The second season ofSolo Levelingis likely to be one of the most anticipated anime adaptations to debut in the winter 2025 season. The anime is celebrated by its audience worldwide, which is why we want to take a look at the original work behind the successful adaptation. This gave the animation studio reason to release the anime in two different versions: a general one and one specifically for Japan.
The Origins of Solo Leveling
Solo leveling is originally asSouth Korean web novelfrom 2016 under the nameOnly I Level Upon the websiteKakaoPageappeared. The author Chugong is behind the work.
The web novel was so well received that almost two years later one appeared on the same pageWebtoon-Adaptionwas released called Solo Leveling, which was implemented by the late artist Dubu (Jang-Sung Rak).
The webnovel or webtoon is usually calledManhwacalled, the Korean term for comics.
So the origins of Solo Leveling are clearly South Korean,However, A-1 Pictures, a Japanese animation studio, is behind the anime adaptation, which is currently running.
The two versions of the Solo Leveling anime
The anime version that you probably watch or have seen is probably the general one. But there is a Japanese version (viaPrime Video), the names and locations of the manhwa are changed.
Name changes:The Japanese version changes some characters' names. This also includes protagonist Sung Jin-Woo, who becomes Shun Mizushino.
In anime adaptations of Korean works, it often happens that the names are translated into Japanese. This is also the case, for exampleTower of Godthe case. There, the name of protagonist Bam becomes Yoru instead. Both names translate to night.
Location adjustments:The Japanese version of Solo Leveling changes not only the names, but the entire setting to Japan. Seoul becomes Tokyo and Jin-Woo or Mizushino is Japanese.
Another notable change is that the Japanese version turns Japan, which is actually an enemy, into a fictional country in Solo Leveling.
Why the changes?
It is not uncommon for the names of a Korean work to be adapted for the Japanese anime adaptation. The change in the setting and the origin of the protagonist is more likely.
Difficult relationship between Japan and South Korea:Because an official statement from the animation studio A-1 Pictures is pending, we can only speculate. So we can understand the thought process that a Japanese adaptation changes anti-Japan content, especially considering the difficult relationship between South Korea and Japan to this day.
Japan occupied South Korea from 1910 until its defeat in World War II in 1945 and committed numerous (war) crimes during this time. Using the example of the so-calledComfort womenAs shown, the relationship between the two countries continues to boil over because not all of the crimes have been dealt with.
Back to Solo Leveling:There were Japanese fans who were negative about it when the anime adaptation was announcedexpressedhave. For example, it was questioned why a studio from Japan would adapt a work that had anti-Japan content.
However, there is no direct evidence that the decision for the two versions is really politically motivated. Nevertheless, it is not only exciting but also important to question the context when making decisions of this kind.
Did you know about the two anime versions of Solo Leveling and what do you think about them?
