Solo Leveling Episode 1 Review: A Fantastic Start With Great Animation

Finally, the much-awaited anime version of the webtoon is here, and it is as good as everyone expected it to be. Read ahead to find out more. 

Solo Leveling Episode 1 Overview

Solo Leveling, also known as Only I Level Up or Ore dake Level Up na Ken (俺だけレベルアップな件), is a South Korean web novel written by Chugong. It started on KakaoPage on July 25, 2016, and was later fully published by D&C Media on November 4, 2016. The English version is licensed by Yen Press.

The story was turned into a webtoon on March 4, 2018, illustrated by Jang Sung-rak. The first season of the webtoon ended on March 19, 2020, and the second season ran from August 1, 2020, to December 2021. D&C Media has published seven volumes of collected chapters as of February 2023.

An anime TV series produced by A-1 Pictures is premiering soon in January 2024. Additionally, there’s a Korean drama adaptation in the works, and a spinoff webtoon called Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is scheduled to come out in 2024.

I have tried my best to keep the review as spoiler-free as possible, but there are certain elements that I had to mention to give proper feedback.

– Minor Spoilers –

Solo Leveling Episode 1 Review and Recap: A Dungeon of Death

With Solo Leveling being such an anticipated anime, the studios had to get the adaptation right, and they did just that. The episode opens by giving us a taste of just how dangerous the world has become with the sudden introduction of monsters that love to tear humans into shreds. Apparently, one day, many mysterious portals popped up that led to a different dimension. 

In these supernatural realms reside monsters that no ordinary human weapon can defeat. Only a handful of humans who somehow acquired superhuman abilities can keep these monsters at bay. And so emerged a group of Hunters, who got divided into S to E ranks based on their abilities. Our hero, Jinwoo, happens to be from E rank, the lowest and thus being the weakest of all.   

First, let’s talk about the animation because that’s what impressed me the most. Though we can not compare it to big organizations like Mappa or Ufotable, A-1 Pictures does a pretty great job portraying the high-octane fight scenes the webtoon is famous for. Even the background music is hype, as it was composed by the famous Hiroyuki Sawano, who also developed music for Attack on Titan.

But the best part is definitely the storytelling of the anime. The manhwa goes on a linear flow, whereas the anime introduces many important characters while also following Jin-woo’s dungeon exploration. Sadly, that exploration goes on a wild ride, and you will know just how unlucky he becomes in the seemingly very easy D-rank dungeon when you watch the episode. 

The only bad thing that I might have to say about this episode is how criminally, short it felt. The episode ended before things turned out really bad for not just Jinwoo, but his entire party. Now, we will have to wait an entire week before witnessing the carnage unfold. 

Also Read: Solo Leveling Season 2 Reviews

Also Read: A Sign of Affection Episode 1 Review: Yuki and Itsuomi’s Heartwarming Journey into Blossoming Romance

Verdict 

I absolutely loved the first episode and honestly can not wait to see the next episode. The major turning point in Jinwoo’s life and the anime will happen with the upcoming episode, and finally, we will see our hero leveling up. 

If you have read the webtoon, watch his anime ASAP, as you can now see the actions in motion. And if you are amongst the few who have no idea about the source material, watch this right now. Believe me, you will not regret your choice. 

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