While many Korean film projects are busy “making hay while the sun shines” and dominating the box office in Vietnam, a Japanese anime project has unexpectedly launched and created a sensation titled The Ultimate Player. Since the beginning of January, the project Solo Leveling – I Level Up Alone has released its first episode and immediately secured the top spot on Netflix Vietnam, becoming a trending series.
The challenge of surpassing outstanding Korean hits like My Demon or Welcome to Samdal-Ri has left many in a state of confusion regarding the “identity” of this animated film.
Top 1 anime in Vietnam
Solo Leveling is essentially a popular web novel from South Korea. Subsequently, the web comic adaptation has been regarded as one of the legendary titles that has captivated over 14 million viewers. However, for many years, there has been no production company willing to invest and bring it to life. Until 2023, A-1 Pictures—a Japanese animation studio—took on the project and made the fans eagerly await its release.
The content of Solo Leveling revolves around the main character, Sung Jin-Woo, a timid hunter who is at the bottom of the hunter food chain in a world where humanity must fight against bloodthirsty monsters. During a dungeon exploration, Jin-Woo and his team encounter a deadly challenge that changes everything.
A mysterious force known as the System grants Jin-Woo the ability to become a “player” who must overcome new challenges and enhance his powers to survive in this perilous world. However, Jin-Woo soon realizes that this System harbors a dark plan that could have catastrophic consequences for humanity.
Many viewers have been captivated by the artwork of Solo Leveling as it transitions to the screen, especially the animation style that blends Korean aesthetics with Japanese anime artistry in a stunning manner. International fans widely consider it to be one of the brightest and most outstanding anime of the year, achieving great success with the original content intact.
Nevertheless, Solo Leveling still faces criticism regarding the “overpowered” character trope that has been frequently depicted in manga and anime. The film does not introduce many new elements or significant deviations from existing formulas. On the other hand, its sustained position at the top of the Netflix Vietnam platform demonstrates a substantial level of interest from the audience towards this super product.
