Netflix’s Solo Leveling Live-Action: Will CGI Ruin Anime Fans’ Hopes?

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Since its debut, Solo Leveling has been a highly acclaimed anime series, earning a spot on our 2024 watch list. It appears that the anticipation for a live-action adaptation has finally come to fruition, with Netflix announcing plans for it. While Netflix has proven capable of adapting other popular anime successfully, I can’t help but express concerns about this particular project.

Netflix has confirmed that they will be producing an adaptation of the popular series, Solo Leveling, on date X. Notably, actor Byeon Woo-seok (“Lovely Runner,” “20th Century Girl”) will portray the main character, Sung Jin-woo. The story unfolds in a universe where warriors undertake missions to vanquish monsters and safeguard humanity from invasion. An extraordinary event triggers a transformation in Jin-woo’s life as he acquires the ability to improve his abilities and advance his rank, which was once believed unattainable in this world.

One intriguing idea that’s been a massive hit among anime enthusiasts is quite challenging to execute effectively in real life, primarily due to one significant factor.

Solo Leveling Will Likely Require Heavy CGI

As a movie critic, I must confess my apprehension about the potential financial implications of a live-action adaptation of “Solo Leveling.” The series boasts an array of fantastical creatures and superhuman characters, which inevitably raises concerns over the VFX budget. With such a wide variety of monstrous entities and extraordinary abilities at play, it’s not hard to imagine the expenses escalating rapidly.

However, I’m not suggesting that this is an insurmountable challenge; rather, it prompts us to consider the level of visual effects Netflix will invest in this production. If they aim for a high-quality experience, the costs could soar, potentially outweighing the benefits. This dilemma lies at the heart of my reservations about the project.

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If Netflix intends to invest as much as they did in the upcoming season of “One Piece”, I’m not concerned. The issue is whether Netflix considers “Solo Leveling” to have the same level of mainstream popularity as “One Piece”, a series that has been a cornerstone of anime for years. Although “SL” enjoys significant buzz, critical praise, and a dedicated fanbase within the anime community, it remains relatively unknown in mainstream circles.

In the realm of anime live-action adaptations, it’s common to find productions that employ CGI effects similar to those used on shows like The CW’s Arrowverse at its peak. While these aren’t poor quality, they are noticeably not as advanced as what is considered state-of-the-art in today’s visual effects industry.

Some individuals might find that acceptable, but for me, choosing a less expensive option often stirs up questions as to why they didn’t simply let people enjoy the original animated version. It’s an apprehension I’m finding difficult to dismiss, though I’m confident I’ll eventually watch this adaptation using my Netflix subscription when it becomes available.

There hasn’t been any announcement yet about when the live-action series of Solo Leveling will air on Netflix, but it seems unlikely that it will be part of their 2025 TV lineup. In the meantime, you can catch up with the first two seasons of the anime on Crunchyroll, which is a great choice if you’re a fan of action-packed shows.

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2025-07-10 19:39