At a time when the anime industry is actively trying to be inclusive of its international fans, A-1 Pictures animation producer Atsushi Kaneko has stated that the studio did not create Solo Leveling anime with the goal to appeal to a worldwide audience, instead approaching the work as if it was aimed strictly at the domestic Japanese market.
According to the producer, when a Japanese production tries to appeal to the overseas audience, it misses its point.
Kaneko’s comments came during a roundtable interview with various media outlets, including Animehunch, at Mumbai Comic Con 2026 facilitated by Crunchyroll.
“Well, I don’t think we did anything different in terms of the work being done at A-1 Pictures,” Kaneko told Outlook Respawn when asked if he and the studio had put in any extra effort for Solo Leveling to be a global hit.
“I get the feeling that a Japanese production trying to appeal to the overseas audience misses the point, and that it’s better to take the same approach we would if it were aimed only for the domestic market. That’s what we ended up doing, and I think that’s part of why I’m here to talk about it,” Kaneko said.
The producer added that, in the end, it was more about “trying to make something good.”
When questioned if he expected the anime would become such a big hit, he replied no. “I definitely didn’t anticipate it becoming this big of a hit,” Kaneko admitted.
According to him, the fans reacted well to Solo Leveling anime because everyone working on it put their best foot forward.
“I’m not the only one working on the anime, so you have all the different staff members working towards a goal, putting their best foot forward, and I think that everyone approaching the project like that is what inspires that kind of reaction.”
Kaneko Didn’t Feel the Need to Put His Personal Stamp on Solo Leveling
Elaborating on his involvement in the Solo Leveling anime adaptation, Kaneko noted that his job was simply to fulfill whatever request the staff was making, and he didn’t feel the need to put his personal stamp on anything.
“Because the filmmaking process stems from the sense of freedom that the staff have, I don’t often need to put my personal stamp on something,” Kaneko told Animehunch.
He said that this thought process was born from having faith in the director and the character designers, and giving them the freedom to exercise their own creative vision.
“I believe the series reflects that, with the visuals being something that is representative of their taste, more than anything,” he added.
Solo Leveling anime was adapted from the Webtoon of the same name illustrated by Jang Sung-rak (Dubu), which in turn was an adaptation of the webnovel by Chugong. The first season of the anime released in early 2024, with a second season following in the next year.
Both seasons of the anime were a huge success, breaking numerous viewership records on Crunchyroll and other prominent streaming platforms. This culminated in the series winning big at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards and even securing a prestigious Astra Award, cementing its status as a global phenomenon.
Despite this popularity and critical acclaim, a concrete release date for Solo Leveling‘s third season still eludes fans.
During his panel at the Mumbai convention, Kaneko played coy about the Season 3 announcement, but assured attendees that he is “working very hard” on the franchise’s future and asked fans for a “little bit” more time.
Note: Translations for the interview were provided by Crunchyroll.
