If there is one major take I have about anime these days, it’s the isekai genre has few fresh and intriguing ideas. Even the more unique ones either offer little enjoyment or don't seem to be worth watching. However, the Solo Leveling anime adaptation proves there is still just a bit left in the genre's tank, if the first two episodes are anything to go off of.
Solo Leveling takes place in an alternate Earth where gates open up and supernatural beasts attack. Hunters enter these gates to defeat the dungeon bosses. They have a short time limit of seven days to close the gate before the beasts will pour out and attack modern society. It feels like an interesting enough premise, if not a bit old given past isekai anime series like Gate.
The focus of the series is the main character Sung, who is an E-rank hunter. Many consider him the worst hunter in existence, but he does the job to get money for his sister and sick mother. Since everyone is stuck with their initial rank and power, it seems as though he has no hope of tackling and surviving higher-rank dungeons.
The story begins with Sung’s latest mission into an E-rank dungeon alongside a dozen other hunters, including the B-rank healer Joohee and the leader Song. It doesn’t take long until the premiere makes it clear how powerless Sung is against even the most basic goblins, which makes eventual developments and the things to come even more interesting.
The animation looks solid enough and the series seems to have decent action in these first two episodes, but it didn't strike me as anything too special. I noticed some inconsistencies between some of the characters' designs, but nothing is too wild. That said, it benefits from its fascinating characters and intense drama. The first episode starts a bit slow, as it introduces various characters and hints at presumably later storylines. However, the second episode is where the story truly begins to shine.
It feels like a nice mix of some of the best and most influential isekai anime series. It has the action and some of the gore from series like Goblin Slayer. On the other hand, it has some of the high stakes intensity of the early episodes of Sword Art Online. On top of that, it has a much more likable protagonist than some other entries in the genre in Sung.
Altogether, this makes for a solid watch. Of course, there are some neat surprises and twists along the way even in these first two episodes, which I feel nicely lay the foundation for what’s to come. Solo Leveling’s first two episodes end on a pretty high note as well, leaving the door open for what’s to come later in the season.
I will admit I hadn’t checked out the source material yet, but these first two episodes instantly changed that. I now understand the hype behind this Solo Leveling anime adaptation. If the first two episodes are anything to go off of, I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. Hopefully, these first two episodes are just a sign of what’s to come. After all, this is already one of my most anticipated anime of 2024.
Solo Leveling will begin streaming on Crunchyroll starting on January 6, 2024. Yen Press handles the light novel and manhwa.
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