solo leveling panel

Revelations From The Solo Leveling FYC Panel

Yesterday at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in North Hollywood, Crunchyroll hosted a For Your Consideration (FYC) screening of its most-watched new anime series, Solo Leveling. If you’ve never heard of FYC screenings before, they’re designed to get the attention of Emmy voters. Episodes 22–24 from the second season were played in their entirety.

After the screening, Crunchyroll executive Travis Page introduced a panel with Solo Leveling producers Sota Furuhashi (Aniplex), Atsushi Kaneko (A-1 Pictures), and Kanako Takahashi (Crunchyroll), along with English voice cast Aleks Le (voice of Sung Jinwoo) and Michelle Rojas (voice of Cha Hae-in). The panel was moderated by TheWrap’s Raquel Harris.

Solo Leveling launched with a simuldub, and producer Atsushi Kaneko admitted getting the English version ready at the same time as the Japanese premiere was difficult, but that it was “a challenge that proved worthwhile once we saw the global response,” adding, “traveling and seeing the fandom first hand reminds me how powerful entertainment can transcend borders, even when it comes from Japan.” “Our job is to balance authenticity and accessibility, so fans everywhere feel seen,” added Crunchyroll producer Kanako Takahashi. Producer Sota Furuhashi revealed that more than 220,000 frames of animation were created for the second season of Solo Leveling: “Maybe by the next Olympics, we’ll be ready for what’s next.”

English voice actor Michelle Rojas said that voicing a Korean character felt meaningful given her heritage, and that it was the first time in her career she’d gotten the chance to do so. Aleks Le also feels a connection to Sung Jinwoo: “As an Asian immigrant, I saw myself in him. Watching his growth and bringing that to life was incredibly meaningful.”

After the panel, Producer Sota Furuhashi (Aniplex) and Animation Producer Atsushi Kaneko (A-1 Pictures) took part in a live Reddit AMA where they answered questions from fans. You can check out that thread at this link. Seasons 1 and 2 of Solo Leveling are streamable anytime on Crunchyroll.

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Avatar of PatrickSach
PatrickSach

Member

352 messages 42 likes

I appreciate how much effort was put into the English dub. As someone who watches anime mostly in English, I never realized how hard it must be to time both versions to release at the same time. Knowing that the producers worked that hard makes me respect Solo Leveling even more. I also liked hearing that the actors had personal connections to the roles. That always adds something deeper. Aleks Le talking about being an immigrant and seeing himself in Jinwoo was very real to me. Itโ€™s not just a story anymore, itโ€™s something personal. These details make me want to rewatch the series from the beginning.

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Avatar of DriftSamurai23
DriftSamurai23

Member

353 messages 15 likes

Itโ€™s great that Solo Leveling is getting Emmy attention. I never thought anime would be part of these kinds of events. Hearing that they made over 220,000 frames of animation is impressive. It shows how serious they were about quality. Also, having both Japanese and English versions released together makes it easier for people in different countries to enjoy it at the same time. Thatโ€™s smart. I hope more anime can do that too.

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Avatar of JediKnight777
JediKnight777

New Member

326 messages 0 likes

Iโ€™m honestly proud that Solo Leveling made it to a big stage like the Television Academy. Iโ€™ve followed the web novel since the early chapters, and seeing it reach this level with Crunchyroll and Emmy voters feels like a big win for fans. I always feared the adaptation would miss the emotional journey of Sung Jinwoo, but hearing Aleks Le speak about connecting to that character proves they cared about doing it right. It also meant a lot hearing Michelle Rojas talk about voicing a Korean character. You donโ€™t always hear actors speak openly about heritage, and that makes this project even more special. Solo Leveling deserves the spotlight.

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Avatar of Ringo246
Ringo246

Member

420 messages 23 likes

I was surprised they talked about how hard it was to make the simuldub. I didnโ€™t know that was so complicated. But it makes sense. You have to match the tone and the language and also not lose the meaning. Respect to the producers and the team. Itโ€™s not easy work. Also, 220,000 frames? Thatโ€™s a huge number. I guess thatโ€™s why the animation looks so smooth.

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Avatar of Kurapikachu
Kurapikachu

Member

423 messages 5 likes

I didnโ€™t know these Emmy things existed for anime. Thatโ€™s cool. They should have them more often. Solo Leveling had great fights and strong visuals, and now I get why. Over 200,000 frames? Thatโ€™s hard work. I also liked hearing the English actors talk. Sometimes people ignore the dub cast, but they bring a lot too. I hope they keep doing more events like this.

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Avatar of Lee4444941
Lee4444941

Member

839 messages 30 likes

I have always loved how anime is becoming global. What Kanako Takahashi said about balancing authenticity and accessibility is the exact challenge of modern storytelling. I teach ESL, and many of my students watch anime as a way to improve English. A good dub helps them stay motivated. This series, especially with a simuldub, is a great example of content that crosses borders. I think events like this should be shared more online, especially for international fans who canโ€™t attend.

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Avatar of Grufelingvengeful
Grufelingvengeful

Member

242 messages 8 likes

I watched both seasons of Solo Leveling and liked the action and growth of the main character. Reading this makes me realize the people who made it also grew. The producers, the actors, the animatorsโ€”all of them pushed themselves. That makes the story even more meaningful. Iโ€™m glad Crunchyroll is taking this seriously. It feels like anime is finally getting respect in bigger spaces.

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Avatar of Al_Taransky
Al_Taransky

Administrator

1,130 messages 26 likes

Iโ€™m really happy to see anime reaching this kind of audience. For years, it felt like something only certain fans appreciated. But now, with Emmy panels and public discussions, itโ€™s gaining real respect. I liked how the Crunchyroll team focused on both quality and making the story available to everyone at the same time. That takes planning and care. It also means that when people talk about Solo Leveling online, weโ€™re all on the same page, no matter what country weโ€™re from.

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