Solo Leveling’s Global Success Took Creators by Surprise, Says Producer

Solo Leveling’s global breakout shocked even the creators. Producer Atsushi Kaneko admits the anime's international popularity far exceeded its reception in Japan 🎙️ "It Was Very Unexpected" — Solo Leveling's Global Popularity Stunned the Production Team

Despite becoming Anime of the Year at the 2025 Crunchyroll Awards, Solo Leveling’s producer Atsushi Kaneko says even the creators were caught off guard by how massively it exploded outside Japan. On The Anime Effect Podcast, Kaneko admitted:

“The way the Solo Leveling anime was received in Japan was no different from any other anime… so when we learned how the series exceptionally blew up in popularity for our global Solo Leveling fans, honestly speaking, this difference in reaction was very unexpected.”

📊 While Solo Leveling smashed streaming records and became the most-watched anime on Crunchyroll by March 2025, it didn’t even break Blu-ray rankings in Japan, highlighting the surprising gap in domestic vs international reception.

🌍 For many fans worldwide, Solo Leveling offered a high-quality adaptation of a beloved Korean webcomic, combined with intense battles and powerful character development. The show's success speaks to the growing influence of global audiences in shaping anime culture, not just Japan.

🏆 With accolades, record-breaking stats, and a huge fanbase abroad, Solo Leveling has set a new standard for international impact in modern anime.