Solo Leveling Episode 1 Discussion
Usually, when I discuss an anime I go into it blind but like so many of you I have read the manhwa. There will be no major spoilers in this discussion although I will mention some of the changes the anime has made and certain minor details about the characters like their rank the anime may not have mentioned. Hopefully, we can have a discussion that will be interesting for the noobs and veterans of Solo Leveling You can respond to anything you find interesting in the comments and I will get back to you.
Attention Anime Only Readers
Even though many of us are coming from the manhwa some are going into this bling and probably thinking what's the hype. To those people I understand but I will tell you to give it 2-5 episodes and if the anime does it justice your concerns will be alleviated.
Artistic Integrity
My first concern going into episode 1 was the animation quality for anyone familiar with the manhwa one of Solo Leveling's high points in the manhwa is the artistic design the visuals are spectacular. So far I am pleased with the animation quality, it's not at the Fate series level but it's good. Is anyone disappointed?
My Concern With The Changes
There are a lot of changes made which is surprising but welcome. However, they seem unnecessary to the plot when compared to the manhwa at the same point. We will see how they affect the way things play out.
I think the animators are more than aware of how popular the manhwa is and are giving something new to the readers. I do have slight pacing concerns but not for the reasons you may think. I worry they are trying to extend the length of each episode with added scenes because they are trying to milk a small number of chapters for all they are worth. I have checked the episode count it would appear the most likely episode count is just twelve episodes.
If anyone knows please correct me if I am wrong I would love at least 25.
Who Would Become A Hunter
Cha hae-in's introduction seems forced she just happens to be there to stop a robbery. The flip side is we get to see what kind of a person she is. She chose to help that person when there was no profit and only unwanted attention. In the solo levelling world in which hunters are the world's super and economic power will they all act virtuously.
As the first episode mentioned hunters cannot get stronger so what motivates them, we know money is a major one as the hunter with a second child stated. But what about others in the meeting, we heard that you do not have to become a hunter just because you are awakened. If it is not money like with Sung Jinwoo what type of characters would be attracted to the life and perks of being a hunter? Those who can become hunters are random you have to ask if are they all law-abiding denizens of the earth are they sane?
Side note I learned the word denizens from a solo leveling chapter so now seemed an appropriate time to use it.
Early S Rank Introductions And Apocalypse
In the manhwa, we do not see the red ants and S ranks in action for a while. The revealing of a certain hunter's beast mode was premature in my opinion. In the manhwa, we know he has that side to him but we don't get to see it for a while.
Interestingly we got a contrast between the power ceiling we never got in the manhwa. Sung Jinwoo is weak compared to every other hunter this was made clear in the episode and Manhwa. In the anime however, we get to see an S-rank fire user and healer contrasted against a B-rank healer and C-rank fire user. The differences in strength, fame and money are glaring sung Jinwoo is struggling to get by. If you were strong enough to make a lot of money would you continue going into dungeons when you already had enough money for several lifetimes?
The apocalypse line from the 90s X men TAS springs to mind called a mutant. "I am as far beyond Mutants as they are beyond you."
To All Concerned All
Now one thing I think was portrayed better is the brutality of the violence. There is a moment where an ant steps on a hunter's hand that is close to his sword. This could be indicative of the ant's intelligence, it could be smart enough to know what the hunter may go for they even added a sound effect for full effect. They want the watcher to be aware of these dungeon creature's intelligence.
To the Anime newbies will you stick with more episodes?
To the mahwa viewers did there anything you preferred in episode 1 compared to its counterpart?
Discuss In The Comments Below And I Will Reply