Solo Leveling Anime Is Great, But Is It Just Another Power Fantasy?

Power fantasy anime, if executed the right way, are always fun to watch. Popular anime like One Piece, Dragon Ball, Tokyo Ghoul, and Mob Psycho have managed to garner a large fan base, and they are the perfect example of overpowered MCs done right. Solo Leveling is yet another addition to the power fantasy genre.

There is no doubt that it has managed to become quite popular, thanks to its stunning art style and spectacular brawls. The anime adaptation of Solo Leveling manhwa has also gained a lot of popularity. But beneath all those vibrant action sequences and breathtaking animation, one can’t help but question if Solo Leveling is just another power fantasy with nothing more to offer.

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What Makes Power Fantasies So Popular

Is Action The Only Thing One Can Expect From This Genre?

Power fantasy anime often focuses on protagonists that start out weak but, through strong will and determination or sometimes, through an unexpected miracle, emerges as one of the strongest. From here on out, they are faced with just as strong enemies, and we get some crazy action-packed fight sequences.

Even though the basic idea of it sounds ridiculous, it’s definitely the kind of cliche genre that one just can’t get enough of. However, besides some crazy action sequences, viewers also expect a good storyline and gradual character development. This is why if a power fantasy lacks a good plot or good characters it feels completely hollow.

Characters like Son Goku from Dragon Ball Z, Kirito from Sword Art Online, and Saitama from One Punch Man are well-received due to the fact that not only are their fighting styles quite exciting to watch, but their personal growth is just as amazing. This brings us to the popular manhwa Solo Leveling, which also recently got its own anime adaptation.

It has all the characteristics of a power fantasy anime: a weak protagonist who suddenly gets extremely overpowered and fights demons and enemies that keep on getting stronger as he levels up. But what makes it so popular is perhaps the fact that while it does follow the generic formula of a power fantasy, it puts its own major twist to it which makes it stand out from the rest.

Sung Jinwoo And His Amazing Character Development

When Sung Jinwoo first starts out, he is one of the lowest-ranked hunters in South Korea. He is shown to be extremely weak to the point that many wonder why he joined such a dangerous profession in the first place. It is later revealed that in order to raise money to treat his sick mother and look after her younger sister, he is willing to risk his own life. It is not until he faces a life-threatening situation in a double dungeon that he is granted a special power.

As he becomes part of a mysterious system that allows him to level up just like a video game character, Sung Jinwoo manages to attain incomparable strength which soon makes him one of the strongest hunters in Korea. What sets him apart from other power fantasy shonen MCs is the fact that he actually went through rigorous training to prove he is worthy of the power the system gave him.

His will and determination to protect those around him and not hesitate to risk his life for others made him a beloved character in the eyes of fans. Many protagonists in power fantasy anime often have a lot of allies to help them out, but Jinwoo is strong enough to take down his enemies alone.

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More Than Just The Flashy Fights

At the heart of it, the lore of Solo Leveling is much deeper than you think. One of the biggest strengths of the anime is its extremely well-executed world-building. The idea of a power system that helps the player level up by completing certain objectives sounds like something straight out of a video game. Furthermore, Solo Leveling also introduces the idea of Gates, which acts as a sort of portal to dungeons filled with deadly monsters.

On the other hand, we have hunters to save the day, which are individuals blessed with powerful abilities. While the manhwa is filled with some jaw-dropping action sequences, the intricate plot and detailed narrative make the fights much more exciting. Very much like in video games, there is a ranking system as well where hunters can be anywhere from E rank to the most powerful S rank.

This ranking system is also used for the magical beasts and dungeons so that only hunters from their respective ranks take on a certain dungeon.

Unforgettable Supporting Characters

There are a ton of supporting characters that are introduced in the series. However, unlike other power fantasy anime where side characters are shown to be fairly weak, Solo Leveling has side characters that are considerably powerful. S-rank hunters like Baek Yoonho, Choi Jong In, and Cha Hae In are well-written side characters, each possessing unique abilities and personalities that make them unforgettable.

hether it’s Fire magic used by Choi Jong In or the incredible sword mastery Cha Hae In possesses, each character has a unique skill set. While Solo Leveling does not give these characters their own arcs, which might be a drawback, it still does a great job of maintaining their reputation and showcasing their battle skills.

Is Solo Leveling Just Another Power Fantasy?

There is no denying that Solo Leveling has all the characteristics of your average power fantasy. Sometimes, the fights that Jin-woo takes might feel a little predictable due to his being extremely overpowered. Also, it doesn’t do a good job of giving well-written side characters the spotlight they deserve.

However, it definitely stands out in the power fantasy genre due to its amazing art style, beautifully animated action sequences, and fast-paced storyline. If you are looking for an anime that follows the underdog to overpowered main character trope then Solo Leveling just might be the best recommendation ever. But it is also worth noting that it might not give unpredictable fights or deeper plot lines.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

Writers

Noboru Kimura

• 

  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

• 

  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)