As with any anime adaptation, “Solo Leveling” brings about a fair mix of anticipation and cynicism. This immensely popular Korean web novel, serialized in 2016, chronicles the transformation of Sung Jin-woo—from humanity’s “weakest weapon” to an unstoppable force after a near-fatal ordeal awakens his true potential. This timeless story of the little guy’s unexpected climb to the top has enchanted Americans and people across the globe. Its transformation into an anime series has made it the most-viewed series ever on Crunchyroll, an anime streaming service popular with audiences outside of Asia.
Set in a world where humanity’s survival hinges on “hunters” and various mystical gates, “Solo Leveling” intricately weaves themes of perseverance, growth, and adventure. The hero is particularly distinctive… and not just for his crazy good looks. That ability makes him stronger only in a world filled with those incredibly powerful enemies. It is the recently announced live-action remake by Netflix that’s really causing a stir. Although many celebrate its success, some are ambivalent about it.
The live-action adaptation has drawn a wave of skepticism, with many fans speculating that it may deliver a “half-baked story” lacking key plot points that made the original compelling. Fans are speaking out – here’s why this is important. They dread that the adaptation will be a pale shadow of the source material that they cherish.
Geoff Thew, longtime and experienced anime reviewer and one of Found in Adaptation’s inspirations, shared his wisdom. He discussed the difficulties of adapting animated sequences into live action. He’s a big admirer of the original anime’s visual spectacle. While he is excited by the news, he is skeptical that it can all fit together in a live-action production.
“Things that work, dramatically and aesthetically, in the heightened reality of animation don’t always translate to live action.” – Geoff Thew
He added that all of these really iconic moments are a little lost in the translation into other mediums. It’s important for those moments to remain discernible to the viewer.
The popularity of “Solo Leveling” has absolutely skyrocketed since hitting the anime airwaves. The show’s engaging narrative and dynamic fight sequences have even unseated established fan favorites like “Demon Slayer” and “One Piece.” Industry analysts forecast high-speed growth for the anime market, now worth about $34 billion. They think it could exceed $60 billion by 2030!
Supporters of the live-action remake, such as director Archie Moyo, feel this adaptation presents a wonderful opportunity. It has the potential to introduce the “Solo Leveling” world to many new followers. Moyo acknowledges that while some Hollywood casting choices may lose cultural nuances critical to the story’s backbone, the adaptation can still maintain much of the original’s core elements.
“It is a good way to maintain most of the core of the story – some of the Hollywood casting leads to the loss of small cultural or story nuances, and these are sometimes the backbone of the story.” – Archie Moyo
Emerald King, an anime adaptation commentator, warned of the dangers of doing too much reverence to the original material. He fears that the approach could produce harmful results. One major pitfall he warned against was the exoticization of elements or ideas, which might create a barrier with the audience.
“You can go too far in trying to be respectful and end up exoticising it.” – Emerald King
Moyo shares in the worries about cultural fidelity, he’s excited by what the live-action version could do to reach a more diverse and widespread audience.
“I’m excited about the live-action because it will introduce a lot more people to the Solo Leveling world.” – Archie Moyo
While excitement grows as the release approaches, fans are still far from agreeing on what to look for. Many hope that if the live-action adaptation showcases thrilling fight scenes and allows Sung Jin-woo moments to shine, it might win over skeptical viewers.
“The overall tone of the series is comparable to a darker superhero movie. If the fights are cool and Sung Jin-woo gets a few chances to be a badass each episode, fans likely won’t complain too much.” – Geoff Thew
The arguments over “Solo Leveling” serve as a microcosm of all adaptation debates. Anime looks very different today than it once did.
“Watching anime used to be like ‘for weirdos’ when I was younger,” she noted. “It’s more common and cool, so some people that used to make fun of me now watch it themselves!” – Parisa Haghighat
The audience all sits at the edges of their seats waiting for any new information on Netflix’s adaptation. At the same time, “Solo Leveling” has already proved to be a dominating force in the anime and live-action categories. The contrast of deep fan appreciation married with frank skepticism sets the stage for a complex discussion surrounding cultural appropriation and representations in adaptations.