exceptional animation.

The animation appears crisp and clear, action sequences keep you hooked, and both characters and monsters are strikingly beautiful yet grotesque in their respective settings – key elements that any action series should deliver. Failure to meet these standards can result in viewer dissatisfaction for many viewers.

3. The Romantic Subplot Doesn’t Hamper The Action

Sung Jin-woo Is A Focused Man

In many discussions, it’s debated how much romance should be included in an action-based storyline for fiction. Generally speaking, it’s advisable to avoid excessive romance or a harmonious balance in an action anime, because this could transform it into an action-romance genre instead.

In an ideal action series like Solo Leveling, romance takes a backseat to the thrilling action scenes, which it excels at. Although there’s some romantic tension between Sung Jin-woo and Cha Hae-in, it never overshadows the main plot. Additionally, any hinted affection from characters such as Lee Joohee and Esil Radiru is noted but not given much emphasis, creating a well-balanced narrative that focuses on action over romance.

4. Giving Fans What They Want

Solo Leveling Indulges Its Fans

Solo Leveling is a power-packed action fantasy that doesn’t hesitate to live up to its genre. It doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is. Fans of high-octane action will find exactly what they’re looking for in this series, along with plenty of explosive moments to keep them on the edge of their seats.

Critics might argue that it’s superficial, but is it truly shallow if it’s precisely what the audience desires? Is it worthless when everyone finds it indispensable? Unlike other action shows that try to attract a broad audience by including elements not everyone may enjoy, Solo Leveling targets its specific demographic and satisfies them perfectly.

5. Protagonist Progression

Sung Jin-woo’s Progression Is Satisfying

It’s intriguing how everyone adores tales about the underdog, but it could be argued that there’s a less popular sentiment: people don’t typically wish for their underdogs to persist in their struggling state for extended periods. Instead, they yearn for advancement. In certain action series, viewers often find themselves rooting for an underdog character who remains in that position until the very end.

In contrast to other stories, Solo Leveling introduces Sung Jin-woo as a character starting from the ground level, working his way up to become stronger. This journey, though swift, results in battles that are incredibly satisfying due to their authenticity. Unlike some characters who may receive temporary power-ups from friends or artificial progression, Sung Jin-woo’s growth is genuine. It’s this authentic portrayal of his character that has endeared him to many readers.

6. Purity

Solo Leveling Is Never Anything Else

In many extended action-anime series, it’s quite frequent for specific story arcs to adopt different genres. This means you might find an action anime with a plotline that feels more like a detective mystery or even a daily life narrative, offering viewers a fresh perspective on the storytelling.

Solo Leveling never falters in maintaining a steady tone without any unexpectedly humorous scenes, ensuring that the tension remains high throughout the narrative. As a result, it is the ultimate wish-fulfillment for fans of action-packed anime series.

7. A Well-Serviced Protagonist

Sung Jin-woo Gets Everything He Needs To Shine

One method for rephrasing the given sentence in a more natural and easy-to-understand manner is: “Solo Leveling excels at developing its main character as an action anime, similar to how John Wick stands out as a masterpiece of an action movie due to its exceptional portrayal of the title character, providing him with the backstory, toughness, and charisma necessary to hold the spotlight effectively.

I’ve noticed that Solo Leveling seems to focus on Jin-woo quite a bit, which got me thinking – could he be an aura farmer? While it may seem so, it’s not uncommon for intriguing protagonists to embody such traits. What stands out about Jin-woo is his balance between charisma and stoicism, making him all the more captivating.

He’s deeply affectionate towards his family, revealing a softer side, yet he maintains a certain distance from others. It’s an intriguing dynamic that works remarkably well in the storyline. So yes, Jin-woo might be an ‘aura farmer,’ but isn’t that what makes him such an engaging protagonist?

8. Epic Battles

What’s An Action Anime Without Great Battles?

What’s all the excitement about Solo Leveling? What really elevates it? One significant factor is the thrilling nature of the combat scenes. Unlike many other series, Solo Leveling offers these intense battles without the usual internal monologues and backstories that often accompany them, making for a more immersive reading experience.

The animation plays a significant role here. When Sung Jin-woo faced off against the Ant King, it was an extraordinary show that left friends, individual viewers, and even larger groups cheering with excitement. Regardless of perspective, Sung Jin-woo’s battles are always thrilling, and this is nothing short of astonishing.

2025-07-20 04:05