Introduction

I love Solo Leveling, I recently did a review for Solo Leveling Volume 10 (which sadly isn’t up at the time of doing this review) but I think I conveyed my love for the series enough in that review. Nevertheless, when I heard Solo Leveling was releasing a movie I can tell you how high I jumped out of my gaming chair, and then I was slightly saddened to learn it would be a recap.

Too often anime movies end up being recap films and barely contain new content…I’m looking at you Accel World: Infinite Burst. Thankfully, I was told Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- would contain 2 episodes of season 2, and that was a sign of relief. Still, was Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- a good movie, or does the recap kill even the new content?

Let us find out in my review of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-! Thanks to Crunchyroll for providing us with an early screener’s link for the film!

Story

The first half of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is a spark notes version of Solo Leveling season 1. Following E-Rank Hunter Sung Jinwoo, who nearly died after entering a dungeon and facing immense odds. Awakening a new power, Sung Jinwoo slowly becomes an entirely new warrior with powers seen only by those considered S-Rank. Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is more about Sung’s rise to powerhouse and his best moments. After about an hour or so, Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- changes to add new content from season 2. Forced into a dungeon, Sung Jinwoo and several others now must combat deadly new threats! Can Sung Jinwoo use his new Necromancer power to survive this wintry hell he’s entered?

Animation

If you somehow forgot how gorgeous Solo Leveling looked, Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- will remind you in two ways. The original content from season 1 still amazes me and reminds me why I love it when A-1 Pictures put time and effort into their various adaptations and works. Where Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- shines, is the new season 2 content that kept me glued to my monitor. The various battles are stunning, to say the least, but the best moment takes place when Sung Jinwoo faces off against Baruka!

This battle shows off Sung Jinwoo’s talent but more than that, how much more effort was put into season 2’s animation. If you worried season 2 wouldn’t compare to season 1, Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- will remove that from your mind.

Sound

You know, there are only a handful of anime I’d ever want to listen to every song for. Series like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Your Lie in April have some OSTs where every song is good. Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is going to be added to that list of anime with great OSTs. Not only do some of the best songs from season 1 return, including the opening which I still listen to this day, but we get some new songs I’m presuming will be in season 2! Aside from the OST, the sound effects go into your bones when you listen. I can’t imagine how amazing this OST would sound in a movie theater!

The voice acting in Solo Leveling is great whether you like the sub or the dub. I can freely watch both and have no issue which isn’t something I can say about every anime. Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is an easy movie to recommend with either voice option as both are solid. I prefer the sub more, especially some of the darker moments of Sung Jinwoo but his English voice actor (Aleks Le), is truly incredible and talented.

Characters

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- isn’t going to give you a focus on many other characters aside from Sung Jinwoo, but that doesn’t mean some familiar faces won’t reappear and a few new ones (both friend and foe) aren’t included in Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-. Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- aims to remind you who the central star in this series is and why they earned that title. I liked that we got two new S-Rank Hunter character appearances but I can’t spoil who they are and won’t…but their SMALL fight makes you want more.

Aside from those characters, there aren’t many who will keep your interest. Baruka is probably the biggest antagonist of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- but he isn’t going to be around long in the film…for obvious reasons. Still, I am one of the few who feels like Solo Leveling works because of the central focus on Sung Jinwoo, you’ll agree it helps speed up the recap elements of Solo Leveling -ReAwakening-, considerably.

Conclusion

Here’s the thing, I can’t sit here and say Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is a bad movie. I loved the first season and love the manhwa. However, Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- is mostly a recap movie that contains 2 new episodes of content from the second season. It takes about an hour to get there and the recap will annoy some… Put it this way folks, if I reviewed the new content by itself, it would be a solid 9.5, it’s that great. Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- though, isn’t new content and the recap is akin to a fan-made mash-up of the best scenes of season 1. That part would be a 7.0. That’s why, math-wise, I know it would be slightly lower.

I give Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- an 8.5 and still recommend watching it but only if you need to see the new content and need a refresher before season 2 airs this January.

—Aaron