Crunchyroll Premieres Solo Leveling Tomorrow

Tomorrow marks the day something different comes to Crunchyroll, though you may not realize it at first glance. The new anime Solo Leveling premieres in just a few hours — the first Japanese animation based on a Korean manga (which they call “Manhwa” over there).

Created by author Chugong, the world of Solo Leveling is one that has been transformed by a portal to another dimension. The anomaly gave certain people superhuman powers, who are now referred to as “Hunters” because they make their living venturing through dungeons, slaying monsters that threaten humanity.

You’ve seen a shonen or two before, so you can probably guess the protagonist of this story wishes he was a good Hunter but is incredibly weak, UNTIL he discovers a unique ability only he can possess. It’s the ability to “level up,” which means Sung Jinwoo can increase his power through fighting experience, just like in a video game. Thus, the meaning of the title.

The Japanese cast of Solo Leveling stars Taito Ban as Sung Jinwoo, Genta Nakamura as Yoo Jinho , Haruna Mikawa as Sung Jinah, Reina Ueda as Cha Hae-in , Daisuke Hirakawa as Choi Jong-in, Hiroki Touchi as Baek Yoonho, Banjo Ginga as Go Gunhee and Makoto Furukawa as Woo Jinchul. The series was directed by Shunsuke Nakashige and the animation was handled by A1 Pictures.

New episodes of Solo Leveling will debut weekly on Crunchyroll starting January 6. A dub version has yet to be announced.