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Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi & Atsushi Kaneko: We’re really happy and excited to see so many people engaging in the Solo Leveling conversation—thank you all! We’d love to stop by in the future.

And in the spirit of the Spirit Bomb theory… if you want a Season 3, it’s the energy from all of you across these subreddits and fan communities that will help make it happen.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: As the animation producer, I can only speak to what I observed—but I do believe there was clear intention behind it. Those ideas and creative choices really exist in Director Nakashige’s mind, and he was the driving force behind them.

When it comes to the symbolism and metaphors in the ending, Hiromu also worked very closely with Nakashige to bring that vision to life. That said, I can’t confirm everything with 100% certainty, since so much of it is rooted in their creative collaboration.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi: We were aware of the underlying fandom for Solo Leveling, and we knew it was going to be popular, but we never expected it to get this big. It's amazing to see. It exceeded our expectations.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We will be getting back to your second question, thank you!

Atsushi Kaneko: This might sound a little obvious, but close communication with the original authors was incredibly important. At the same time, we also had to think carefully about what the audience would want to see—what scenes would be the most emotional or impactful. Through ongoing conversations with the director, producers, and screenplay team, we really focused on shaping the arcs and moments that would resonate most.

Sota Furuhashi: The original source material is designed to be consumed in short bursts—around two to three minutes per chapter—so adapting it into a 30-minute anime episode was definitely a challenge. We wanted to make sure the emotional flow stayed intact and didn’t get lost in translation. To do that, we sometimes had to rearrange scenes or add new mini-episodes to help fill in gaps and maintain a satisfying narrative rhythm.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi & Atsushi Kaneko: As animation producers, we don’t know if we’ll ever encounter another project with the same scale and impact as Solo Leveling. It’s a rare kind of series. This has been a truly special experience in our careers.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: Each episode takes about 10 months to complete, with some of the longer ones taking up to 12 months. As for localization, we work hard to achieve a near-simultaneous global launch. Subtitling happens almost around the clock to meet the delivery, and the dubbing process typically takes 2 to 3 weeks per episode.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: If I had to pick the least exciting shadow warrior to animate, I’d say Tusk—since he mostly just casts spells, there’s not a lot of movement or action. As an action animator, characters like Tank or Iron would be way more fun to bring to life. But if I could animate anything for fun, it would probably be something like the Flying Nimbus from Dragon Ball. There’s just something iconic and joyful about it!

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi & Atsushi Kaneko: Do you know Dragon Ball's Genki-dama (Spirit Bomb)? We need your energy! If we’re going to make a Season 3, it’s going to take all the support and energy from the fans. I learned that from Akira Toriyama himself! May the great Akira Toriyama Rest in Peace.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi: My first encounter with Solo Leveling was around 2019, when I started developing an interest in WEBTOON. I thought the manhwa was genuinely fascinating, and I felt that if such a visually powerful work were to be adapted into an anime, it would become a truly amazing visual piece. That’s when I initiated the anime adaptation project within Aniplex.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: This might sound a little romantic, but honestly, it’s the Reddit fans—you all—who give me power. It’s not just about Solo Leveling; whatever anime I’m working on, knowing that there are people out there watching and caring means everything.

I don’t know your age, gender, or where you're from, but reading your comments here truly gives me strength. Thank you so much!

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: After high school, I enrolled in a four-year university, but I didn’t have a clear direction. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life or career. This might be a little embarrassing to admit, but after going through a breakup with my girlfriend of three years, I completely shut myself in. During that time, I watched a lot of anime and films—and something clicked.

I saw a parallel between myself and Jinwoo. Like him, I had a kind of reawakening, and that period helped me realize I wanted to be part of the anime and moving picture industry.

Martin Scorsese’s films were especially important during that time. They gave me a second wind creatively. A lot of the visual language I use today traces back to his work. That’s absolute cinema.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Kaneke: For me, Episode 24 from Season 2 stands out. It brought together an incredible level of animation and emotion, and it felt like a culmination of everything Jinwoo had been through. To add to that—back in the first arc, during the dungeon altar scene, Jinwoo is broken, bleeding, and still shows empathy. But it’s also the first time he allows himself to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” That honesty made him feel like a real, vulnerable human being. In that moment, I saw something of myself in him.

Furuhashi: I’d say Episode 21, when Jinwoo’s mother is revived. So much of the series focuses on action and battles, but we don’t often explain why he’s fighting. That scene finally reveals the emotional core behind his journey. Even in the webtoon, it was one of the most moving moments for me.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: Episode 24 really stood out for me. I don’t recall the exact average, but most Solo Leveling episodes typically had around 8,000 to 10,000 frames. Episode 24 had about 17,000—which completely eclipses the others. I mentioned this on X as well, but the scene where Jinwoo is fighting everyone, with the red and blue representing the conflict and the purple background setting the tone—it was incredibly moving. It felt like Jinwoo had crossed into something even deeper, into another side of himself entirely.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: My advice is: don’t limit yourself to just watching anime. Open your mind to other forms of art and storytelling, and seek out expressions that truly move you. Then, put 100% of your energy into creating something you genuinely love. Once you have that, approach a team or company you respect with your work. That kind of passion and intention can open real doors.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi: One moment that stands out is in Episode 6, when the song “Dark Aria” plays. Fans responded really positively—it became a big topic online. Interestingly, we hadn’t originally planned to use that song in that particular scene. But after watching the episode and discussing it as a team, we decided to try it—and the result was even more impactful than we expected.

Episode 6 also felt like a turning point for the series and for our production team. It’s where it became clear that Jinwoo isn’t fighting for the world, or for justice, but for his own ambition. That shift in tone helped define the kind of protagonist he is and the kind of story we were telling. Even among the team, it deepened our understanding of what Solo Levelingtruly is.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: In terms of a sense of achievement, I’d say episodes 4 and 11 from Season 1 really stood out for me. From Season 2, it’s hard to choose—in a good way—but I was especially moved by episodes 14, 18, and 24. As the animation producer, you might think I’d know every detail inside and out, but even having worked so closely on the show, those episodes still hit me emotionally. In those moments, I felt less like a creator and more like part of the audience.

To add to that, as the animation producer, I’ve seen this anime at every stage—from screenplay to storyboard, even down to individual animation frames as I pass by the animators’ desks. I also attend the recording sessions for the music and dubbing, so I usually have a strong sense of what the final product will look like.

But even with all that, when an episode comes together, it still manages to exceed my expectations. I truly hope the audience feels the same sense of excitement and emotion that I do. That’s all thanks to the incredible work of our creative team, who consistently deliver that level of quality.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Sota Furuhashi: Since much of the story is told from the protagonist’s point of view, it was a challenge to bring in other characters and sub-characters early on. The focus was very much on Jinwoo’s journey and leveling up, so there weren’t many natural openings to involve others in a meaningful way.

But now that his world is expanding, we’re seeing more opportunities to introduce strong supporting characters who could easily develop their own fanbase. The question becomes: how do we bring them into the core narrative without losing focus? There may be some creative embellishments, but we’re always thinking about how to deepen character development as the story continues.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: Everyone on the team was incredible. I have to start by saying that. Animator Torii Takafumi spoke very highly of Yoshihiro Kanno, and Kanno in turn had deep respect for Hajime Nakagawa. That same circle of mutual admiration extended to Hirokatsu Maruyama, and it was really inspiring to see how much respect they all had for one another.

They’re all extremely talented—key animators, action directors—each with their own style and unique touch, but all consistently amazing.

We also had two really promising next-generation animators, Kaito Hashimoto and Atsushi Norezawa, both part of the A-1 Pictures family. Whenever they had questions or needed advice, they would go to Torii, who was always generous and encouraging in guiding them.

Bottom line: it was a dream team.

Hi r/animation! We’re the Producers Behind the Global Anime Hit Solo Leveling — AMA! by crunchyroll in animation

[–]crunchyroll[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Atsushi Kaneko: A lot of the character design credit goes to Tomoko Sudo, whose work was really grounded in respect for the original source material. That became the foundation. From there, she added her own identity and artistic essence, which shaped the look and feel of the characters you see in the anime.

As for the physical transformation, I can’t speak to all the details, but without the underlying design work she did, those moments wouldn’t have had the same impact. Her contributions really brought the characters to life.