Since its second season debuted this winter, Solo Leveling has consistently shattered records, achieving remarkable feats such as surpassing the legendary One Piece on the widely-used streaming platform, Crunchyroll. With its rising popularity and the current season nearing its finale, the series shows no signs of losing momentum. This phenomenon underscores the substantial impact Solo Leveling is having on the manga and anime landscape, drawing parallels to the influence of the iconic Dragon Ball franchise.
The influence of Solo Leveling extends far beyond merely establishing anime as a key entertainment medium; that groundwork was laid by Dragon Ball. Both share a common thread in that Dragon Ball elevated Shōnen Jump manga to unprecedented heights, while Solo Leveling is propelling the medium of manhwa and its anime adaptations into the limelight.
Solo Leveling: A New Era Comparable to Dragon Ball
Solo Leveling’s Influence Similar to Dragon Ball’s Impact on Shōnen Jump
While Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball may not excel in narrative depth or animation quality, it revolutionized the anime industry with its distinct energy and character transformations. Goku’s initial transition into a Super Saiyan remains one of the most memorable moments in the history of anime. Similarly, Solo Leveling is reshaping the manhwa sector, eliciting high anticipation for future anime adaptations among fans.
The impact of Solo Leveling was evident as its popularity surged, prompting other manhwa to emulate its themes, such as character progression through leveling up or overcoming adversity. This momentum gained a fresh boost when a recent report from a South Korean financial news outlet announced that LINE Manga is adapting 20 webtoons into anime, a direct influence of Solo Leveling’s triumph.
In this regard, it’s misleading to slot Solo Leveling alongside the current “Big Three.”The series stands in a realm distinctively high, much like Dragon Ball, which has always operated outside of typical rankings.
Why Solo Leveling’s Impact Mirrors That of Dragon Ball
The Driving Force Behind Their Success: Originality
Both Dragon Ball and Solo Leveling owe their immense popularity not just to compelling storylines, but to a shared key element: originality. The transformative journeys of characters have become a defining aspect of their narratives. Goku’s transformation into a Super Saiyan symbolizes growth and ambition—elements that have solidified Dragon Ball’s position in anime history.
Similarly, Solo Leveling has captured audiences through its focus on relentless self-improvement, resonating deeply with fans and inspiring them much like Goku’s iconic moments. This kinship between the two series allows them to transcend the boundaries of mere entertainment and ascend to the status of industry milestones.
Solo Leveling: A Catalyst for a New Subculture
A Surge of Similar Manhwas Inspired by Solo Leveling
The success of Solo Leveling fundamentally lies in its protagonist’s journey of solitary growth. Contrary to popular belief, the anime adaptation wasn’t the initial catalyst for its meteoric rise; instead, it was the offline adaptation of the light novel into a webtoon that ignited interest. This success has spawned numerous manhwa that echo its main themes, further establishing the significance of the title itself, especially the word “Solo.”
This new wave of literature includes titles such as Solo Glitch Player, I Log In Alone, The Lone Spellcaster, The Lone Necromancer, Leveling Up Alone, and Solo Eating to Overpowered, all echoing the essence of Solo Leveling. This burgeoning trend highlights Solo Leveling’s influence on the current landscape, drawing striking comparisons to the monumental impact Dragon Ball had at the height of its popularity.