Latest news with #SoloLevelling
Buzz Feed
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Kacey Musgraves Teases Australian Tour At Anime Awards
The win sparked some debate with fans, following Solo Levelling's eight other awards across multiple categories. One user in the r/SoloLeveling Reddit thread said they were "genuinely surprised" at the sweep, with another defending it — "Let's not pretend that Solo Leveling isn't a fun watch". Country music heavy hitter, Kacey Musgraves hit the stage to announce the award of the night, in a Sailor Moon-inspired outfit no less. Kacey's love for anime isn't known to everyone but listeners of her most recent album, Deeper Well would be familiar with the song "Anime Eyes" — where she references famous Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki and fan-fave, Sailor Moon. The track is inspired by the exaggerated, animated reactions you'd see from anime character in love. Ahead of her Anime Awards appearance, we sat down with the "Rainbow" singer to dive into where her anime obsession started, coming back to her roots at Lost Highway Records and Australian touring plans. BFOZ: Why was it important for you to come to Tokyo and present at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards? BFOZ: Speaking of coming back, you've recently returned to your roots at Lost Highway Records. What can fans expect from the move? Kasey: That was my first label home, and then it got shut down shortly after. So for it to be resurrected and me being a big part of that and recording a song that was written in the 40s, and my grandpa was speaking on the song, it was really special. BFOZ: Some people might find that country music and anime are worlds apart — does it ever feel strange bringing those two universes together? BFOZ: You mentioned this on stage during the Deeper Well tour but we'd love to dig a little deeper. What was the inspiration behind your song "Anime Eyes"? Kasey: I think that American animators tend to, how do I say it? I think they tend to, what the fuck is the word? underestimate. I think American children programs can underestimate the viewer, and I love that with Japanese animation there's just so much emotion and put in moments between moments. It's hard to explain, but it's just so delicate and nuanced and I don't know. It's just special. And I just fell in love with that and yeah, it's awesome. BFOZ: Coming into the anime world very young, what role does it play in your life now? BFOZ: Are there any particular favourites that you gravitate towards to get that escape? BFOZ: And finally, if it were somehow possible to go and live in an anime universe, which one would it be? What were your thoughts on the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards?
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Red Fox webtoon is getting an anime adaptation; Get ready for a double dose of horror and romance
Red Fox anime adaptation After the immense success of Solo Levelling, we have heard a lot of official and unofficial announcements for new adaptations. And now, it has been officially declared by LAFTEL that the Red Fox webtoon is getting an anime adaptation. The series will be released exclusively on LEFTEL's official website in Korea. There is no word related to the global launch of the anime, but we can expect it to happen super soon. As for the anime, it will be a horror-romance saga stuffed with elements capable of giving goosebumps to the audience. The franchise has already dropped the teaser video of the same, and the anime will be released on May 19, 2025. Red Fox anime: A little about the makers and story The Red Fox webtoon has been written and illustrated by HAMA in the period of 2013 to 2015. The webtoon gained a substantial amount of popularity, and the anime adaptation is the living proof of it. The franchise has high expectations in terms of gathering masses from the anime. Coming to the story, it is based on a demon known as Red Fox, who is enemy number one of humanity. He has taken countless lives and has no regrets about doing the same. Now, things take a pretty unconventional turn when he meets a human woman, and she invokes the feeling of love inside the demon. As strange as it sounds, this serves as a challenge bigger than the mountains as the two navigate around the tragedies and the emotion of love together. Now, one thing that you should know firsthand is that the anime is not for the faint-hearted. It is built on the themes of tragedy, horror, and more twisted stuff that you will definitely get to see once it releases. If you have loved shows like Tokyo Ghoul , Mononoke , and Devilman Crybaby, then you are going to love Red Fox. And we will update this article once we get to know about the official global platforms, so hang tight and bookmark this page if needed. Also Read: How many Seasons will Solo Leveling have? According to manhwa Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Mint
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
If you haven't heard of webtoons, you will soon
IT TAKES ONLY a few minutes and a few swipes. After reading the first episode of 'Solo Levelling', a webtoon (ie, digital comic), you can be confident of where the story is heading: Sung Jinwoo will not remain the lowliest, most pathetic monster-hunter of all time. He will learn to vanquish fearsome beasts. He will earn his peers' respect. He will make enough to pay for his mother's medical care. Readers do not seem to care that 'Solo Levelling' offers a predictable hero's journey. The webtoon—with its dynamic fight scenes and meticulously rendered landscapes—has become an internet sensation, accruing more than 14bn views since its release in 2018. Last year it was adapted into an animated series (pictured) which rocketed to the top of the charts on Crunchyroll, a streaming platform. (A second season was released earlier this year.) A mobile game based on the story, also released in 2024, has made $150m. That is more than Oscar-winning films such as 'Conclave' have taken at the global box office. Much like 'The Masked Singer', a reality TV show, webtoons originated in South Korea and have gone global. What distinguishes webtoons from other comics is that they are designed for a small screen. (You read one by scrolling down, one frame at a time, rather than scanning multiple frames across a page or spread.) The format dates back to the early 2000s, but has exploded in popularity of late. In 2024 the webtoons market was worth $9bn; it is projected to reach nearly $100bn by 2033, according to IMARC, a consultancy. That figure is higher than the projected market size of manga, Japan's celebrated comic books. Indeed, even Japanese readers are ditching their homegrown comics for the digital alternative. The highest-grossing app in Japan in the first quarter of this year was Line Manga, a confusingly named webtoon app. The craze marries two phenomena: the popularity of comics as a genre and people's dependence on their smartphones for diversion. Webtoon, one platform, releases more than 120,000 new episodes every day, meaning even the most phone-addicted youngsters can find something to enjoy when they pick up a device. Webtoons are written to be enjoyed in short bursts—an episode can take as little as five minutes to read—which suits anyone with a short attention span. They are a product of Korean 'snack culture', which promotes the consumption of media in morsels of 15 minutes or less, says Dal Yong Jin of Simon Fraser University. Readers say that the single-panel format makes for an 'immersive' reading experience when compared with a traditional comic book, as your eye is not being prematurely drawn to other frames on the page. Another reason for webtoons' popularity is their paciness. Readers do not have to worry about a slow-burning plot. Characters generally face one moment of crisis after another: no sooner has Jinwoo survived one monster raid than he is off on the next. And, much as soap operas use cliffhangers to encourage viewers to tune in the next week, webtoon episodes rely on suspense to prod readers to tap through to the next instalment. This holds true for all genres, not just action and fantasy. Romance is among the most popular webtoon categories. Users have been seduced by such titles as 'I've Fallen For The Empire's Greatest Villainess', a smouldering yarn about a noble bachelor who is forced to marry. Despite its obvious tropes, it has a 9.5-star rating and almost 3.5m views on Webtoon. Even if many webtoons do not offer original conceits, lots offer sumptuous imagery. Artists from across the world upload their work directly to platforms, meaning no one has to hew to a particular aesthetic style. Some webtoons evoke brooding American comics, but others are more experimental. 'Lore Olympus', a retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone, uses vivid colours and an airbrush effect. It has had 1.4bn views. Webtoons' large, global followings have made them a valuable source of intellectual property. Since 2020 more than ten stories have been adapted into films and television shows. 'Sweet Home' and 'Itaewon Class' are available to stream on Netflix, as is 'Heartstopper', a popular LGBT romance based on Alice Oseman's webtoon of the same name. The truncated nature of webtoon episodes does not make them easy source material, however, for there is often not enough story to fill a script. And relentless twists make for hammy, monotonous viewing; people expect to see introspection as well as action. Asa Suehira, head of content at Crunchyroll, says that the producers of the 'Solo Levelling' adaptation had to add material about the characters' psychology to make the story work as tv. Nevertheless, more adaptations are on the way. Hollywood is snapping up the rights to hit webtoons; 20 shows are in development. LuckyChap, one of the production companies behind 'Barbie', the biggest movie of 2023, is working on a live-action film of 'Stagtown', a webtoon about a town with a dark secret. 'Lore Olympus' is being turned into an animated series by the Jim Henson Company (best known for 'The Muppets'). Skybound, which made 'The Walking Dead', a zombie franchise, has picked up 'Freaking Romance', a supernatural love story. Having conquered smartphones, webtoons are coming soon to another screen near you.
Economist
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economist
If you haven't heard of webtoons, you will soon
IT TAKES ONLY a few minutes and a few swipes. After reading the first episode of 'Solo Levelling', a webtoon (ie, digital comic), you can be confident of where the story is heading: Sung Jinwoo will not remain the lowliest, most pathetic monster-hunter of all time. He will learn to vanquish fearsome beasts. He will earn his peers' respect. He will make enough to pay for his mother's medical care.
Buzz Feed
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Every Moment That Made Me Understand Why The Internet's Undecided On The "Solo Levelling" Hype
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Solo Levelling. I've tried all my life to get into anime. Sitting with my brother and watching Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and 🫣English-dubbed🫣 Naruto on Toasted TV were cherished memories, but the habit didn't stick. This is how I felt whenever I attempted to get into it: Pierrot / Via But as I see more and more epic-looking series in search of what to recommend to you, I feel so much FOMO, because I didn't get into it sooner. So, I'm on a mission to level myself up from certified anime noob 😔 to anime literate (or somewhere close enough) — and I'm taking you along for the ride. Today, we're diving into Solo Levelling, a series at the top of the Crunchyroll charts, and constantly trending for its cliffhangers, animation and "peak" action sequences. If you haven't watched solo leveling yet you're missing out, the fights are literally peak 😭🔥 — Johnny (@JohnnySpittin) February 22, 2025 Twitter: @JohnnySpittin So, let's get into it and if you want to watch it for the first time with me, you can follow along. Here's everything I was thinking while watching Season 1, Episodes 1 to 3: Solo Levelling — Season 1, Episode 1: "I'm Used To It" 1. Oops, I accidentally had it on English dubbed — time to start again. 2. What are the navy (???) blowing up? 3. Oh, it's a fantasy. There's giant ants and knights. I knew there were swords, but the outfits look pretty cool too. 4. The art style looks like that old game — Adventure Quest. Does anyone even remember that? But in high definition. View this video on YouTube View this video on YouTube A-1 Pictures 31. This team is soooo screwed right now. 32. Anddd, he's going to die. Yep. RIP to the man who found his courage to speak up too late. 33. Good luck, Jinwoo. You'd better protect Joohee. 34. You have to surrender to the big statue king or there's no way you're living. 35. Never underestimate an E-rank! But also, they're all going to die. He's right. 36. The cliffhanger at the end...I guess I'll watch another episode. Solo Levelling — Season 1, Episode 2: "If I Had One More Chance" 37. Jinwoo definitely has a plan brewing. You can see it in his bandages. 38. That's an extremely clean cut on that guy's arm. 39. It would make sense if they accidentally strolled into A-Rank or S-Rank dungeons. It doesn't look like any of these guys know what's happening. They need Cha Hae-In, it seems like she would know what to do. 40. Ooh, the intro feels like an old sci-fi show. It really feels Spiderverse- y. "Let's get it!" 41. They're going to need a strategy in this dungeon and it's not this guy trying to summon super speed. Yep, he got toasted. 42. This statue is waiting so long, why? 43. The only person using their brain is the E-ranked they're still underestimating him. A-1 Pictures 44. Oh no, so sorry green jacket. It's over for you. Oops. Just kidding, but something else is definitely going down. 45. Okay this monster statue is creepy. 46. SO. MANY. TEETH. Annnnd, it squished someone like a bug. 47. There's got to be some hidden commentary about the rules of religion in here. 48. They should've put "Weak" by SWV into this scene. I think it would've added some comedic effect — "I get soooo weak in the knees, I can hardly speak". Well yes, 49. Finally, Joohee has arisen from her paralysed position on the floor. 50. OMG, green jacket just got sliced clean in half. DON'T. TRUST. THE. STATUES. 51. Woah this guy is still running without an arm, how has he not bled out yet? 52. Jinwoo is definitely going to become an S-Rank. There's no way he completely dodged getting squished by a shield. 53. Joohee needs to heal him ASAP because look at that leg: A-1 Pictures 54. NOOOOOOO JOOHEE!!!! 55. Here we go again. This is soooo Hogwarts Legacy coded. I can't unsee it. 56. Oh wait, Joohee isn't dead I'm so confused — why'd she look like she exploded? 57. Guys, I think Jinwoo is going to sacrifice himself. 58. Jinwoo's mum is in the hospital — an added layer of complication. He's not allowed to die. He has a sister to provide for too. 59. This is SO cool. 60. Jinwoo seems like the youngest in the dungeon. How is it that he's the only one picking up the clues? 61. These people are running towards the door without knowing what's on the other side. There's clearly MAGIC at play here. 62. The blood, sweat and tears. The passion. It's all so beautiful. A-1 Studios 63. Joohee is paralysed with fear again. 64. "I promised to take you out and eat". My hurts. He sacrificed himself for her. 65. Nah, I reckon all of these guys are going to die past the door. 66. Jokes. 67. I hope they remember his name and his story on the other side of the dungeon. But also there's no way he's going to die. He's literally a main character — at least, i think. 68. What an absolute masterpiece. (I know it's gory but also, imagine this in a live action.) A-1 Studios 69. Oh great, another cliffhanger. 70. Wait a minute, what is this notification business? 71. WHY DOES THE ENDING SCENE LOOK LIKE SEVERANCE?! Solo Levelling — Season 1, Episode 3: "It's Like A Game" 72. OK, things just got a whole lot more interesting, because that digital interface at the end makes it seem like someone else is controlling these people. Have you ever watched that Rick and Morty episode where they play the RPG called Roy? I have a sinister feeling, it's something like that. But obviously I could be very wrong. I probably am. 73. Dude, woah. A-1 Studios 74. OKAY, WHAT IS THIS NOW?! 75. There's a possibility that I'm not picking up context also, WHAT IS THIS?! A-1 Studios 76. Jinwoooooooo is alive!!!! How did he get to the hospital... 77. Now there's some suited associates with a metal box. He's going to get recruited into something. 78. Okay "Surveillance" must be what Chairman Go is running. 79. I'm going to skip the intro, I'm so sorry. I'm too intrigued. 80. The others that ran through the door actually escaped, but now they have to suffer consequences. Poor Joohee. She and Jinwoo are never going to go on their date. 81. Where did everything go? 82. CALLED IT. His "second awakening" is going up like four ranks. I can feel my toes tingling in anticipation. 83. Don't touch the mana metre Jinwoo. It looks so suspicious. 84. Oh! Only he can see the digital notifications module. I'd like to speak to a manager. Need to know immediately what's going on. 85. Typical sister, getting mad instead of asking if brother is okay. A-1 Studios 86. Is he playing GTA with magic? 87. World's shortest sister visit. 88. The girl in the pink hoodie is back and I think she can see the digital screens too. If not, why is she there? 89. This is a hack in the system. He's definitely going to level up. 90. As suspected, Director Go is head of Surveillance and there has to be more to this story. 91. There's guilds now?! Gosh I'm confused. 92. The citizens must be getting so over these random portals popping up. 93. Has anyone watched Three Body Problem? No further explanation. 94. Four hours of survival seems pretty intense for a training regimen, this better be a simulation or else GG to Jinwoo. A-1 Studios 95. Wait scrap Three Body Problem comparisons, this is DUNE! Maybe even a crossover. 96. The nurses must think they're going nuts. 96. Joohee and Jinwoo 🥹🥹🥹🥹 LET THEM GO OUT FOR LUNCH. A-1 Studios 96. Is there a chip in his brain? Is this a simulation? Is there someone playing on the other side? How is this happening? 97. If we all got "loot boxes" for completing our daily quests, that would be icing! 98. I wonder how they work out which rank the gates are. 99. Mother Sung looks like she's withering away. 100. Jinwoo is a provider! What a king. He's trying his best. 101. Lightning abilities?! 102. I'm still wondering how his life was saved and who's controlling these pop up screens. 103. One small knife for a whole dungeon, Jinwoo? Good luck! 104. Doing this exploration in skinny jeans? That's a true test of skill. A-1 Studios 105. Do you think if he dies, the game resets and he respawns? 106. Another cliffhanger, of course. Nothing ever RESOLVES. And finally, here's my verdict after three episodes. Solo Levelling holds your interest not just with the cliffhangers, but the evolving and surprising plotline. Of the fight sequences I've seen, they're not overly complex or long BUT they take advantage of the beautiful, detailed art style and bloody gore to depict the gruesomeness of each death. Now keep in mind, I've only seen three episodes at the time of writing this verdict, so this might change as I continue to watch more (I'm pretty hooked, so I anticipate that my mind will change). A-1 Studios In saying that, I wish they kept more of the medieval/magical-looking wardrobes for hunters, but I imagine that comes later. There's something about putting hunters in different costumes that makes them seem more admirable or powerful — let's chalk that up to Marvel/DC superhero influences. The lore unfolding slowly makes you want to invest time and attention into watching the show, which obviously is the point. But if you're casually watching, I can see how that might get slightly confusing. All in all, Solo Levelling is so far so good. Judging from the internet's tweets, we're in for a seriously interesting and suspenseful ride. I'll stay tuned, but I need Joohee and Jinwoo to get together eventually.
