Understanding the appeal of custom alignment

Summary

  • The success of Solo Leveling is due to the bright art, exciting fights and impressive sound design.

  • The main character, Song Jinwoo, is relatable due to financial hardship, but lacks depth of motivation.

  • The series' popularity is a testament to its aesthetic, not its writing; a fun power fantasy.

Name

Solo Leveling: Rise from the shadows

director

Shunsuke Nakashige

Studio

A-1 Pictures

Premiere date

05.01.2025

Alignment of the solo has become one of the most popular and talked about anime since its first season premiered last year – a buzz that has reignited with the launch of the sequel this month. Still, for those who tuned in to the exhibition to see what all the fuss was about, the magnitude of its perception compared to the story itself might leave one wondering, “Why this TV series?”

Author Chugon's original novel was apparently a phenomenon even before official translations appeared, and the subsequent webtoon adaptation only added to its popularity. Without even a hint of its history, a work of art Alignment of the solo was all over the web and language was no barrier to the way his designs and colors spoke to his audience.

Relatives

Season 2 of Solo Leveling premieres in English on January 18

Cast members from the first season reprise their roles in Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-.

(No) Just another power fantasy?

Jinwoo's Past Bleds Out at the Dinner Table – Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- ED

From the very beginning, the logline of Alignment of the solo can be his worst enemy or his greatest asset depending on his familiarity with similar stories. In a world where a gate has been opened through which monsters can wreak havoc, a select number of people have awakened powers capable of fighting such monsters. These “Hunters” enter the gates as they open to clear these gaming dungeons and close the gates before their horrors become reality.

Enter Seong Jinwoo, an E-rank hunter and considered one of the worst to date, but with bills and a family relying on him, he continues despite his weakness. When a supposedly low-level dungeon reveals a deadly secret, his group suffers many casualties and he is left for dead, but he wakes up in the hospital, alive and well, albeit with a twist. Suddenly, he sees a heads-up display that no one else can see, almost like a game menu; a game that allows him to level up.

MMO Fantasy Isekai (but not quite)

Love it or hate it, isekai is an extremely popular genre whose appeal is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and has reached critical mass in the modern anime industry. In case you somehow missed it, this refers to stories in which a character is reborn or otherwise transported to another world, usually after they've already died. Related to the isekai craze is the MMORPG anime, which has many similar tropes and plot devices.

Sword Art Online is perhaps the most popular example along with counterparts such as Log Horizon or .hack//Signin which the main characters are trapped in video games. Some Isekai even eschew the gameplay element entirely, but retain the gameplay mechanics given solely to the protagonists, as in Rise of the Hero Shield. Then there is Alignment of the solowhich is like the main character got an isekai rebirth and MMO mechanics but stayed in his original world.

Where Solo Leveling Stands in the Hierarchy

Song Jin-woo of Solo Leveling watches from a distance

Song Jin-woo completes daily quests in which failure is severely punished, but the rewards for completion transform him into a new man. He becomes stronger and more attractive, but most of all, he slowly unlocks the power he needs to be the Hunter he never could be. Time passes and he even has a chance to get a cure for his mother's mysterious illness if he is strong enough to deserve it.

Separated from the saturation of its genre counterparts, it's a seductive power fantasy, but that separation is easier said than done. A sense of familiarity with Alignment of the solo that's what creates confusion about its success among detractors, and it's not as if the series is performing any better. The earliest episodes are the slowest, with the writing having to balance exposition and drive to get the viewer interested in Jin.

The weakest links in history

jinwoo's sword alignment solo

Song Jinwoo is nice and easy, but not the easiest loveunless you're only here for the eye candy, which he definitely posts after opening. In terms of motivation, the best means by which this story endears him to the audience is through his financial struggles, which is especially true for today's youth entering adulthood during difficult times. Honestly, between the guild politics and the emphasis on financial gain in the dialogue, it seems to be at the center Alignment of the solo's subtext.

However, while his family's support is motivation enough, the story rarely takes heart in expressing it. Jinu's ascension is revealed only through his desire for power, but is only occasionally (and quietly) contextualized by the complexities of his heart. So – as likable as he is – he's not the most convincing of hosts. With a thread like this, the rest of the world around him and most of the supporting cast feel like scenery (at least until the end of Season 1).

What Solo Leveling does right

Individual level S2 E3

Trying to understand the massive success of this series can leave you scratching your head, but just ask a fan why they I like it that, and the answer will rarely be. If what drew many to Manhwa was the sheer power of its artwork, then despite the​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​upon on its script, the presentation is all that it needs to succeed. The fights are well animated and only got better as Season 1 went on, especially the fight against Igris.

The sound design was even more commendable, accenting every clash of swords, magic spell and splatter of blood, the guts of which were impressive without feeling outrageous. This series is definitely edgy, but it's nice and not too obnoxious in a way that leaves the smaller stories feeling like they're trying too hard. Also, with Hiroyuki Sawana's score, Alignment of the solo practically uses a cheat code to give his greatest moments the foundation they need for fun.

Understanding Success solo alignment

For all the above reasons, I think so Alignment of the solo it's just normal. It's a neat show; a strong 5 to a light 6, and the biggest mistake I made when I first watched it was thinking it had to be more than that to understand its success. Let me illustrate the story. Last month I reviewed The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim and I was probably kinder to this movie than even many of the positive reviews. In it, regarding the main character, Hera, I wrote the following:

If the aesthetic is the narrative; if images can speak to us like words, then Hera's aesthetic powers carry a profound depth.

Alignment of the solo is not a masterfully written story – as even its hardcore fans will agree, but its aesthetic merits cannot be understated. His success gives him the air of an industrial factory, but his artistry is no invention. Song Jin's power fantasy may seem one-note and the appeal may fade with subsequent seasons, but the execution, especially in the excellent English dub – with the likes of Alex Le as Jin – buoys the narrative.

The context of success

Many factors go into whether or not Solo Leveling is an engaging story, and a good part of it probably has to do with familiarity with Korean webcomics. After speaking with Manwha fans, it's clear that film adaptations of such works don't have the best track record. High School God and Nobility never took off. God's tower has recently lost a little favor, and any hope for Lookism Season 2 is going faster every day.

In this context, Alignment of the solo is worth celebrating not only for its own sake, but also because of its possible significance for future Manhwa adaptations. But even without that context, I appreciate this anime more than I ever thought I would – not because I decided it deserved its staggering popularity, but rather because it never needed to. It's a fun and very well made show that capitalizes on the appeal of a main character who goes from zero to hero and then beyond.

Alignment of the solo is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

more

Crunchyroll presents the Solo Leveling clothing line

Sung Jinwoo voice actor Alex Le modeled the brand new Solo Leveling clothing line, which is now available on the Crunchyroll Store.

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