The Solo Leveling anime's success is undeniable, but some of its changes from the manhwa source material are questionable and detract from the overall quality, proving that even excellent adaptations aren't perfect.
The Solo Leveling anime humanizes Sung Jinwoo, making him more relatable but less of an anti-hero than his manhwa counterpart. While adding depth, this change tones down his darker side, sacrificing some of the original character's edge.
The Solo Leveling anime, while visually impressive, sacrifices the manhwa's comedic chibi-style expressions for a more consistent, realistic style. This toning down of exaggerated expressions diminishes the humor, particularly concerning the Shadow Soldiers, though humor isn't entirely absent.
Solo Leveling's world-building includes political and international conflicts, particularly concerning South Korea. The anime, however, downplays these national identities and specific locations compared to the manhwa, potentially weakening impactful arcs like the Jeju Island Raid.
The Solo Leveling anime struggles with adapting the manhwa's comedy. While some funny scenes remain, many memorable comedic moments, especially those involving the Shadow Army, are cut for pacing, sacrificing characterization and some of the series' fun essence.
The Solo Leveling anime, while cutting comedic scenes for pacing, ironically adds unnecessary ones. While some additions, like expanded roles for supporting characters, are positive, others, like Choi Jongin's intervention, disrupt the flow and offer little substance, proving a mixed bag.
The Solo Leveling anime reduces the System's visual prominence compared to the manhwa. While the System's pop-up windows are effective in the manhwa, they disrupt the flow of animation, making this a necessary but less impactful change.
The Solo Leveling anime, despite adding scenes, also removes some characters, both human and monster, often minor ones. Some omissions, like the Yeti encounter and Yoo Soohyun's initial appearance, are more noticeable, impacting the narrative.
The Solo Leveling anime expands Cha Haein's role, which is positive. However, some added scenes, while emphasizing her strength, also resort to unnecessary fan service, objectifying her more than the manhwa, which is a disservice to her character.
The Solo Leveling anime boasts top-tier animation and fight sequences. However, the manhwa's art style, with its mature aesthetic and impactful visuals, holds a unique quality that even the anime's excellent animation can't fully replicate.
The Solo Leveling anime cuts some manhwa scenes, some inconsequential, others, like Yoo Suhyun's introduction, more significant. While understandable for pacing, these omissions remove memorable moments and world-building details, though the anime adds its own character development.