Solo Leveling: the best movie in 2024
2024’s anime season is full of exciting series – both old and new – that includes titles like Metallic Rouge, Bucchigiri?!i, and Dragon Ball Daima. However, one of the year’s most anticipated anime releases is Solo Leveling, a power fantasy dungeon crawling epic that’s based on Chugong’s South Korean web novel. Solo Leveling has found a dedicated fanbase who has eagerly awaited its transition to television, yet the positive reception around the anime’s series premiere is greater than what anyone could have anticipated. Crunchyroll has started to stream Solo Leveling for international audiences and it’s already caused overwhelming traffic for the anime streaming service after only one episode. Audiences are clearly ready for Solo Leveling to become their newest anime obsession, but there are many reasons why it deserves to be the one series that people need to watch in 2024, whether they’re seasoned anime fans or complete newcomers.
It’s A Smart, Surprising Evolution Of The MMORPG & Dungeon Crawler Concept
Anime remains such a versatile storytelling medium because there are so many diverse genres to explore. However, there are certain archetypes that have become increasingly popular and dominate the medium in ways that do more harm than good. Isekai fantasy series, MMORPG riffs, and dungeon crawler content have never been more popular and the anime landscape is full of these types of series. The 2024 anime slate alone has series like Gods’ Game We Play, Quality Assurance in Another World, and Delicious in Dungeon.
Solo Leveling leans into these genre’s tropes, only to reinvent them in surprising and subversive ways. Solo Leveling isn’t exactly an isekai anime, but it’s still largely set in dungeons with typical RPG party characters and “game-ified” goals. Fortunately, Solo Leveling isn’t just more of the same and it finds ways to push these familiar concepts to new heights. Sung Jinwoo is an E-Rank Hunter, but he avoids a predetermined fate of complacency through his ingenuity. Solo Leveling gradually becomes a captivating power fantasy that’s built upon fantasy and dungeon crawler archetypes, but never restricted by them.\
Jinwoo Is About to Level Up in ‘Solo Leveling’
Adventures are on the cusp of truly beginning, and that’s what makes the Episode 2 cliffhanger so impactful. A new game is about to start, which only adds to the tension of this premiere. The uncertainty elevates the stakes because no one is safe, not even Jinwoo. In the end, he’s given a choice that will change the course of his life forever, and while we don’t quite know where that will take him or who he’ll meet along the way, it’s a journey that you’ll want to see through to the end.
That intrigue carries Solo Leveling, and its sense of tension is elevated by its gorgeous animation. A-1 Pictures continues to prove that it is one of the best studios working today, using 2D animation with CGI elements. The mix of the two styles doesn’t always work in some shows, but Solo Leveling uses it well by letting giant creatures and statues take up space, making the human characters feel minuscule in comparison. All of this is to say, Solo Leveling is off to an excellent start. As one of the most anticipated anime of 2024, it lives up to expectations and merely scratches the surface of what’s to come. The only major complaint to be had is the fact that the supporting cast lacks depth, and Jinwoo’s actual journey won’t really start until Episode 3. Thankfully, we’ve yet to meet all the show’s major players, and viewers won’t have to wait too long to see where the story goes from here.
Overwhelming Anticipation Is Well-Met
Solo Leveling already gathered a substantial following for its manhwa, long before it first entered the thoughts of anime fans in 2020. Starting with Tower of God’s release in April 2020, a deluge of manhwa-sourced anime adaptations flooded the industry, including The God of High School and Noblesse. With these series’ success came speculation on how Solo Leveling, a title with much more hype and influence, would perform as an anime. Subsequently, an intense wave of anticipation rose by the end of 2020 and even continued until the anime’s release in 2024, which fortunately, did not disappoint.
A-1 Pictures’ Art Doesn’t Lose Out to the Manhwa
The production studio of Solo Leveling’s anime, A-1 Pictures, played an enormous role in the series’ success as a piece of animated media. With the manhwa’s art already being colored and featuring detailed art that is attentive down to the smallest line, A-1 Pictures faced high expectations for quality.
However, the studio doubled down and produced animation that takes action to the next level and knows when to add a hint of serenity. Whether it is the sakuga level production in scenes like Sung Jin-Woo’s battle with the King of the Swamp in episode #4, or the tantalizing introduction of Cha Hae-In stopping a purse snatcher in episode 1, Solo Leveling’s animation leaves no room for complaints.
Its Powerful Musical Score By Hiroyuki Sawano
Music is a major element that can help elevate an anime to something greater than its source material. Music is such a powerful way to amplify a story’s themes and atmosphere, so it’s particularly exciting that Solo Leveling has Hioryuki Sawano responsible for the anime’s soundtrack. Sawano has a prolific anime career that includes the musical score for celebrated series like Kill la Kill, The Seven Deadly Sins,Promare, and Attack on Titan.
Sawano’s work on Solo Leveling perfectly taps into the series’ moody, suspenseful, and action-packed storytelling. Sawano is responsible for Solo Leveling‘s score, but he’s also to credit for the anime’s memorable opening theme song, “LEveL,” where he collaborates with TOMORROW X TOGETHER. “LEveL” immediately bombards audiences with the right power to get them ready for such a special anime series.
The Stunning Visuals & Animation From A-1 Pictures
It’s typically exciting when a popular manga or manhwa series receives an anime adaptation, but sometimes these productions are doomed before they even get started because of the particular animation production companies that are involved. Solo Leveling is fortunate to be produced by A-1 Pictures, who is one of the top names in the industry and has previously made waves with anime like Sword art Online, Fairy Tail,Blue Exorcist, and Lycoris Recoil. A-1 Pictures has the right level of talent and experience to do Solo Leveling’s story justice, rather than it going to a studio that’s spread too thin where delays are inevitable.
Solo Leveling‘s premiere is a testament to the show’s fluid visuals, despite how much of its first episode is immersed in a dark dungeon. A-1 Pictures recruits top talent for Solo Leveling, which includes Shunsuke Nakashige as its director, but also cinematography by Masataka Ikegami and art direction by Yasuhiro Okumura. This team is a sublime fit that properly captures the magic of Solo Leveling‘s manhwa and webtoon, but also elevates it to something greater through creative, inspired touches.
It’s A Good Gateway Into Manhwa & Webtoons
Anime, more often than not, adapts manga and light novels for story inspiration. However, there’s recently been a heavier push to give South Korean manhwa and webtoons a proper showcase. Crunchyroll has made impressive strides in this department through their anime adaptations of popular South Korean works like Tower of God and The God of High School. However, Solo Leveling‘s success has been on a whole other level and there’s been intense anticipation for its inevitable anime series.
Solo Leveling has amassed millions of readers before its anime went into production and the series is the perfect introduction to South Korean storytelling. A whole new medium can sometimes be daunting to explore, but Solo Leveling is an excellent example of what manhwa, web novels, and webtoons have to offer. The anime’s exceptional premiere provides a solid introduction to this world. Those who enjoy Solo Leveling will undoubtedly appreciate many other manhwa series now that they have a taste of what’s possible.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, “Solo Leveling” stands out as the best movie of 2024, captivating audiences with its compelling storyline and stunning visuals. As fans eagerly await future developments in Sung Jin-Woo’s epic journey, the movie continues to leave a lasting impression. For those looking to further immerse themselves in the world of “Solo Leveling,” merchandise from https://sololevelingmerch.com/ offers a perfect opportunity to bring the excitement of the series into their own lives. With a range of products inspired by the franchise, fans can continue to celebrate their love for “Solo Leveling” long after the credits roll.
