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Solo Levelinghas become one of the most popular anime series, especially after A-1 Pictures delivered a solid second season. Not only did the anime adaptation of the popular manhwa series grab the attention of millions of anime fans, but the first season of the anime also bagged the 2025 Anime of the Year award.
So far, we’ve only got two seasons of the anime series, but it still managed to reach the popularity level ofOne Piece,Jujutsu Kaisen, andDemon Slayer. In fact, Sony recently confirmed thatSolo Levelinghas become themost-watched anime series on Crunchyroll. Of course, a series of recognitions is good news forSolo Levelingfans and the studio, but it also leaves room for constant and unfair comparisons. Given howSolo Levelinginstantly rose to popularity, it’s no surprise that fans are comparing it with other big names likeOne Piece. However, it seems like a major part of the fandom is now starting to grow tired of these comparisons.
Solo LevelingVs.One PieceDebate Is Getting Out Of Hand
Fans Think It’s About Time We Stop Comparing These Two Anime
There’s no doubt thatSolo Levelingis a great anime that features some of the greatest action sequences. The second season, especially thefight between Jinwoo and the Ant King, helped the series garner the attention of millions of anime fans. Jinwoo’s story has only begun, and fans have yet to see him become the Shadow Monarch and fight against powerful Monarchs like Antares. Additionally, there’s the spin-off seriesSolo Leveling Ragnarok,which is expanding the universe and focusing more on the Itarim race.
In short,Solo Levelinghas enough potential and source material to go on for several decades. The anime series or theSolo Levelinguniverse as a whole has every right to be praised. However, what’s not sitting well with some anime fans is howthe anime is being unfairly compared toOne Piece,or with every other popular anime series, for that matter. It all started whenSolo Levelingwon Anime of the Year at Crunchyroll’s 2025 AOTY Awards. While some fans were happy withSolo Levelingbagging the title, there were fans who thoughtFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endwas more deserving and was way better thanSolo Levelingin terms of animation, direction, story, and character development.
If the pain doesn’t kill me, it will almost make me stronger - Jinwoo
“Solo Leveling Vs. Frieren” debate went on for too long, and now that we’ve finally moved past it, the fandom is facing the “Solo Leveling Vs. One Piece” debate. The comparison withOne Piecestarted whenSolo Levelingofficially became the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll. Several fans went on to social media platforms to share their feelings, and one of those fansimplied on RedditthatOne Piece, an anime with over 1000 episodes, lost to a new anime series with twenty-four episodes. The now-deleted post got several comments from frustrated anime fans, most of them urging the community to stop comparing these two entirely different shows. Several fans expressed their disappointment over the fact thatSolo Leveling’ssuccess can’t be celebrated without comparing it to another show.
Unfair Comparison Only UnderminesSolo Leveling’sSuccess
The Anime Doesn’t Have To Be Better Than Every Other Show Out There To Be Successful
Solo Levelinghas great potential, and it’s a fact that the anime adaptation will gain even more popularitywhen Season 3 releases. However,the anime doesn’t have to be better thanOne Pieceor any other show to be called successful. WhatSolo Levelingdid in just two seasons is truly astounding, but these unfair comparisons only undermine what the anime has accomplished.
Honestly, fans can enjoy bothOne PieceandSolo Leveling,as they are both entirely different anime series. WhileOne Pieceis popular for establishing a massive world featuring several characters,Solo Levelinghas become popular because of anoverpowered protagonist whose powers have no limits.Solo Levelingfeels great because it puts focus on the growth of a single character, which makes it easy for fans to follow the narrative.One Piece, on the other hand, established a world where every character feels crucial to the story. In short,Solo Levelingis good in its own right, and it will stay successful and popular if we throw these comparisons out the window.
Of course, it’s perfectly normal for someone to like one anime over another; however, unnecessarily comparing or being toxic towards fans of one particular anime only destroys the reputation of the show you’re rooting for. In the past, we’ve seenAttack on Titanbeing compared toOne Pieceor other ongoing anime series, and now,Solo Levelingis going down the same path. Well, it seems like fans who enjoy more than one anime show have had enough of all this.
Solo Leveling
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A-1 Pictures' Solo Leveling is an anime based on Chugong’s popular web novel. Set in an unforgiving fantasy world where hunters explore dungeons filled with monsters, the vulnerable Sung Jinwoo gains a significant power boost after he is picked to be a solo player by the System.
