This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling series.
Solo Leveling is one of the most popular anime at the moment and that goes without saying. Over the last 2 years, with just 25 episodes, Solo Leveling has absolutely dominated in the anime sphere and it is only going to get bigger. Thanks to the incredible adaptation by A1 Pictures, Solo Leveling has received a perfect adaptation that has truly brought the manhwa to life.
Solo Leveling Is Finally Making A Big Comeback
Solo Leveling is returning, and a lot sooner than expected.
However, that's not to say that the adaptation is 1:1. While the Solo Leveling anime is truly an incredible product that does a great job at elevating the fights from the manhwa, it also takes a few liberties which many fans don't like, especially concerning the main character, Sung Jinwoo. One of the biggest criticisms of Sung Jinwoo is that he is often portrayed as being rather static in the anime and lacking emotions. However, many fans who have never read the Manhwa will be surprised to know that he's quite different in the webtoon and way more dynamic.
Sung Jinwoo Has Many Expressive Scenes In The Manhwa
One of the biggest ways in which Sung Jinwoo is different in the anime compared to the manhwa is that the anime counterpart lacks the fun chibi comedic moments. In the original manhwa, Jinwoo has many funny moments that fans adore. His character isn't all about leveling up, getting stronger, and looking cool. There is more to Jinwoo than just that, and that is precisely why the manhwa shows him to be a lot more expressive with his emotions.
Every time I grow stronger, I feel I lose a part of myself. — Sung Jinwoo
Be it Jinwoo blushing, looking stupid, or just making funny faces, he has it all in the manhwa, and when that is paired with his cool, sometimes ruthless, and incredibly powerful persona, fans get the perfect character that hardly has any flaws. But, that is only the manhwa version of Sung Jinwoo.
Solo Leveling Anime Has Removed All His Emotional Scenes
The anime version of Jinwoo is quite different as he lacks all these things that add a ton of characterization to him. To many fans, these might look like very small and insignificant changes. But in the grand scheme of things, characterization is all about the small bits that shape individuals. They are what make Jinwoo the person that he is, and without them, he is incomplete.
I use the System, and the System uses me. — Sung Jinwoo
Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo Has Officially Been Beaten By An Overpowered MC
Jinwoo is strong, but he is far from being anime's strongest MC.
In a way, fans can say that the anime version of Jinwoo has made him quite different from what he's actually supposed to be. Of course, that is not to say that the anime hasn't added characterization of its own by making Jinwoo more of a family man, but it can be argued that this nature of his still exists in the manhwa, even if it isn't highlighted as much.
Sung Jinwoo In The Manhwa Is A Lot More Dynamic
Without a doubt, Sung Jinwoo in the manhwa is a lot more dynamic. He expresses a range of emotions and fans can really see that with each page turn. Being more expressive in itself is a huge quality that Jinwoo in the anime is lacking. This is also one of the many reasons that anime fans who tend to dislike Solo Leveling attack the series.
The protagonist is certainly cool, but since he lacks this characterization, it may come off as a bit too forced. On the other hand, if Jinwoo had the characterization that he does in the manhwa, it becomes a lot more tolerable because there is a mix of emotions that makes the character feel more human.
At the end of the day, the Solo Leveling series is phenomenal and one truly can't complain about what the anime does, but knowing the difference between the two versions of the character is essential and fans who really want to see what Jinwoo is like should read the manhwa.
Solo Leveling has 25 episodes available to watch right now, split over two major seasons, the most recent of which wrapped up in 2025. The series can be streamed on Crunchyroll. There have been no major announcements about a third season so far. Fans can get more Solo Leveling content via the Manhwa.
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
- Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki
- Writers
- Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii
Cast
-
Taito BanSung Jin-woo -
Genta NakamuraYoo Jin-ho
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Chugong
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
