Fan service and the lack of a proper female representation in anime is nothing new. The situation is especially dire in Shounen anime, which is geared toward males and, thus, has the excuse to forget and underuse its very competent ladies.
This is an allegation that even arguably the best anime of all time, Dragon Ball, could not escape because it is also infamous for fumbling its female characters. And though fan service might not be that big of an issue here, the lack of representation still shines.
On the contrary, Solo Leveling is surprisingly ahead of its peers, at least in that category. Even though it is essentially a one-man show that spares very little attention for others, the ladies here are hardly used as mere showpieces.
Female characters in Shounen, like Dragon Ball
One cannot deny that some of the most legendary female characters in Shounen come from Dragon Ball. However, it is also true that after they get introduced, they are made to stand in the background without any purpose or grander role. A major example of this treatment is Chi-chi, who is an incredible fighter herself, but later, she gets reduced to the role of Goku’s wife.
We also cannot forget Lunch. Her disorder of switching between two personalities with just a sneeze should have been a foundation for an interesting and essential character. But even she was hardly seen in Dragon Ball Z with any proper impact.
However, not everything is bad here. Bulma is strong in her own right, standing out in a franchise where having physical strength is the highlight. And though the Dragon Ball franchise does have its fair share of fanservice, specifically from its older episodes, it is still restrained compared to others.
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Other Shounen anime like The Seven Deadly Sins almost ruined its plotline with its excessive reliance on fanservice of females rather than their character development. We also cannot forget Fairy Tail, for that matter, but they do it mostly for the laughs, which does not excuse the treatment, but it is understandable.
Solo Leveling’s problem is not its female representation
In Solo Leveling, not just female characters but even other male characters are like side characters because Jinwoo is the star of the show. It would definitely help if the female representation is stronger, but at least whenever we do see Haein or Joohee, they are necessary in their roles.
Many might even claim that Haein is more important than any other character in the story so far after Jinwoo, for we see her often. It is also true that if we do not, then her eventual romance with Jinwoo would feel as lackluster as it did in the manhwa.
For Solo Leveling, we did get some questionable fanservice moments in the anime like Haein swimming and being admired for being pretty. But it has always been very subtle and never in your face. On top of that, if we consider the source material or the manhwa, it has little to no scenes whatsoever.
Hopefully, it will remain that way for Solo Leveling because its reliance on power scaling and world-building is what fans love. And though we have come a long way from the bad representation of female characters in anime and manga, more awareness would do good in the anime industry.
Solo Leveling’s strength in female character writing is not enough to guarantee its long-term dominance — the growing competition and rising expectations may end Solo Leveling’s era faster than anyone expected.
Frequently asked questions
How does Solo Leveling handle its female characters differently from many shounen anime?
The article argues that Solo Leveling gives its female characters a meaningful role rather than treating them as decoration. Cha Hae-In (Haein) and Joohee are shown only when they are necessary to the story, and the article calls Haein the most important character after Jinwoo. It also notes that the anime’s fanservice, such as a scene of Haein swimming, stays subtle rather than overt.
Why does the article say Dragon Ball falls short with its female characters?
It points to Chi-Chi, a capable fighter who is later largely reduced to the role of Goku’s wife, and to Launch, whose distinctive split-personality premise the article feels went underused with little real impact in Dragon Ball Z. It does credit Bulma as strong in her own right. The piece frames this as the writer’s critical opinion, not an official statement from the franchise.
Does Solo Leveling’s manhwa source contain the same fanservice the article criticizes in the anime?
No. The article argues that the questionable fanservice moments it discusses, like Haein being admired for her looks, are largely additions in the anime adaptation. It says that if you consider the source material, the manhwa, it has little to no such scenes, which is part of why the piece still considers the anime’s handling of women restrained overall.
