The Crunchyroll awards didn’t come without their fair share of controversy this year, especially when it came down to Solo Leveling, and the number of awards it took home.
Boruto Should Take A Lesson From Solo Leveling: Ragnarok
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok was a good sequel. Boruto could learn a few things from it.
The series is definitely huge right now, but there is something to be said about what kind of anime are viral overseas. Frieren’s director, Keiichirou Saitou, recently made a few comments on the issue.
Solo Leveling Is All About the Hype And Battles
Frieren Is Slow-Paced Deeper Story
Solo Leveling is one of the most popular anime out at the moment. Both its first season, and its second season, which aired just this year, were huge hits with fans. The series was so big that it won Anime of the Year, and not for the lack of good competition. To get this title, it beat titles like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, The Apothecary Diaries, and even Dandadan.
This was, actually, quite a controversial winner. Many fans thought it didn’t deserve the title, especially since its anime mainly just focused on fights, and not much else, story-wise.
However, one can’t deny that it’s popular with fans. But, when talking about its popularity, one has to mention the fact that Solo Leveling’s popularity is mostly international. Indeed, in Japan, the series isn’t treated as anything revolutionary, and it’s not all that popular.
Keiichirou Saitou, the director of the Frieren anime, actually commented on overseas fans, and the anime they tend to popularize. While he doesn’t mention Solo Leveling, or any series in particular, he does say that overseas fans like mainstream series, with the usual tropes. According to him, these anime tend to ignore stories with more diverse approaches. This creates a rift between the creators in Japan and fans abroad.
“I have had the opportunity to attend overseas conventions and interact with overseas fans, and I have a vague feeling that the Japanese anime that overseas fans go crazy about may be a little biased. Popular things are, as to be expected, popular, but a large current (wave) forms. For those on the creative side, I think this is also a situation where a disconnect could be born [between us and the audience].
Because the current is so strong, if we focus too much on it, only that aspect becomes emphasized as the anime’s defining characteristic. Before it gets to that point, I feel it’s important to share anime’s diverse appeal with the world. I have a desire to create works that can draw the world’s attention through a variety of approaches.“ — Keiichirou Saitou
Keiichirou Saitou simply wants more diverse anime series to be introduced to the wider world, where stories like Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries get to shine as much as series like Solo Leveling.
It is, on the other hand, a bit unfair of Saitou to focus on overseas fans when it comes to this issue, as Japanese fans are just as guilty of that when it comes to many other series.
Solo Leveling Season 3 Is On The Way, And 7 Things Have Been Confirmed About It Already
Season 3 of Solo Leveling is still a mystery, but here are some things we know about it.
Where To Watch Solo Leveling?
Available on Crunchyroll
Solo Leveling has two seasons out right now, one with 12 episodes, and the other with 13, for a combined episode count of 25 episodes available to watch right now. The series can be streamed on Crunchyroll for fans to enjoy while awaiting any more news concerning the third season.
For fans who can’t wait for season 3 to come out, checking out the Manhwa might be a great option.
- 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
