WhenSolo Levelingpremiered in early 2024, expectations were sky-high. Based on the popular webtoon, the anime soared to thetop of Crunchyroll’s chartsand fueled discussion across social media. Viewers praised its slick animation, stylish world, and complex underdog hero Sung Jin-Woo. But behind the sleek visuals and breakout success was a production team grappling with intense pressure.
In aJapanese interview, director Shunsuke Nakashige admitted that leadingSolo LevelingSeason 1 nearly overwhelmed him. It was only his second time directing a full series. “At first, I thought, ‘This is too much action for someone still new,’” he said. And while the response was largely positive, there was backlash too: some of it more intense than expected.
Adapting a Cinematic Style Brought Major Risks
Episode 8 Was a Turning Point for the Production Team
According to Nakashige, one major gamble was avoiding traditional anime visuals. “This work felt like it needed high-end production values,” he said. “So I deliberately used more live-action framing, color grading, and post-processing.” The result was immersive, but also polarizing.Some fans were taken aback by the shift in tone and pacing, resulting in divided reactions during the first episodes.
Despite the challenges, Nakashige pointed to Episode #8 as a personal highlight. “I wrote the script for that one myself,” he shared. “It was also the first time our ending director, Josou Oshiro, directed a full TV episode.” Focused more on emotional nuance than action, the episode’s style stood apart. “Oshiro brought out a very human, humid texture,” he added. “It was deeply satisfying.”
Casting Sung Jin-Woo Was a High-Stakes Decision
Creative Collaboration Helped Calm the Storm
The most scrutinized choice came with casting Sung Jin-Woo. Taito Ban was chosen for his ability to portray both theE-Rank and S-Rank hunter versions of the character. “His voice after Jin-Woo’s transformation fit my image perfectly,” Nakashige said. But some fans questioned the contrast. “He brought subtlety that let both sides of the character feel like the same person."
Ban didn’t just deliver on performance. He also contributed creative ideas that shaped the final product. “The monologue after Jin-Woo’s first kill in Episode 6 was his suggestion,” Nakashige revealed. “He even asked about lines that differed from the manga.” Despite criticism early on, the cast and crew leaned on each other to move forward.
Too Many Action Scenes Pushed the Team to Their Limits
Season Three Will Need to Balance Pressure and Passion
While fans praised the fight choreography, the sheer amount of action wore down the production team. “Episode 4 had four major fight scenes in just 21 minutes,” Nakashige explained. “Almost every other episode was action-heavy.” The team rotated the animators constantly to keep up. “I can’t thank the action animators enough for holding it all together,” he said.
AsSolo Levelingheads into Season 3, the stakes are higher than ever. The anime’s success has brought global attention, but also sharp criticism. Whether the team can keep pushing boundaries while staying true to the source material remains to be seen. As Nakashige put it, “We poured everything into each episode. I just hope fans watch it more than once.”
Solo Leveling
Cast
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jin-woo, the world’s weakest hunter, who gains extraordinary powers through a mysterious program after surviving a brutal monster attack. As he navigates his newfound abilities, Jinwoo embarks on a quest to uncover the secrets of his powers and the dungeon that altered his fate.
