The Crunchyroll Anime Awards are nearly always embroiled in controversy, and this year is no exception. Solo Leveling, which has dominated the shonen action fantasy genre for years, failed to sweep the Anime Awards this year, and it could be a sign that the hype surrounding the series is finally beginning to die down.
It's been two years since Solo Leveling made its debut as an anime, with the franchise completely taking fans by storm and growing into an almost untouchable, global phenomenon.
It would be right to say that ever since then, Solo Leveling has enjoyed a firm reign over the shonen action fantasy genre as a whole. Beyond just the love from fans, critical acclaim, and the multiple records broken and set, Solo Leveling also proved itself with a massive sweep at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards last year.
However, it seems like the series is approaching the end of its supreme reign, and this year's Anime Awards are only the first sign. Despite a very successful second season, which was arguably even more exciting and refined than the first, Solo Leveling failed to sweep the Anime Awards this year, and it could be a sign of the hype surrounding the series finally beginning to die down in the absence of a third season.
Season 2 of Solo Leveling won only two out of its ten nominations at this year's Anime Awards, with the two wins being Best Animation and Best Action, which were certainly well-deserved. However, this nomination-to-win ratio is certainly very different from last year, when Season 1 of Solo Leveling took home nine of its thirteen nominations at the 9th Anime Awards.
This included Anime of the Year, Best Action, Best New Series, Best Main Character, Best Score, and multiple voice actor performance awards. Whether or not Solo Leveling deserved its dominating win at the 9th Anime Awards is up for debate, as it was definitely fueled by the sheer hype surrounding the series.
But this momentous win did prove the series had overwhelming support from fans and a massive fan base that showed up to vote for the series to see it take home these awards. One could argue that this year's Anime Awards were perhaps more fair and balanced in this regard, but at the same time, this could also be a sign that the blind support and hype surrounding Solo Leveling is gradually dying out, and the timing could not be any worse.
With no confirmation of Season 3 or the future of the anime, even an entire year later, fans might just be forgetting about the series, and at the worst time, as Solo Leveling's biggest rivals and competitors are also currently eyeing anime releases. Whether it's the gorgeous animation, the fast-paced action, or the addictive power fantasy story that fans love about Solo Leveling, there are multiple webtoon anime adaptations coming up that can scratch the same itch in Solo Leveling's absence.
Tomb Raider King, a power fantasy revenge series that features a similar art style and game UI features as Solo Leveling, is set to drop in July 2026. Meanwhile, Eleceed, another webtoon anime due for 2026, promises all the flashy powers and action, along with an endearing cast. And, biggest of all, Omniscient Reader, which is perhaps the only series capable of surpassing Solo Leveling, is reportedly eyeing a 2027 anime debut.
All of these exciting releases and more, like Teenage Mercenary and Stellar Swordmaster, are vying for Solo Leveling's throne, and when the series does eventually return with its next installment, it may be met with a lot more competition than it expected
Solo Leveling Crunchyroll Anime Awards Shonen Action Fantasy Genre Anime Webtoon Anime Adaptations Tomb Raider King Eleceed Omniscient Reader
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