Solo Leveling -ReAwakening– is mostly just a recap of the first season, what with it basically being a compilation anime film. However, it does have some bonuses to sweeten the deal for anyone looking to watch it. Namely: the first two episodes of the upcoming second season. For the record: those two episodes are what makes this anime film a treat to watch.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-: Details

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- NA key art.
You can already see the recap in this key art.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is the first compilation film of the Solo Leveling action adventure portal fantasy anime series. Said anime series is the anime adaptation of the South Korean web novel and webtoon of the same name by writer Chugong and featuring illustrations by Jang Sung-rak (aka DUBU), with h-goon adapting it into a manhwa form later. A-1 Pictures (Black Butler, Sword Art Online, Lycoris Recoil) is the animation studio behind this anime film. Crunchyroll is the company licensing this anime film for its global release. Save for in SEA region, where Medialink is the company licensing this anime film there.

Production Cast

The same production team behind Solo Leveling returns to make Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-, with Shunsuke Nakashige as the director and Noboru Kimura as the screenwriter. Yasuhiro Okumura is the background art director, Yuji Kondo is the editor, Tomoko Sudo is the character designer, Hirotaka Tokuda is the monster designer, Toshitaka Morioka is the CG director, Naomi Nakano is the color designer, Ryo Tanaka is the sound director, Daichi Iseki is the VFX director, Sotaro Shiriaishi is the prop designer, Hiromu Oshiro is responsible for motion graphics, and Hiroyuki Sawano composes all the music we hear in the anime film.

Speaking of which: the opening theme song for this anime film is “LEvel” by TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

Voice Cast

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features the voice of Taito Ban (Aleks Le in English dub) as Sung Jinwoo.

Other notable voice roles include Genta Nakamura (Justin Briner in English dub) as Yoo Jinho, Haruna Mikawa (Rebecca Wang in English dub) as Sung Jinah, Reina Ueda (Michelle Rojas in English dub) as Cha Hae-in, Daisuke Hirakawa (Ian Sinclair in English dub) as Choi Jong-in, Hiroki Touchi (Christopher R. Sabat in English dub) as Baek Yoonho, Banjo Ginga (Kent Williams in English dub) as Go Gunhee, and Makoto Furukawa (SungWon Cho in English dub) as Woo Jinchul.

When and Where to Watch

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- will make its official theatrical debut in its home nation of Japan on November 29, 2024. However, us here in NA region will need to wait for December 6, 2024 to watch it in theaters.

And for the record: Solo Leveling season 2 (aka. Arise from the Shadow) will make its debut on Crunchyroll sometime in January 2025. However, you can watch the first season only on Crunchyroll.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-: Synopsis

Let’s be real: without those two episodes from the second season, this anime film would be a bit boring.

Alas, Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- hasn’t even made its theatrical debut yet. In fact, this review is only possible due to an early screening for press. Thus, here is the official synopsis of this anime film from Crunchyroll in lieu of a spoiler-filled plot summary. You can read that synopsis below:

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features a catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience.

Over a decade has passed since a pathway called a “gate” which connects this world and another dimension suddenly appeared, and people with superhuman powers called “hunters” have been awakened. Hunters use their superhuman powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates to make a living, and Sung Jinwoo, a hunter of the lowest rank, is considered the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind. One day, he encounters a double dungeon, a high-level dungeon hidden inside a low-level one. In front of a severely wounded Jinwoo, a mysterious quest window pops up. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to take on the quest, which makes him the only person who can level up.

Solo Leveling is animated by acclaimed A-1 Pictures (Sword Art Online), with motion graphics by Production I.G (Attack on Titan, PSYCHO-PASS). The series and film are directed by Shunsuke Nakashige (Sword Art Online). Additional staff credits include music by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan) and TOMORROW X TOGETHER (K-pop band), character design by Tomoko Sudo, and monster design by Hirotaka Tokuda.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-: The Good

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- still image 1
I see Sung Jin-woo is pulling out the new weapons already. He’s going to need them.

First of all, let’s talk about that story: it’s both the best and the worst parts of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-. The best part is specifically the latter roughly 48 minutes of the anime film. That bit is when the first two episodes of the upcoming second season show up. For Solo Leveling fans, this will be the treat waiting for you after suffering through the recap. It’s basically the chance to see the first two episodes of the new season before it even makes its official premiere. If you can’t wait for January 2025, then this anime film is for you.

A good part of why that new content is good is the action. The fluid fight scenes, the drama of the bloody gore, and the unexpected moments of humor is why the fight scenes in Solo Leveling are so good. Those first two episodes bear those hallmarks of the previous episodes of the anime series. A big part of why they’re so good is because of the work of the animators at A-1 Pictures. Their high quality animation breathes life into those fight scenes, allowing you to be entranced by them. Likely even to the point where you start to forget about reality for a bit.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-: The Bad

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- still image 3
It just seems like all of their faces are frozen into those sneers.

You know how I said the story of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is also the worst part of it? Well, much of that is due to its very nature as a recap film. Now granted, A-1 Pictures did a pretty good job in capturing the best highlights of the first season in that recap. Both in the drama and in the action, by the way. However, none of that can erase the fact that if you’ve watched that first season, then you’ve seen all this already. This means that for about 72 minutes, you might be a bit bored. Or at the very least: wondering when those two episodes of season 2 will come on already. At that point, it’s probably best to grab some popcorn and munch as you wait for the new content.

There is also one more thing about that story that might not be to your liking. While we do get hints of a larger story, so far, it’s still just a big fight scene with Jin-woo as the only character who seems to matter to it. It’s basically a pure power fantasy story. If you’re not fond of that sort of story but you still want the action, then might I suggest watching Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Senpai is an Otokonoko, DDDD, DAN DA DAN, and/or Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II? Those anime series are a lot less power fantasy if you want a story other than that.

Tune back in to THS to find out more about Solo Leveling and other anime series when we do.

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