A-1 Pictures will adapt Solo Leveling, a well-known Korean manhwa written by Chugong and illustrated by Dubu of Redice Studio, into an anime series in 2023, which will be streamed on Crunchyroll outside of Asia. The Crunchyroll industry panel at Anime Expo unveiled the first key image and English teaser video.
Synopsis of Solo Leveling reads: It’s been over a decade since the sudden appearance of the gates, the paths that connect our world with a different dimension. Since then, certain humans have awakened to supernatural powers. We call these individuals hunters. Hunters make their living by using their powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates. In this world of tough customers, the low-ranked hunter Jinwoo Sung is known as the weakest hunter of all mankind. One day, Jinwoo gets fatally injured when he runs into high-rank double dungeons hidden within a low-rank dungeon. Just then, a mysterious quest window appears in front of him. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to accept the quest and starts levelling up… while the others aren’t.
Original manhwa author Chugong said, “About six years ago when I was writing the very beginning of Solo Leveling, if someone had said to me, ‘The novel you wrote will become a comic,’ I bet I’d have told them to stop pulling my leg. But now, I’m told that it’ll be animated! Seriously, stop pulling my leg! But these days, I’m feeling excited and thrilled. Since I’m still half-doubting that this is real, I want to see Jinwoo and the other characters get animated soon and feel relieved. I’ll keep working diligently while looking forward to that day.”
“Solo Leveling is finally making its anime debut. It feels like only yesterday that we got the offer for the anime adaptation. I feel so overwhelmed when I think that the anime is really being created right now. This is all thanks to you fans who love and support Solo Leveling. I’m filled with gratitude. Thank you very much. Also, please support the animation production team. If this anime gives new enjoyment to the readers, I’ll be very happy,” added series illustrator Dubu.
Director Shunsuke Nakashige, head writer Noboru Kimura, character designer Tomoko Sudo, and music composer Hiroyuki Sawano make up the Solo Leveling production team.
