“Solo Leveling” has quickly become a top anime, surpassing even “One Piece” and “Chainsaw Man” in viewership during its second season. Despite the show’s popularity, Season Three may not air until 2028, according to Aniplex producer Sota Furuhashi. He acknowledged that producing high-quality animation takes time, as exemplified by the 220,000 frames created between the first two seasons. While the extended wait is disappointing for fans, it’s not unusual for successful anime, given similar gaps seen in series like “Chainsaw Man” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.” High expectations and quality require careful production planning.
Following a remarkable debut and an even more impressive second season, Solo Leveling has established itself as one of the most talked-about anime titles. The series not only became the most popular title ever on Crunchyroll during the airing of Season Two, but it also surpassed ratings of One Piece and claimed the title of the most-viewed episode on the platform over Chainsaw Man. Over the span of its first two seasons, Solo Leveling has turned into a phenomenon, and fans are eagerly anticipating its return.
Sadly, this return may be longer than fans had hoped. A-1 Pictures and Aniplex, the creators behind Solo Leveling, are likely as eager for Season Three as its expanding fan base, but the process is complicated. At a recent Crunchyroll-hosted For Your Consideration event in Los Angeles, Aniplex producer Sota Furuhashi suggested that the series might not see a new season until 2028.
Solo Leveling Season Three Might Be Years Away, but That Isn’t Unusual
Anime Seasons Can Take Several Years to Produce
During the Los Angeles event, Furuhashi confirmed that a third season is in the works, although he cautioned fans that it could take some time to materialize. He stated, “If it were up to me, I’d say let’s wait until the next Olympics (2028) to see what’s going to happen with Season Three.” Unsurprisingly, many fans reacted negatively, fearing that the prolonged wait might diminish the momentum generated by the first two seasons of Solo Leveling.
Nevertheless, producing high-quality animation for Solo Leveling takes considerable time, and a gap of about three years between seasons is not uncommon for leading anime titles. Furuhashi elaborated on his comments, saying, “I think more than anyone, I am eagerly looking forward to Season Three! But honestly, 220,000 frames of animation were created between Seasons One and Two.” Production on Solo Leveling commenced in 2021, with the first series of episodes slated for release in 2024, and the next batch in 2025.
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Solo Leveling Is So Popular Now That It’s Actually Becoming a Threat to Anime’s Top Genre
Solo Leveling is one of anime’s top series of all time, and it has grown so large that it is now a threat to the biggest genre in the medium.
With the substantial buzz surrounding the series in the past year, production for Solo Leveling Season Three will launch under higher expectations and a significantly larger budget, which should result in an enhanced quality and more intense production. Many animators working on the series may have already taken on other projects or signed contracts for them due to A-1 Pictures working on previously popular titles like 86 EIGHTY SIX. Greater expectations and demand lead to higher quality productions that require time.
Other Major Anime Titles Have Taken Similar Time to Return
It’s Not Unusual For Top Anime Series to Take Some Time Before Returning
Though a three-year wait for Solo Leveling‘s third season may come as a letdown to many, this timeframe is not unusual at all. Some of the other major anime series also require significant time before their returns, such as MAPPA’s Chainsaw Man, which premiered in 2022 and will finally continue with the upcoming Reze Arc film in October this year. Another MAPPA title, the immensely popular Jujutsu Kaisen, resumed it second season in 2023 after debuting in 2020.
Oftentimes, a series like Solo Leveling can achieve massive popularity even with a relatively small team, leading to lengthy gaps between seasons. This was notably the case with Attack on Titan, which experienced unexpected success, resulting in fans being left wanting during the longer wait for Season Two with Wit Studio. Fans are likely to hope A-1 Pictures will deliver a quality next season for Solo Leveling, and this can’t be rushed or achieved by cutting corners. Although the wait may be frustrating, it’s ultimately essential for the series’ future.