The anime industry has always thrived on adapting manga, but recently, webtoons and manhwa have taken center stage, likeSolo Leveling. With series such asTower of God, The God of High School, andSolo Levelingmaking their mark, South Korean webtoons are proving to be a goldmine for anime adaptations. Among them,Solo Levelingstands out as a benchmark, raising the bar for quality in both storytelling and animation. Its success signals a bright future for webtoon-based anime, but also highlights key lessons that the industry should take note of moving forward.
As more webtoon anime adaptations emerge, creators and studios need to studySolo Leveling’sformula for success. From its stunning animation to its enjoyable story structure,Solo Levelingexemplifies how to bring a webtoon to lifein the best way. By focusing on top-tier animation, faithful storytelling, and audience engagement, future adaptations can verify they so not fall into the pitfalls that have plagued some earlier webtoon-based anime.

High-Quality Animation Makes a Difference
Solo Leveling’s High Quality Makes It a Massive Success
One ofSolo Leveling’sbiggest strengths is its animation quality, which has set a new standard for webtoon adaptations. Many past webtoon-based anime, such asThe God of High School, struggled with inconsistent animation despite their strong source material.Solo Leveling, however, avoids this pitfall by making sure that it has fluid combat sequences, stunning character designs, and a cinematic feel that captures the grand scale of the story.
If You Need a Fix After Solo Leveling, We Know Your Next Manhwa Obsession
The original Solo Leveling manhwa may be over, but every fan of the series needs to check out this intense and emotional entry in the genre.
Future webtoon adaptations should prioritize consistent and high-quality animation, especially for action-heavy series.Webtoons are known for their dynamic art styles, and anime adaptations must capture that energy.Investing in top-tier studios and experienced animators will help future projects maintain the visual spectacle fans expect, ensuring their stories translate well to animation.

Additionally, motion and special effects play a crucial role in making webtoon adaptations great.Solo Levelingbenefits from stylish lighting, explosive energy bursts, and immersive backdrops that bring its power fantasy setting to life. By focusing on these finer details, in character design and action scenes in particular, upcoming webtoon-based anime can deliver audiences a visually stunning experience that does justice to the source material.
Faithfulness to the Source Material Matters
Solo Leveling Stays Mostly True to Its Manhwa and Light Novel Roots
A major complaint with early webtoon anime adaptations was their tendency to diverge from the original story.The God of High Schoolcondensed its webtoon storylinetoo much, leading to it having rushed pacing and missing a lot of character development. In contrast,Solo Levelingstays largely true to the webtoon, despite cutting out a few important and emotional scenes, making sure that fans get an adaptation that feels faithful and complete.
A well-paced adaptation that respects the source material’s structure will always be received better than one that rushes through major plot points or skips crucial arcs.

Staying loyal to the original work is extremely important for maintaining fan engagement and interest.Webtoon readers invest time in long-running series, forming deep connections with the characters and world.A well-paced adaptation that respects the source material’s structure will always be received better than one that rushes through major plot points or skips crucial arcs.
At the same time, adaptations should take advantage of anime’s unique storytelling strengths and use those to their advantage. Small tweaks, such as improved dialogue flow, deeper or more tragic emotional beats, and smoother transitions, can elevate a webtoon’s story without sacrificing its core essence and story.Solo Levelingdemonstrates that striking a balance between faithfulness and thoughtful adaptationis key to delivering a satisfying anime experience.

Lovable Protagonists and Character Growth Are Essential
Solo Leveling’s Sung Jinwoo is a Character Viewers Can Root For
A lovable protagonist can make or break an anime, andSolo Leveling’sJinwoo Sung is a prime example of how to do it right. His transformation from an underdog to a powerhouse is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series, keeping audiences invested in his journey. The steady progression of his power, along with his struggles and triumphs, makes for an addictive and action-packed story that resonates with viewers.
Webtoon anime should focus on creating protagonists with depth and development rather than relying solely on flashy action and good animation, even though those things are still very important. While many webtoons have overpowered main characters, a well-paced growth arc adds emotional weight to their journey and often makes readers and viewers care more.The audience needs to see not just strength but also vulnerability, motivation, and personal stakes.

Supporting characters should also be more than just side notes.Solo Levelingdoes a great job of fleshing out allies and enemiesalike, though they could definitely improve in their character building when it comes to characters other than Sung Jinwoo, creating a world that feels alive and interconnected. Future adaptations can benefit from this approach, making sure that every character has a role to play in the overarching narrative rather than just existing as background figures.
The Future of Webtoon Anime
Learning from Solo Leveling’s Success
The rise of webtoon-based anime is an exciting shift in the industry, providing fresh stories and visually unique aesthetics. However, as more adaptations emerge, it is clear that not all of them are created equal.Solo Levelinghas proven to be a gold standard for webtoon anime, demonstrating the importance of high-quality animation, faithfulness to the source material, and enjoyable character development.
No One Saw It Coming, But Solo Leveling’s Anime Is Way Better Than the Manhwa
Solo Leveling Season Two is well underway, and as the series progresses, it’s becoming more evident than the anime is better than the manhwa.
For webtoon adaptations to continue thriving, studios must take these lessons to heart. By investing in strong production values, respecting the original work while still making changes that are necessary for the anime format, and creating intersting and enjoyable characters, future webtoon-based anime can capture audiences just as effectively asSolo Levelinghas. If done right, this growing genre could become one of the most dominant forces in modern anime.

Additionally, the success ofSolo Levelingshows a bigger shift in anime production, with the increasing globalization of storytelling. Webtoon adaptations not only introduce Korean stories to a wider audience but also show off different cultural perspectives and creative approaches to world-building. With streaming platforms making anime more accessible than ever, the potential for international collaboration between Korean and Japanese studios is vast. This could lead to even higher production values, more faithful adaptations, and a new wave of anime that bridges different artistic traditions. If studios take these opportunities seriously, webtoon-based anime could stand alongside traditional manga adaptations as a major force in the anime landscape.