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Solo Leveling's Success Is Creating a Very Dangerous Stereotype That Anime Can't Fight

Published

3 days ago

6th July 2025

After winning Crunchyroll’s 2025 anime of the year award, Solo Leveling has undoubtedly found immense success as a rising star. When taking a closer look at the star-studded series, I discovered the trendsetting potential Solo Leveling has on mainstream anime tropes, and it’s unsettling.

Solo Leveling posters depict deficient archetypes; archetypes involving emotionally detached, hyper-efficient, overpowered male protagonists who solve conflict with minimal effort and scarce interpersonal depth. While this concept isn’t foreign to anime, Solo Leveling’s immense success is a prime catalyst to reignite the trope.

The worrying consequence of this development is that it can compromise the quality of anime, drawing creators away from the truly impactful aspects of the medium, such as seasoned characterization, immersive worldbuilding, and emotional appeals.

The Overpowered, Emotionally Distant Hero Trope Is Rising In Anime

Championed By Sung Jin-Woo, Solo Leveling Gives Rise To A Whole New Stereotype

Solo Leveling isn’t the pioneer of the overpowered and emotionally distant hero trope; however, the series’ widespread acclaim is enough validation that the trope has the potential to grow. Over the years, anime has seen a fair share of overpowered characters that add different spice to the narrative.

However, what separates Sung Jin-Woo from the bunch is the flair with which he makes short work of his enemies. He confronts rivals with infectious confidence and little to no personal conflict. In Solo Leveling, self-doubt doesn’t exist, and there’s no emotional tide to ride. It’s a simple, straightforward path to victory, and his ability to face powerful opponents is not questioned.

Compared to Sung Jin-Woo, well-known characters like Naruto and Luffy are celebrated not just for their strength but for their emotional scars. Sung Jin-Woo, on the other hand, isn’t a character held back by warmth or friendship.

Sung Jinwoo and Saitama Solo Leveling and One Punch Man

I Just Realized the Solo Leveling Anime Is Doing What One-Punch Man Never Could

One Punch Man and Solo Leveling are two of the best anime series of the past years, but Solo Leveling is going somewhere even One Punch Man couldn’t.

The series has a very shallow take on his alliances, and Sung Jin-woo’s relationship with Yoo Jinho embodies this point. Even though Sung Jin-woo is the brawn of the team, Yoo Jinho is sidelined in their interactions, rarely appealing to Sung Jin-woo’s emotional side or eliciting a friendship worth envying.

In Solo Leveling, self-doubt doesn’t exist, and there’s no emotional tide to ride.

Admittedly, the overpowered hero archetype can be an enjoyable spectacle. Having a character who cannot know loss, is never emotionally rattled, and always matches his adversaries is thrilling to watch.

Viewers know such a character cannot lose, so the focal point of entertainment is on how they win; how effortlessly they come out on top, leaving out the concept of thrill that is awakened by an unpredictable battle.

With Power Over Personality, Character Depth Becomes Optional

Characters Like Escanor And Sung Jin-Woo Show That Overwhelming Power Can Sometimes Matter More Than Character Depth

Character depth and development are key ingredients that determine the trajectory of shows toward greatness. Emotionally charged and relatable moments often embody scenes of vulnerability that allow viewers to deeply connect with characters. Undoubtedly, such moments are resonating; however, compared to flamboyant battles, they may be less entertaining.

Solo Leveling championing in Crunchyroll’s 2025 Anime of the Year Awards shows that the tide might be changing. Aside from Sung Jin-Woo, characters like Escanor (7 Deadly Sins), Gojo Satoru (Jujutsu Kaisen), Shanks (One Piece), and Anos Voldigoad (The Misfit of Demon King Academy) are thriving proofs that fans gravitate towards enigmatic characters with shallow emotional connections and overpowering abilities.

Essentially, aura + ability = a great following. This shallow take on characterization is worrying when one considers the future evolution of anime. With overpowered characters, character depth becomes optional. They may contribute to the overall narrative of their respective series, even though their characterization leaves much to be desired.

Emotionally charged and relatable moments often embody scenes of vulnerability that allow viewers to deeply connect with characters.

In summary, they simply need to be strong enough to have a say in their universe. Weirdly, this widely-received narrative is a fascinating front that hides underlying problems.

solo leveling season 2 episode 9 sung jinwoo in front of his mother and sister

Does Solo Leveling Boil Down to Hype Battles and Aura? Don’t Insult the Anime Like That

Solo Leveling is much more than just aura farming and hype battles, it is a meaningful story that is a lot deeper than many fans think.

The definition of what makes a great character in an entertaining show is broadening. People are undoubtedly drawn to dominant characters, finding satisfaction in their absolute strength and how they take control of their lives.

Moreover, when a character’s power is so great that their internal struggles feel secondary or nonexistent, it allows the show to focus on external conflict and rapid progression of the series. But, is that really the best approach creators should take?

Effortless Dominance In Storytelling Means That Characters Won’t Face Genuine Struggle

Unearned Power-Ups Are Sidetracking Character Growth, But At What Cost?

jinwoo job change solo leveling season 1 episode 12 shadow monarch

The appeal of suave dominance in modern anime storytelling is understandable. After all, power fantasies sell. However, if left unchecked, the narratives of mainstream anime would impede the creative expansion of the medium. Vulnerability and moral dilemmas are exemplary ways of connecting audiences with characters, and it’s not something that’s going to change overnight.

Solo Leveling has found widespread success, but if every anime took a similar approach to its storytelling, fans would be left with one-dimensional power fantasies where characters cannot lose, cannot be emotionally swayed, and consequently face no meaningful and lasting consequences. In such instances, conflict would carry less weight, and side characters would become props rather than whole entities.

Many characters in Solo Leveling have potential for growth and contribution, but with the focus of the series on Sung Jin-Woo’s unearned power-ups, they are underutilized.

What Solo Leveling’s Success Could Mean For The Future Of Anime Protagonists

In The Next Generation Of Anime, Substance Could Give Way To Spectacle

Solo Leveling - Sung Jinwoo jumping toward the screen with his shadow soldiers behind him — Custom Image by Ana Nieves

Solo Leveling’s success suggests that anime creators might begin to prioritize instant payoff and visual impact over profound character arcs. It won’t be unexpected if we see a surge in anime series portraying archetypes inspired by the power fantasy.

This won’t necessarily mean the death of shows that portray immense character depth, as those shows would undoubtedly find their audience. However, it does mean that substance becomes less of a priority, as Solo Leveling’s widespread influence is proof that audiences love epic battles and incredible displays of power without corresponding emotional baggage.

Spectacle is gaining significant ground in the anime community, and for now, audiences are more than ready for anime protagonists to be effortlessly powered. Unfortunately, this could water down anime’s quality, giving way to shows that focus on the superficial.