•  Solo Leveling's rise to fame can be attributed to its timing and connection to other popular anime like Sword Art Online.
•  The dark shonen trio, including series like Jujutsu Kaisen, set the stage for Solo Leveling's dark, violent tone in the anime world.
•  Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer share visually stunning animation and themes centered around family bonds, adding to their success.

Solo Leveling as a franchise has been around for nearly a decade, but it's now truly become a phenomenon thanks to the anime adaptation. The series is easily the biggest new anime of the season, eclipsing pretty much anything else that's come out in the past few months. It certainly came out at just the right time, though it's easy to argue that it benefited from other shows laying the necessary groundwork.

Anime in general has seen a major boost in international popularity, with numerous battle shonen franchises pushing the medium like never before. These include the so-called "dark shonen trio," which are some of the biggest franchises in anime at the moment. Likewise, the impact of isekai can't be denied, and the show that arguably caused the current isekai boom also has a legacy through Solo Leveling.

Solo Leveling Is Very Similar to Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online and Solo Leveling Both Have Video Game Elements

Though its status as a true isekai anime is questionable, there's no denying that the current popularity of isekai and isekai-adjacent anime began with the success of Sword Art Online. That series involves characters being stuck in the world of an MMORPG, with heroes such as Kirito upgrading their powers and abilities like an actual video game. The main element that keeps some from seeing it as a true isekai is the fact that the heroes actually leave the game at one point, whereas most isekai involve someone actually dying and reincarnating into a new world that they never leave. The video game elements share a strong resemblance to the set-up in Solo Leveling.

After main character Sung Jinwoo undergoes a "Second Awakening," his powers as a Hunter are dramatically increased. Now interfacing with the esoteric System, he's able to upgrade his powers and abilities by completing tasks and gaining experience points. It's no different from a role-playing video game or the concepts seen in Sword Art Online. Thankfully, it goes a long way in terms of explaining why and how Jinwoo becomes stronger, avoiding a narrative trap of overpowered heroes prevalent in isekai stories. This makes him much more of an underdog compared to the likes of Kirito and other isekai heroes.

Sword Art Online

The series takes place in the 2020s and focuses on protagonists Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they play through various virtual reality MMORPG 

Created byReki Kawahara

First FilmSword Art Online The Movie

First TV ShowSword Art Online

First Episode Air DateJuly 8, 2012