Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Solo Leveling are examples of stories that resonate with the audience because they balance high-octane action, heartwarming emotions, and some humor.
Both series feature protagonists who start from a humble level and proceed to overcome insurmountable odds to transcend their limits and reach their ultimate goal.
While both series have the same formula for success, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba beat Solo Leveling to become one of the most popular stories of our time, and here’s how.
Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling: Two stories in the same boat
If one thinks about it (think Mark think), both Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling have a similar narrative. The stories focus on characters who have humble origins and gradually gain the skills and strength to overcome their problems and confront foes who used to be stronger than them.
While Sung Jinwoo is the weakest hunter of mankind who takes care of his family after his father disappears, Tanjiro is a humble charcoal seller who steps up to his father’s responsibilities after he dies (okay, this is getting too similar).
Neither Tanjiro nor Sung Jinwoo was simply handed over the power. They had to train for it, no matter how exhausted their bodies and minds were. Tanjiro trained with Urokodaki for several months to master a Breathing technique, while Jinwoo had to complete the quests given to him.
Both stories tap into the universal fantasy of overcoming one’s shortcomings and growing stronger than everyone around them.
Both series excel at delivering the plot to the reader in an entertaining and action-filled way, and this is why both stories are so iconic in today’s landscape.
Despite all this, why is Solo Leveling unable to achieve Demon Slayer’s popularity even after all these years? What is Gotouge’s secret ingredient (it’s Wisteria lol)?
How did Demon Slayer achieve what Solo Leveling did not?
Despite all the similarities, Demon Slayer has gained far more popularity and acclaim than Solo Leveling. The amount of success it has achieved on a global scale is mind-boggling.
Well deserved. Why is Demon Slayer so popular anyway?
byu/vector_inspector24 inKimetsuNoYaiba
The story is so popular that it singlehandedly outsold the entire American Comic Book industry. The story resonates with several people, and everyone actively recommends it to people who wish to get started with anime.
This success is due to the simplicity of the story. Fans of Demon Slayer have described it as a simple story with well-written characters. The story is simple and consistent, and all the facts are laid out in front of the audience at the beginning.
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Along with a straightforward story, Demon Slayer is renowned for having characters the audience can resonate with. Every character’s introduction serves a purpose, and each character goes through a certain amount of character development.
Even Murata, a side character, plays a crucial role in the story, and the audience cares about him because he’s been treated as an actual character in the story. Side characters here are not simply tools for progressing a story, they are a part of it.
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Compared to this, the side characters in Solo Leveling exist to hype up Sung Jinwoo, who himself seems to lack any form of expression whatsoever. While his character does change in the story, it feels sudden and mechanical.
Another reason for Demon Slayer’s popularity is the compelling nature of its story. When one reads the manga, they want to help Tanjiro defeat Muzan, the Progenitor of Demons. When Tanjiro is helpless, the audience feels helpless as well. The audience knows that the stakes are real in the story.
If a Slayer loses their arm, it’s gone for good. They do not have a magical system that can regenerate it. If Tanjiro is poisoned, he has to use his breathing style to eliminate the poison from his body. A system won’t do it for him.
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And even after he has expelled the poison, he can’t just hunt down demons. He had to sit down and rest to get back to top shape (he might die by Shinobu’s hand if he refused). Fighting demons despite such risks is what makes the story compelling.
In the end, while both Solo Leveling and Demon Slayer shared a similar blueprint for success, aspects like a meaningful narrative and engaging characters contributed to making Demon Slayer a popular story. Its accessible narrative and themes have allowed it to become a global phenomenon.
Demon Slayer and Solo Leveling are available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
