Solo Leveling Anime: What Changes Will Happen in the Upcoming Adaptation?

Solo Leveling is a fantasy action series that follows Sung Jin-Woo, a weak hunter who gains the ability to level up and become stronger after a near-death experience in a dungeon. He becomes known as the “Shadow Monarch”, a powerful being who can control shadows and summon undead soldiers. The series has been serialized as a web novel since 2016 and as a manhwa (Korean comic) since 2018, gaining millions of fans worldwide.

The series has been rumored to get an anime adaptation for a long time, and recently, it was confirmed that the production is underway. However, there are still many questions and speculations about how the anime will adapt the source material and what changes will happen in the process. In this article, we will try to answer some of these questions and give you an overview of what to expect from the upcoming Solo Leveling anime.

What is the release date of the Solo Leveling anime?

One of the most asked questions about the Solo Leveling anime is when it will be released. Unfortunately, there is no official announcement yet about the exact release date or the studio that will handle the animation. However, some sources suggest that the anime will premiere sometime in 2023 or 2024, depending on the production schedule and the COVID-19 situation.

Trailer for the anime Solo Leveling

How many episodes will the Solo Leveling anime have?

Another question that fans are curious about is how many episodes will the Solo Leveling anime have and how much of the story will it cover. The web novel has 270 chapters, while the manhwa has 179 chapters as of March 2021. The story is divided into two seasons, with season one ending at chapter 110 of the web novel and chapter 132 of the manhwa.

It is likely that the anime will follow the manhwa version more closely, as it has more detailed and colorful illustrations and scenes. However, it is also possible that the anime will make some changes or additions to the story to make it more suitable for animation and appeal to a wider audience.

Assuming that the anime will adapt season one of the story, it could have around 24 to 26 episodes, with each episode covering about five chapters of the manhwa. This would allow the anime to cover most of the major events and arcs of season one, such as:

• The introduction of Sung Jin-Woo and his status as an E-rank hunter
• The double dungeon incident and Sung Jin-Woo’s awakening as a player
• The red gate arc and Sung Jin-Woo’s first encounter with Cha Hae-In
• The demon castle arc and Sung Jin-Woo’s acquisition of Beru
• The jeju island raid arc and Sung Jin-Woo’s confrontation with Thomas Andre
• The national hunter association arc and Sung Jin-Woo’s reveal as the Shadow Monarch

Of course, this is just a rough estimate and the actual number of episodes and chapters covered may vary depending on how the anime staff decides to pace and structure the story.

What are some possible changes or differences between the Solo Leveling anime and the source material?

As with any adaptation, there are bound to be some changes or differences between the Solo Leveling anime and the source material. Some of these changes may be minor or cosmetic, such as:

• The design or appearance of some characters or monsters
• The color scheme or style of some scenes or effects
• The dialogue or narration of some parts
• The soundtrack or voice acting of some characters

Some of these changes may be done to enhance or improve the visual or audio quality of the anime, or to fit the preferences or expectations of the anime staff or audience.

However, some changes may be more significant or impactful, such as:

• The omission or alteration of some scenes or events
• The addition or expansion of some scenes or events
• The rearrangement or modification of some arcs or timelines
• The development or characterization of some characters or relationships

Some of these changes may be done to simplify or streamline the story, or to fill in some gaps or inconsistencies in the source material. Some changes may also be done to create more suspense or drama, or to add more humor or fanservice.

For example, some possible changes that could happen in the Solo Leveling anime are:

• The anime may omit some minor characters or subplots that are not essential to the main story, such as the hunters guild, the scavenger guild, or the system quests. This could help the anime focus more on the main characters and events, and avoid confusing or boring the viewers with too many details or side stories.

• The anime may alter some scenes or events to make them more exciting or dramatic, such as adding more action or tension to some fights, or changing some outcomes or consequences to some situations. This could help the anime create more impact or emotion for the viewers, and showcase the abilities or personalities of some characters better.

• The anime may add or expand some scenes or events to give more background or context to some aspects of the story, such as explaining more about the origin or nature of the dungeons, the system, or the shadow army. This could help the anime clarify or enrich some concepts or themes of the story, and make it more understandable or immersive for the viewers.

• The anime may rearrange or modify some arcs or timelines to make them more coherent or consistent with the overall plot, such as changing the order or duration of some events, or skipping or merging some arcs. This could help the anime avoid some plot holes or contradictions in the source material, and make the story flow more smoothly and logically for the viewers.

• The anime may develop or characterize some characters or relationships more than in the source material, such as giving more screen time or dialogue to some supporting characters, or showing more interactions or feelings between some main characters. This could help the anime flesh out or diversify some characters or relationships, and make them more appealing or relatable for the viewers.

What are some possible challenges or difficulties for the Solo Leveling anime?

While many fans are excited and hopeful for the Solo Leveling anime, there are also some challenges or difficulties that the anime may face in its production and reception. Some of these challenges are:

• The quality and consistency of the animation. One of the most praised aspects of the Solo Leveling manhwa is its stunning and detailed art style, which creates a vivid and immersive world for the readers. However, replicating this level of quality and consistency in animation is not easy, especially for a long-running series with many action scenes and special effects. The anime will need a talented and experienced studio and staff to handle the animation, as well as a sufficient budget and time to produce it. Otherwise, the anime may suffer from poor animation quality, which could disappoint or frustrate many fans and viewers.

• The balance and adaptation of the content. Another challenge for the Solo Leveling anime is how to balance and adapt the content of the source material for an anime format and audience. The source material has a lot of content and complexity, which could be hard to fit into a limited number of episodes without losing some important information or context. The source material also has some elements that may not be suitable or appealing for an anime audience, such as excessive violence, gore, fan service, or clichés. The anime will need a skilled and creative writer and director to balance and adapt the content, as well as a faithful and respectful approach to the original work. Otherwise, the anime may suffer from poor storytelling quality, which could confuse or alienate many fans and viewers.

• The competition and comparison with other series. A final challenge for the Solo Leveling anime is how to compete and compare with other series in the same genre or medium. The fantasy action genre is one of the most popular and crowded genres in anime, with many well-known and acclaimed series such as Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, etc. The web novel and manhwa medium is also one of the most emerging and diverse mediums in recent years, with many successful and innovative series such as Tower of God, God of High School, Noblesse, etc. The anime will need a unique and distinctive identity and style to stand out from other series, as well as a loyal and supportive fan base to support it. Otherwise, the anime may suffer from poor popularity or recognition, which could overshadow or undermine its potential.