When Solo Leveling first made its digital manga debut in the summer of 2016 it quickly became a huge hit. So much so that a few months later it was available in print, and by 2018 it was serialized as a webtoon. It was only a matter of time for a streamer like Crunchyroll to announce an anime adaptation, and it quickly became one of the most anticipated new series for 2024. Solo Leveling‘s premiere is upon us, and thankfully it doesn’t disappoint. Fans of the original story should find themselves drawn in by the stunning animation.

Solo Leveling takes place in a world where deadly monsters have broken through into reality. A group of human warriors who possess various supernatural abilities hunt them down to keep the world safe, while making a little money on the side. Sung Jinwoo is the weakest among the hunters. He fights simply to earn enough money to pay for his mother’s medical bills and put his sister through school. The other look down upon Jinwoo, but all that is about to change after a mission goes south and enemies almost kill his entire party.

The animation of Solo Leveling is top of the line. It’s beautiful, with crisp lines and sharp colours. There’s so much detail that it pulls you in immediately. Anime fans will also love the sakuga moments which really sharpen the action. Keep in mind, Solo Leveling is pretty violent, and at times the scenes get more than a little gory. When it comes to story telling, the pacing is a little slow at times, with cut scenes interrupting the flow of action.

The story itself isn’t anything new either. It’s basically the story of a loser with a heart of gold who suddenly is deemed the chosen one and is made to be more powerful than everyone else. Of course fans of the manga will already know this, so it shouldn’t be an issue. You also get a strong sense that that action will pick up as the story goes on as well.

Crunchyroll is sure to have a huge hit on their hands with Solo Leveling. The first two episodes start the series on the right foot, and give viewers something to look forward to. While it may seem to be predictable in the basic story arch, you get a strong feeling that some surprises are in store as it goes along. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here. The best thing is, even if you haven’t read the manga, Solo Leveling is still enjoyable to watch. Many series leave you feeling lost without having read the source material. Those who have read it on the other hand may find more things to nitpick about.

Solo Leveling premieres this Saturday, January 6th, on Crunchyroll.