Summary
Solo Levelingis one of the mostpopular anime of all time, especially after a stellar second season that had fans on the edge of their seat with its intense action and excellent animation. Beyond its popularity,Solo Levelingshowed the potential of manhwa when adapted correctly.
There have indeed been several disappointing Korean manhwa adaptations in recent times, but withSolo Leveling, there is growing hope that some other manhwa that have been slated for adaptation could be just as popular, if not more so. There is a rich library of manhwa to pick from and, if they are done right, could knockSolo Levelingoff its top billing.
2022
Creators
Sing-Shong (Story), Eondedeu Gamja (Art)
The World After the Fallis a web novel that was then made into a manhwa, which will also be getting an anime adaptation that tells a story of aworld gone madafter the appearance of strange “Towers” with a few people called “Challengers” able to fight in these towers.
The story has a very engaging protagonist in Jaehwan, who is introspective and gritty. The art is also gorgeous. IfSolo Leveling’sstory was easy to access and understand,The World After The Falltakes a little bit more work to get into. But with a good studio behind it, this is a story that could really get fans excited.
2016
Dong-U Han (Story), Jin-Ho Ko (Art)
Fans were naturally very happy when it was announced thatthe fast-paced thriller,Terror Man, would be getting an anime adaptation.Terror Manis simply about Min Jung-Woo, who can see disasters before they happen, and how this ability has led him to get tangled with all sorts of adversaries.
The art forTerror Manis amazing, but what sets it above many other stories is its character development. Min Jung-Woo is a well-written protagonist, and his handling of the definition of an anti-hero is impeccable. Unfortunately, not much is known about when the anime will finally get made, but there’s optimism that there will be news soon.
2020
HONGDUCK (Story), NEMONE (Art)
Solo Levelingis rightly identified as an action powerhouse, but that is not all that makes a story, and more mellow,melancholic storiescan also grip the anime fanbase. For that, it is hard to look further thanSeasons of Blossom, a story that follows various characters as they deal with life, love, depression, and growing up.
The story is masterfully written, and the characters are sympathetic and feel all too real. The skill it takes to carry an audience on a journey through the four seasons and tell a unique story that all syncs up well at the end is no mean feat, and if the anime adaptation gets it right, it could be one of the best slice-of-life shows in a long time.
2019
Sun-Gyu Gwon (Story & Art)
The overpowered MC is a verycommon tropewithin isekai, andLatna Sagadoesn’t do anything to reinvent the wheel. Ryu Han-Bin is transferred to another world, but is stuck in a tutorial stage for centuries, where he continues to survive against monsters by growing stronger.
Ryu Han-Bin is incredibly powerful and pragmatic enough to do what needs to be done; in this way, he is similar to Sung Jin-woo ofSolo Leveling. The difference lies in the fact that Ryu is a lot funnier and there are more moments of levity inLatna Saga. With the animation to be done by Pierrot studios, there is hope that it will receive an amazing adaptation.
2015
Gi-Un Ryu (Story) Jeong-Hu Mun (Art)
Gosu’sstory is deceptively deep, but it starts pretty simply. The protagonist, Gang Ryong, seeks revenge for his master, but the ones whom he wants to take out are either dead or have disappeared, so he must navigate a complex world and make new allies as he journeys on.
Gosu’sfight scenes are intense and incredible, and if Toei Animation, who are the ones to adapt it, can do it justice, it will certainly be the talk of the anime world.Gosu’sprotagonist is also compelling, as while he is used as comic relief a lot,he feels like Gintama: funny, but complex.
Yoonz (Story) 3B2S (Art)
Edgy protagonistsare not for everyone, but they have their appeal with the likes of Hajime fromArifuretaor Naofumi fromRising Of The Shield Hero.Tomb Raider Kingfeatures Joo-Heon Suh, who is on a quest for revenge after being betrayed by his organization.
Joo-Heon Suh is fueled by greed, willing to manipulate anyone to get the strongest relics first. It feels a lot likeSolo Levelingin terms of the system, elements, and even some of the enemies. Joo-Heon Suh is a meaner character, though, and that could make it feel more engaging.
2018
Jae-Ho Son (Story) Hye-Jin Kim (Art)
Eleceedis the fruit borne from the hard work of the creator ofNoblesse(Son Jeho) and the art ofGirls Of The Wild’s(ZENA), and they created an epic story with a lovely protagonist in Jiwoo Seo, who rescues a cat who turns out to be an OP person called Kayden Break.
Kayden Break is well-loved by readers everywhere, and the great action, art, and development makeEleceeda potential top-tier anime. It is being handled by Dandelion Animation Studio, which most recently did the highly acclaimedThe First Slam Dunk. Since that movie used a mix of CGI and 2D animation, it is believedEleceedwill look the same.
UMI (Story) Sleepy-C (Art)
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpointtakes a little while to warm up, but when it does, it hits like a truck. The premise follows Kim Dokja, a regular office worker who is also the only reader of an apocalyptic book. When this book ends, and suddenly the world around him transforms into the world of the book, Dokja is the only one with the skills to survive.
Kim Dokja is one of the smartest protagonists anyone will come across, and the brilliant way in which the story is interwoven makes this one of those that should be a sure-fire success if animated well. There are real stakes, incredible characters, and insane plotting.
Ji-Hun Jeong (Story & Art)
The Boxeris a gritty story that is flawlessly executed. The story of Yu, a bullied kid with nihilistic tendencies, who gets picked up by a legendary boxing trainer, has resonated with many. Yu was inspired by J, a powerful fighter who was a light to Yu’s darkness.
The story is emotive and takes a look at Yu’s opponents, making them humans worthy of being empathized with. Yu is sometimes the monster, and its deep philosophical themes and religious allegories makeThe Boxeran anime that, if handled well by Netflix, could be something incredible.
