Solo Leveling Is the Most Important Anime of the Last 10 Years: Here’s Why

The last decade has seen anime evolve from a niche interest into a dominant force in pop culture. Many new titles have attracted broad audiences and have broken ground in turning anime into a global phenomenon, including the hit series Solo Leveling, with its 2024 debut quickly commanding attention and becoming one of the most talked-about modern anime titles.

The series’ popularity attracted both longtime anime fans and newcomers, standing out as a massive turning point for both anime and manhwa. Solo Leveling has achieved something that few other series do and its impact stretches far beyond popularizing interest in the growing medium, cementing its place as a historic anime.

Solo Leveling Gives Crunchyroll a Massive Boost

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Crunchyroll is currently the only streaming service with rights to Solo Leveling in North America, giving the platform a major boost in a market that has grown increasingly competitive. While the series’ domestic reception was solid but not groundbreaking, its international popularity has been nothing short of meteoric, with many turning to Crunchyroll to experience the popular series.

With other platforms such as Netflix doubling down on expanding its anime catalog and Disney beginning to make significant investments in anime, there has been no better time to secure a dominating title. Crunchyroll’s access to Solo Leveling grants it an edge, attracting both longtime anime fans and casual viewers who are interested in what the buzz has been about.

Solo Leveling’s success in North America has won the series Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year Award and stands out as the most-rated and most-viewed anime on the platform. This edge strengthens the platform’s library while also granting it the boost it needs against a growing sea of competitors.

Solo Leveling Made Manhwa Anime Mainstream

The success of Solo Leveling’s anime has further implications, particularly for manhwa adaptations. Previous titles like Tower of God and The God of High School have found success; however, much of that success came from established fan bases that followed the original material before eagerly awaiting its anime adaptation. Otherwise, both series struggled to reach viewers outside their existing audience.

Solo Leveling, on the other hand, drew in the massive audiences that followed the original web novel and manhwa while also attracting new viewers, including casual watchers. With its stunning animation and fast-paced action, the series stands out as accessible and thrilling, able to quickly draw viewers into Jinwoo’s world.

Its massive success broke down barriers and helped popularize manhwa, further solidifying the series’ place in anime history. Most impressively, the crowds Solo Leveling drew in have turned the title into a gateway, with many viewers sharing it was their first anime, possibly drawing in more newcomers to the medium than Demon Slayer’s Infinity Castle.

While Infinity Castle remains a historic anime feat, it caters to fans who have already watched the series, whereas Solo Leveling offers a fresh entry point, making it more accessible. With its breakout success, it wouldn’t be shocking to learn that the series has become a dominating entry point for countless anime fans around the world.

Release Date

2024 – 2025-00-00

Network

Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV

Directors

Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki

Writers

Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii

• Genta Nakamura

  Yoo Jin-ho