Solo Leveling, the anime, actually has two different versions out there, but you might have never even seen or heard of the second version of the show.
Solo Leveling is one of the most popular anime of Winter 2024. The show is based off a South Korean manhwa and web novel of the same name. The series plays in South Korea, with many scenes taking place in the capital, Seoul. The anime is being made by a Japanese animation studio though, and that is where the two versions come from.
With political tension between South Korea and Japan, there are some things that had to be changed for some viewers, meaning the animation studio had to create two versions of the same show.
Solo Leveling Anime Has An Original And Japanese Version
Solo Leveling is a South Korean series, but the anime is being adapted in Japan with a Japanese studio, A-1 Pictures. Due to a rough history between the two countries, there are some changes that were made in the show for Japanese viewers.
For example, all names of characters have been changed from the Korean names into Japanese names. So, Sung Jinwoo is called Shun Mizushino in the Solo Leveling anime that is being shown in Japan. The version of the show that is being broadcast abroad is faithful to the original with the original name and setting.
This is similar to Sailor Moon in the USA, where the main characters all had English names instead of their original Japanese names. Usagi Tsukino was changed to Serena Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba went by Darien Shields – who came up with these?
Not only have the names been changed, but viewers in Japan also have the series play in Tokyo, rather than in Seoul. This was done to increase the immersion for viewers in Japan.