Solo Leveling seemed like it appeared out of nowhere when the anime debuted in 2024. Adapted from a Korean webtoon, the series about Sung Jin Woo, or Shun Mizushino in Japan, quickly dominated streaming charts. Crunchyroll reported it as the most watched title of the season, proving global audiences were ready for something different.
For Season 2, Aniplex took a gamble. Rather than follow the usual model of testing the waters in Japan first, season two of Solo Leveling launched worldwide on day one. Producer Sota Furuhashi admitted this was unusual. “Because the work was already popular overseas and available in multiple languages, we planned a complete simultaneous rollout from the very beginning.”
Building Global Hype With Coordinated Promotion
The producers also changed how they marketed the anime. Instead of prioritizing Japanese trailers, they dropped Japanese, English, and Korean versions at the same time. Publicity producer Futo Amako explained, “Usually the Japanese version comes first, but for Solo Leveling, we launched across different accounts simultaneously. The result was clear. The English version’s views quickly overtook the Japanese one.”
Behind the scenes, even the dubbing had to change. In Japan, the hero’s name was localized as Shun Mizushino, but overseas fans knew him as Sung Jin Woo. Furuhashi explained, “Because of the different names, we actually recorded two separate voice tracks. Japanese voice actors are popular overseas, so we re-recorded lines with the alternate names to avoid inconsistency.”
A Story With Universal and Timeless Appeal
While aiming global, the staff resisted turning the anime into something unrecognizable. Amako emphasized, “Even though this was a global rollout, we were careful not to make the visuals too Western oriented. It is easy to drift that way, but we thought about the meaning of creating anime in Japan. We wanted to highlight Japanese strengths while balancing overseas tastes.”
Part of what made Solo Leveling adaptable worldwide was its core story. Furuhashi said, “The story of a protagonist pushed to the limit, struggling, and growing stronger carries universal appeal, regardless of nationality.” Amako added, “Its charm lies in its simplicity. The original is easy to read, and the anime is just as accessible. Anyone can enjoy it immediately.”
What Comes Next After a Successful Experiment
Aniplex reinforced its gamble with ambitious global events. The company staged premieres from Tokyo to New York, filled Times Square with ads, and hosted screenings of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- featuring Season 1 highlights and the first two episodes of Season 2. These steps were all part of proving anime could launch globally as one unified pop culture moment.