This article contains spoilers from Solo Leveling.
Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo is one of the most beloved anime characters of recent times, and even though he came from absolutely nowhere, he's carved out quite a legacy for himself. Solo Leveling, which received an anime adaptation in 2024 has consistently been one of the best anime over the past two years, and it goes without saying that when Solo Leveling Season 3 does hit, it is going to be special. The series has an incredibly bright future to become something special, which also means great things for Sung Jinwoo.
The Most Underrated Anime Of 2025 Is Officially Better Than Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling was the anime of the year, but this underrated anime of 2025 deserved the title more.
It doesn't come as a surprise to anyone to know that the vast majority of the praise that Solo Leveling gets is down to Sung Jinwoo, its main character. Fans are in love with everything about him, be it his battles, his powers, or his cold aura that makes him stand out far more than anyone else in the series. It goes without saying that Sung Jinwoo is special and an incredible protagonist, but he's officially been dethroned this year, at least in Japan, by none other than Maomao of The Apothecary Diaries. Although nowhere near as popular within western groups, Maomao has taken Japan by storm, with The Apothecary Diaries consistently being one of the highest-rated manga and anime series, and at the same time, the protagonist receiving a lot of love as well.
Sung Jinwoo Has Been Dethroned By Maomao From The Apothecary Diaries
Sung Jiwnoo Was The Best Anime Character Of The Year
- Solo Leveling swept the Crunchyroll Awards
- Solo Leveling Season 1 was anime of the year
In early 2025, fans saw the Crunchyroll Awards take place and it goes without saying it was a special night for Solo Leveling. The biggest of all honors, that is, Anime for the Year 2025, was won by Solo Leveling, edging out series like Frieren and The Apothecary Diaries, which gave it quite a lot of competition.
I Am The Record Of Your Struggles, The Evidence Of Your Resistance, And The Reward Of Your Sufferings. I Am Death, I Am Eternal Rest, I Am Terror. — Ashborn
At the same time, Solo Leveling also received the award for the Best MC of 2025, and Sung Jiwnoo claimed this award. Of course, Crunchyroll Awards paint a somewhat different image to what fans actually like. In IMDb's Anime Grand Prix, it was none other than Maomao who was named the best anime character of the year, and that's something fans absolutely loved.
Solo Leveling Author Confirms Jinwoo's Latest God Power Up
Jinwoo is god level, and the author just confirmed it in Solo Leveling.
Even among anime fanbases in general, while there is love for Sung Jinwoo, most agree that he is not the best anime MC out there. Jinwoo is strong and he's quite charismatic, but that's all he has going for him. Maomao is far more complex and actually a tremendously well-written character that influences the plot of her series in intriguing ways. Maomao beating Jinwoo for the Best MC title was deserved, and most fans are delighted at this.
I Will Protect My Family Even If It Means Turning All The Hunters In The World Against Me. — Sung Jinwoo
Sung Jinwoo Has His Own Amazing Qualities
Solo Leveling Will Always Be Popular
While Maomao has dethroned Sung Jinwoo, at least in the eyes of the fans, that doesn't mean Jinwoo is a bad character by any means. Sung Jinwoo is still a fan favorite and he will always be that. Fans have come to love him for what he has to offer and that will never change.
For the fans who look towards anime for exciting battles, Solo Leveling is the absolute perfect anime and Sung Jiwnoo is the best protagonist there is. There is nobody who does exciting battles as good as Jinwoo and it would only be fair to say that Jinwoo is the best representation of the overpowered protagonist trope that fans have seen in years, even more so than Saitama.
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
A-1 Pictures' Solo Leveling is an anime based on Chugong's popular web novel. Set in an unforgiving fantasy world where hunters explore dungeons filled with monsters, the vulnerable Sung Jinwoo gains a significant power boost after he is picked to be a solo player by the System.
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Chugong
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
