00:00Solo leveling, based on the hit South Korean man-wa, arrived in January 2024 to huge anticipation.
00:08However, fans were quick to point out flaws.
00:11The anime's recap episode 7.5 set a record for dislikes on Crunchyroll.
00:16With more than 64,500 dislikes, doubling the likes around 30,600 on that platform,
00:24the audience showed its immediate dissatisfaction.
00:27This reaction set the tone for the series.
00:30What looked like another global phenomenon turned into a public problem.
00:35From the outset, it was clear that production was racing against the clock.
00:39Studio A won pictures limited itself to 12 episodes.
00:43And after the celebrated episode 7, considered by many to be the best so far,
00:48it immediately released a recap episode, 7.5, that most viewers found unnecessary and annoying.
00:55Many fans speculated, as with other A1 pictures series, that this indicated production problems, delays, or lack of material.
01:05Paradoxically, solo leveling exists thanks to Crunchyroll.
01:09CEO Rahul Purini revealed that it was his team that presented the original man-wa to Aniplex in Japan and co-produced the series.
01:17In other words, Crunchyroll pushed for the adaptation.
01:21But the artistic result was marked by scheduling difficulties.
01:24The audience was quick to express their frustration.
01:28In summary, episode 7.5, considered filler, generated an avalanche of discontent.
01:35Social media was flooded with complaints about the interrupted pace and the feeling that the story was moving too fast.
01:42Several specific criticisms have been mentioned by fans and the media.
01:46Predictable plot and exaggerated protagonist.
01:49Several viewers point out that the narrative is simple and shallow, with a protagonist, Sung Jin-woo, who becomes too powerful too soon.
01:59For example, it was commented that Jin-woo practically reaches a final level almost effortlessly, a kind of Mary Sue in the style of Ichigo Kurosaki.
02:09The feeling is that the most dramatic scenes do not represent a real challenge for him, which sacrifices some of the excitement of the anime.
02:17Fast piece.
02:18The speed of the animation makes many fights and progressions seem rushed, reducing the tension.
02:24Having to release 12 episodes in a short period of time led to the inclusion of a recap episode, which many interpreted as an unnecessary distraction.
02:34Taken together, these factors made the overall pace feel uneven, softened violence, and censorship.
02:41Those who had read the original manhwa criticized the anime for toning down the brutality of key scenes.
02:49Battles that were intense or bloody in the webtoon were censored or made less impactful.
02:55This toning down of the violence disappointed fans who expected an adaptation faithful to the rawness of the original source.
03:03Cultural and animation aspects.
03:06The adaptation changed the cultural background.
03:09For example, it moved the setting from Korea to Japan and removed several elements specific to the original culture, which irritated both Korean fans and purists.
03:20Likewise, the graphic quality was inconsistent.
03:23Excessive use of CGI was noted in some fights, which resulted in less fluid animation than traditional animation.
03:30These minor technical and setting details added to the general unease.
03:36Another point of criticism is the comparison with the manhwa.
03:40Many readers noticed that the animated version introduced subtle narrative changes, relocated scenes, altered or deleted dialogue, and even reorganized plot elements.
03:51One article points out that the anime has introduced several changes to Sung Jinwa's story, but only readers of the manhwa have noticed.
03:59In other words, the general public may not notice these alterations, but the original fans do, and they are bothered by them.
04:07Specifically, in addition to the aforementioned softening of the violence, important mechanics of the manhwa, such as the level system and the system interface that favors Jinwoo, were simplified.
04:19The removal of these details detracts from the depth of the game world that made the manhwa famous.
04:25In short, the adaptation was rated by many as too short or cut down compared to the source material.
04:32It lacked the intensity and complexity of the original.
04:35It is ironic that Crunchyroll, which co-produces the series, is now suffering from this bad press.
04:41The U.S. company spearheaded the project and promoted the anime globally.
04:47However, the platform also serves as a barometer.
04:51Having the most votes on its site highlights the community's discontent.
04:54Even so, the company chose to downplay the issue publicly, with producers claiming that this spike in dislikes will not harm the series in the long term.
05:03According to the same note from Somos Kadasai, the series will not really be negatively affected, at least for now.
05:10But for viewers, the damage to its reputation has already been done.
05:15The double standard Crunchyroll says that the anime exists thanks to them, while the public rejects it, has made solo leveling seen as an emblematic case of a failed adaptation.
05:26Taken together, these factors explain why many consider this animated adaptation an initial failure.
05:32The negative audience ratings on Crunchyroll are tangible proof of its rejection.
05:38Added to this are harsh criticisms of the narrative and production.
05:42An overly strong protagonist, rushed plots, omitted elements from the manhwa, and changes that upset the fanbase.
05:50All of this tarnishes the project.
05:52Solo leveling technically manages to release seasons and maintain popularity, for example, in anime awards.
05:59But the audience's trust has been eroded.
06:02Ironically, despite the global phenomenon that was the manhwa, its animated adaptation will be remembered more for its weaknesses and controversies than for its virtues.
06:12And a rejection figures on Crunchyroll attest to this.
06:15A
06:34a
06:39a
