Solo Leveling is a manhwa series written by Chugong and illustrated by Jang Sang-rak. The series was serialized in KakaoPage’s webtoon platform from March 25, 2018, to March 19, 2021, with its chapters collected and published into 14 volumes by D&C Media. The series has been licensed in North America by Yen Press.
An anime adaptation of the series produced by A-1 Pictures premiered on Crunchyroll on July 4, 2022.
Story
The story follows Sung Jin-woo, a weak and sickly hunter who is constantly ranked at the bottom of the E-rank, the lowest possible rank. One day, while hunting in a low-level dungeon, Jin-woo and his team are attacked by a powerful monster. Jin-woo is the only survivor, but he is left in a critical condition.
When Jin-woo wakes up, he finds himself in a hospital bed with a strange system in his head. The system tells Jin-woo that he has been given a second chance at life, and that he can now level up his strength and abilities by completing quests.
Jin-woo begins his journey to become the strongest hunter in the world, and he soon finds himself facing challenges that he never could have imagined.
Characters
- Sung Jin-woo: The main protagonist of the story. Jin-woo is a weak and sickly hunter who is constantly ranked at the bottom of the E-rank. However, after receiving a second chance at life, Jin-woo begins his journey to become the strongest hunter in the world.
- Sung Jin-ah: Jin-woo’s younger sister. Jin-ah is a kind and caring person who is always worried about her brother.
- Go Gun-hee: The president of the Hunter’s Association. Gun-hee is a powerful hunter who is always looking for ways to improve the Hunter’s Association.
- Cha Hae-in: A hunter who works for the Hunter’s Association. Hae-in is a skilled hunter who is always willing to help others.
Animation
The animation in Solo Leveling Episode 1 is good, but it is not great. The action scenes are well-choreographed, but the character animation is sometimes stiff. The backgrounds are also a bit bland.
Music
The music in Solo Leveling Episode 1 is good. The opening theme song, “Level Up,” is catchy and upbeat, and the ending theme song, “I’m the One,” is slow and emotional.
Overall
Solo Leveling Episode 1 is a good start to the anime series. The story is interesting, the characters are likable, and the animation and music are good. However, the animation is not great, and the backgrounds are a bit bland. Overall, Solo Leveling Episode 1 is a good episode that is sure to please fans of the manhwa series.
Score: 7/10
Here are some additional details about the episode:
- The episode is directed by Shunsuke Nakashige and written by Noboru Kimura.
- The episode is 24 minutes long.
- The episode is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
The episode is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
