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When Netflix announced plans for a live-action adaptation of the acclaimed anime series, “Solo Leveling,” the decision was met with skepticism and divided opinions from its dedicated fanbase.
“Solo Leveling,” a narrative centered on a seemingly weak monster hunter’s journey to prominence, embodies the classic underdog story. Originating as a popular Korean web novel in 2016, its global popularity soared after its adaptation into an anime series eight years later.
While the series enjoys a devoted following, the announcement of a live-action version has sparked concerns among fans.
“I have never had a great experience with live-action, and I do not see a future or need for them to exist,” remarks Andre Denisson, a fan from Sweden, reflecting a common sentiment.
Anime has long captivated audiences worldwide, but the genre’s unique artistry and devoted fans have often seemed inaccessible to mainstream film studios.
Hollywood’s history of struggling with live-action anime adaptations raises concerns as streaming services, like Netflix, seek to capitalize on the genre’s popularity.
The question arises: why has it been so difficult to translate anime effectively to the screen?
Ander Guerrero, an anime enthusiast based in Spain, describes live-action remakes as a “hit or miss” endeavor.
Guerrero expresses apprehension that the CGI in the “Solo Leveling” adaptation may not adequately capture the essence of the source material, noting, “The anime looks incredible mainly because of the fight sequences, which could be hard to replicate in live-action.”
“Solo Leveling” features numerous action-packed moments, set in a world where humanity’s survival depends on “hunters,” individuals with extraordinary abilities who combat magical monsters emerging from mysterious portals known as “gates.”
These hunters possess predetermined abilities that remain fixed. The protagonist, Sung Jin-woo, initially portrayed as mankind’s “weakest weapon,” gains the unique ability to enhance his powers after a near-fatal experience.
The engaging narrative and dynamic sequences of “Solo Leveling” have propelled it to the forefront of the anime world, surpassing popular titles such as “Demon Slayer” and “One Piece” to become the most-watched series in Crunchyroll’s history, according to Sony, the platform’s owner.
Given the high expectations surrounding “Solo Leveling,” some fans remain doubtful that Netflix can deliver a satisfying adaptation.
Mr. Guerrero anticipates that viewers of the live-action remake “will not get the same experience,” suggesting the final product may be “a half-baked story” with essential plot elements omitted.
Converting anime into live-action poses a substantial creative challenge, requiring a delicate balance between satisfying a discerning fanbase and attracting new viewers.
Beyond casting and production, capturing the appropriate tone is crucial, according to Geoff Thew, who provides anime reviews on his YouTube channel “Mother’s Basement” to nearly 1.4 million subscribers.
“Things that work, dramatically and aesthetically, in the heightened reality of animation don’t always translate to live action,” he explains.
He added, “The most iconic moments of the original anime might not work in live action, but whatever changes you make, those moments still need to be recognisable to fans.”
Hollywood’s initial attempts to adapt anime into live-action during the 1990s proved unsuccessful.
The 2009 adaptation of “Dragonball Evolution” faced widespread criticism from fans of the decades-old franchise, prompting the scriptwriter to issue a public apology years later.
A 2017 film inspired by the Japanese manga and 1995 anime film “Ghost in the Shell,” starring Scarlett Johansson, was heavily criticized for whitewashing and suffered significant financial losses, reportedly exceeding $60 million.
Despite past failures, Hollywood remains committed to pursuing live-action anime adaptations, with several high-profile projects currently in development.
Legendary, the US film production company behind successful movies like “Dune” and “Jurassic World,” is set to produce a movie based on “Gundam,” a military science fiction anime series about a giant robot that debuted in 1979. Media reports suggest Sydney Sweeney is in final negotiations to star in the film.
Global content giant Lionsgate is reportedly developing “Naruto,” an anime about a young, underdog ninja who aspires to become the protector of his village.
Emerald King, a Japanese culture expert at the University of Tasmania, Australia, observes, “There is almost a desire now to make the perfect live-action, to somehow figure out what the formula is.”
The potential economic rewards may contribute to this renewed interest.
According to Grand View Research, the broader anime market, encompassing merchandise and music, was valued at approximately $34 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $60 billion by 2030.
While Netflix generally refrains from disclosing detailed viewership data, its most recent statistics suggest a growing appetite for anime content.
In July, Netflix reported that over half of its 300 million subscribers watch anime, with the genre garnering over one billion views in 2024, marking a threefold increase in the past five years.
Parisa Haghighat, a 34-year-old fan from the UK, recalls, “Watching anime used to be like ‘for weirdos’ when I was younger.”
Haghighat discovered anime, such as “Doraemon” and “Sailor Moon,” during her school days while spending summer vacations in Thailand.
She continues to enjoy anime, noting that “it’s more common and cool, so some people that used to make fun of me now watch it themselves!”
Geoff Thew believes the pandemic played a significant role in the “seismic shift” in attitudes toward anime, explaining, “Being locked inside, people had a lot of free time and not much to do besides binge TV.”
Cathy Boxall, global head of entertainment at marketing agency Dentsu, suggests that anime offers “a refreshing alternative,” noting, “Audiences find it offers emotional complexity, genre diversity and cultural specificity.”
Research indicates that fatigue with Hollywood franchises has also contributed to anime’s growing appeal.
A Dentsu study revealed that 1 in 10 respondents watch anime because they are tired of Hollywood tropes, while in the US, as many as 3 in 10 people turn to anime when they seek a break from Hollywood.
Given anime’s inherent appeal, the question remains: why pursue live-action adaptations?
Alex Cameron of Parrot Analytics suggests that Netflix views live-action remakes as a means of differentiation in a market saturated with anime content. He proposes that viewers may be inclined to watch the original anime after viewing the live-action version, thereby fostering longer retention and engagement.
Netflix also appears to be learning from previous missteps.
Six years after the universally panned adaptation of “Death Note,” Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of “One Piece,” featuring an international cast, garnered widespread acclaim.
Dr. King emphasizes the need for a more thoughtful approach to ensure authenticity in live-action adaptations, stating, “You can go too far in trying to be respectful and end up exoticising it.”
He also asserts that the cast and crew should be “aware of the product that’s being made.”
He explains, “One Piece, at its heart, is a series about pirates. “It allows them to interpret the text in the spirit of the original. Without being a slave to the adaptation, it’s allowed to be free,”
Will the live-action adaptation of “Solo Leveling” replicate the success of “One Piece”?
“The overall tone of the series is comparable to a darker superhero movie. If the fights are cool and Sung Jin-woo gets a few chances to be a badass each episode, fans likely won’t complain too much,” predicts Mr. Thew.
The fact that “Solo Leveling” will be led by a Korean cast and crew has instilled hope among fans.
Archie Moyo, a fan from Zimbabwe, explains, “It is a good way to maintain most of the core of the story – some of the Hollywood casting leads to the loss of small cultural or story nuances, and these are sometimes the backbone of the story.”
Moyo concludes, “I’m excited about the live-action because it will introduce a lot more people to the Solo Leveling world.”
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