‘Solo Leveling’s’ Anime Is Actively Trying to Remove a Major Part of What Makes Sung Jinwoo’s Shadow Soldiers So Animated
- The Solo Leveling anime misses key moments involving Jinwoo's Shadow Soldiers, which are crucial to the story's depth and charm.
- While the anime's changes are subtle, they could have a significant impact on the series' emotional resonance and fan connection later on.
- By skipping iconic interactions between the Shadow Soldiers, the anime loses important moments that add both humor and heart to the story.
2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for anime, and Solo Leveling is leading the charge. Its latest sequel is making waves online, and with each new episode, the series keeps shattering expectations and records, cementing itself as one of Winter 2025’s biggest hits.
Solo Leveling Season 2 Episode 6 has anime fans buzzing with excitement. With intense action and major plot progression, the two-episode buildup was well worth the wait. Sung Jinwoo’s battle against Kargalgan, the Leader of the High Orcs, not only meets but even surpasses expectations.
The latest episode earned widespread applause, captivating fans instantly and being hailed as a masterpiece. Still, manhwa fans are voicing concerns about the anime missing key details, especially Jinwoo’s Shadow Army essence.
Is the Solo Leveling anime missing the true essence of Jinwoo’s Shadow Army?
The story of Solo Leveling is based on the protagonist Sung Jinwoo, an underdog hero who starts from arguably the weakest hunter in the world and evolves dramatically after his reawakening back in the Double Dungeon event.
Although the series features an interesting protagonist, it generally avoids all the problems this narrative device tends to create. Sung Jinwoo is the face of Solo Leveling, but he no longer fights alone.
Season 2 Episode 6 finally showcases the true power of Jinwoo’s necromancer abilities, highlighting his dominance over other S-rank hunters.
Solo Leveling Season-2
— AniXpert (@AniXpert) February 7, 2025
Episode-6 (#18) preview!pic.twitter.com/S7LlHsffzY
Jinwoo’s Shadows vs. Kargalgan’s High Orc army delivered one of the episode’s best-animated scenes, with an intense action that left fans in awe as Jinwoo and his Shadow soldiers stole the spotlight.
By the end of the manhwa series, Jinwoo will have over 10 million shadows under his command and will become the world’s strongest hunter.
Jinwoo’s Shadow Army is a key highlight of the story, with the manhwa dedicating plenty of attention to showcasing the soldiers’ interactions, adding depth and excitement to the experience.
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However, some important moments were skipped in Episode 6, like those of Iron and Tank, which could have enriched the episode. This highlights the anime’s focus on pacing, which, while speeding up the narrative, sacrifices the smaller details that make the story so beloved and unique to fans.
As if that were not enough, when Jinwoo finally defeats Kargalgan and his High Orc army, the Shadow Army grows in both number and power and this is just the start, as even more powerful characters and opponents are scheduled to join later on.
However, if the anime continues to run at this speed and ignores the interactions and pivotal moments of the Shadow soldiers, it might blow back in its face, especially after the Jeju Island incident and the coming of Beru, the Ant King.
Why Skipping key Shadow Army moments from the Manhwa could harm the Anime
Solo Leveling Season 2 has wowed fans with its breathtaking action and stunning animation, with A-1 Pictures earning praise for bringing the manhwa to life. While Jinwoo’s new look and improved animation have made a strong impression, the handling of his Shadow Army has faced some criticism.
Some fans point to CGI, while others believe the anime is unable to compete with the level of artwork the manhwa brings. The major issue, though, is that the anime has missed some crucial moments of interaction between Jinwoo’s Shadow Soldiers.
Fans are concerned this will be the case going forward, especially as Beru, a fan favorite who joins Jinwoo’s army after Jeju Island, is introduced.
Beru is a fan-favorite character who joins Jinwoo’s Shadow Army after the events on Jeju Island. As a shadow, he still can interact and converse with humans, and his deep respect for Jinwoo, treating him like a king, is a standout in the manhwa.
The humorous and heartfelt moments with Jinwoo are the essence of the story. Because Beru’s moments are very important to the fans, A-1 Pictures should give attention to these interactions in the anime.
If they continue to ignore the Shadow Soldiers’ moments, especially with Beru, it will hurt the appeal of the anime and fans’ connection with the beloved characters.
Solo Leveling manhwa can be read on Webtoons, while the anime is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
