Shangri-La Frontier and Solo Leveling are some of the most popular anime influenced by video games currently streaming. Each series is fantastic and has each developed dedicated audiences. Yet, both franchises tackle the implementation of gaming concepts vastly differently. Shangri-La Frontier follows Rakuro Hizutome as he plays a completely fictional video game. In contrast, Solo Leveling depicts Sung Jinwoo as he is suddenly gifted with the ability to use video game concepts in his real-world life. This allows Jinwoo to go from one of the world’s worst hunters to one of the few S-Rank hunters in history.
Both anime effortlessly captivated audiences with their over-the-top battles and thorough world-building. However, the Solo Leveling anime has toned down several of its source material’s game references in favor of more action. Sung Jinwoo’s daily quest is given less and less relevancy as the plot goes on. Shangri-La Frontier covers multiple games, each with unique rules and styles. Rakuro Hizutome even specializes in completing notable buggy and games that are difficult-to-master. Overall, Shangri-La Frontier does a much better job fleshing out the series’ video game elements than its direct competitor, Solo Leveling.
Shangri-La Frontier Is One of the Most Underrated Video Game Anime Currently Streaming
The Iseaki Anime Contains Many of the Same Elements as Solo Leveling
Shangri-La Frontier follows Sunraku’s journey through the video game of the same name. The game is one of the few critically acclaimed titles Rakuro Hizutome has played throughout his extensive gaming career. Other games are visited within the anime, like Berserk Online Passion, but Shangri-La Frontier remains the primary focus. It has many of the most popular RPG elements and has thoroughly hooked the game-loving protagonist. Rakuro, as Sunraku, goes from level one to over one hundred in under a month.
Sunraku encounters many of the most well-known video game concepts during his journey. He encounters specialized enemies, bosses, NPCs, interesting gear, and wondrous in-game areas. Each idea is thoroughly explored when introduced and those that aren’t are revisited later. The “crazed bird-man” also benefits from having an interesting cast of NPCs and player characters to accompany him on his quest.
Solo Leveling depicts Sung Jinwoo’s rise from E to S-Rank hunter as he suddenly gains access to a video game-like UI upon his obvious death. Whatever this system is, it likes Jinwoo and allows him to cheat death many times besides his second chance at life. He also gains the ability to physically increase his level, making him one of the few characters in Solo Leveling without a concrete limit. Using his advanced UI and leveling capabilities, Jinwoo tackles several powerful dungeons essentially alone.
10 Solo Leveling Details Only Manhwa Readers Know
Solo Leveling stands out as a manhwa-based anime, thrilling fans with stunning animation while keeping key details exclusive to readers.
Unlike Shangri-La Frontier, none of the events in Solo Leveling are fictional for Jinwoo. He spends every moment of his waking life training for or facing a real threat to humanity. As one of the few S-Rank Hunters, he is expected to be a savior to humanity, and the anime adaption attempts to depict him in a much more positive light. Solo Leveling is interesting because it brings video game elements into the real world.
Shangri-La Frontier is nearly the mirror opposite. The anime Shangri-La Frontier doesn’t entirely take place within the confines of the virtual world, but it heavily separates both aspects of the franchise. Although Shangri-La Frontier is popular because of its various realistic elements, the game is mostly elevated by its sense of wonder.
The world of Shangri-La Frontier would feel out of place and completely silly in a more serious franchise. The series perfectly represents the wacky but popular world of online role-playing games. It is clear in the care that the anime executes these ideas that someone involved in the gaming industry had a hand in making Shangri-La Frontier.
Rakuro Is a Better Main Character Than Solo Leveling’s Jinwoo
Shangri-La Frontier Also Has Memorable Cast of Side Characters
Rakuro Hizutome is far from your typical anime protagonist. He initially wasn’t interested in saving the in-game world, or the needs of others for that matter. Sunraku, Rakuro’s character, is concerned with enjoying his experience within Shangri-La Frontier. However, he is slowly learning to play with others.
He continues to horde useful tools and information, but he has finally realized that playing with friends is more fun. Sanraku’s progression is slow; he makes several debilitating mistakes along the way, but always attempts to learn from them. Rakuro has made friends with several other notable gamers throughout his gaming career. These friends eventually follow him to the game Shangri-La Frontier.
While they are originally barriers to Sunraku’s speedy progression, he learns to work with them instead of against them. Sunraku even forms one of the most powerful and successful in-game guilds. Wolfgang quickly becomes one of the most well-known clans because of their defeat of Weathermon the Tombguard.
After 2 Seasons, You Can’t Convince Me Solo Leveling isn’t the Most Overrated Anime Ever
Solo Leveling is easily the most popular isekai anime on air right now, but it’s also overrated and overhyped.
As a character, Sung Jinwoo is tragically generic. Nearly every aspect of his character has been featured or expressed by another anime protagonist. Though he is a more neutral character in the source material, the anime depicts Jinwoo as if he can truly do no evil. Robbing Jinwoo of his neutrality is one of the biggest mistakes the popular adaption makes. Jinwoo remains one of the most popular characters in any recently released series.
Most anime have at least a few memorable characters, but Solo Leveling focuses solely on Jinwoo. As the name suggests, he is the primary focus of the series, and other characters are given little notice or regard. Several of Solo Leveling’s supporting characters can be easily boiled down to their powers or positions. Thankfully, more recent episodes have hinted at a more interesting cast.
Jinwoo’s Journey Has More Stakes But Sunraku’s Is More Fun to Watch
The Anime Protagonists’ Stories Heavily Mirror One Another
Sung Jinwoo spends his every day in mortal danger. Every dungeon and every raid could bring Jinwoo closer to his eventual death. He has been given a second chance at life, but he has also been promised that he will not receive a third. His every level helps him further secure his life against the oncoming threat. The human world is consistently being overrun with monster-filled gates, and Jinwoo seems to be the most capable person to permanently end this crisis.
Every gate in Solo Leveling has the chance to bring monsters into the real world. Jeju island has been famously overrun with ultra-powerful ants bent on human destruction. These ant-like monsters risk wrecking the entire earth, but they are not even the most prevalent threat in the Solo Leveling universe. Every day for Jinwoo is life-or-death, yet he is even more selfish than Sunraku.
Why Are Anime Fans Ignoring Shangri-La Frontier Season 2?
Although Shangri-La Frontier is one of the highest currently streaming anime, it is rarely mentioned among many of its competitors.
Shangri-La Frontier is nothing more than a heavily advanced VR game. Sunraku’s life is never in any mortal danger, nor does he risk anything by continuing forward on his quest. Sunraku plays Shangri-La Frontier simply because he is having fun, and the audience gets to enjoy the experience along with him. As Sunraku dives deeper into the game’s rich lore, he tackles it with his unique flare as a former “trash gamer”. Although Jinwoo’s journey has higher stakes, Sunraku’s quest is more engaging.
Sunraku’s dedicated journey to complete Shangri-La Frontier is relatable to nearly every fan. Every gamer has had at least one game they’ve completely fallen in love with and have quickly soared through. This makes Sunraku’s journey ever so slightly more entertaining than Jinwoo’s. The anime market has been flooded by various series with world-ending plots. It’s refreshing to see a more comedic series with almost no real stakes have such captivating action sequences. Sunraku might have unlimited lives in Shangri-La Frontier, but he takes his gaming seriously.
Solo Leveling Has More Hype But Shangri-La Frontier Is a Better Isekai Anime
Both Series Are Some of the Most Popular Action Anime Currently Streaming
Since its initial debut in 2024, Solo Leveling has demonstrated far more acclaim than Shangri-La Frontier. This reputation has been genuinely earned, and Solo Leveling remains one of the greatest new anime series currently streaming on Crunchyroll. Yet, the anime tones down many of its video game themes in favor of focusing on the various action sequences. Shangri-La Frontier somehow had the best of both worlds relatively seamlessly.
Shangri-La Frontier flawlessly switches between its real and virtual worlds. All the video game terminology is used correctly and fits within the narrative. Eric Vale’s performance as the avid gamer Rakuro Hizutome is spot on. Although Sunraku might not possess any game-life balance, he is doing what he loves. His journey is engaging for the same reason that many people watch gameplay footage on YouTube. It’s engaging to watch a knowledgeable person talk and take part in a game they enjoy.
There’s More Good News for One Piece Fans This April
April will be a great month for One Piece fans, with the latest Wano Country anime episodes set for release alongside other promising Blu-ray titles.
Overall, Solo Leveling and Shangri-La Frontier are some of the greatest anime currently streaming. They both contain some of the best action sequences of the last decade. However, by adapting the video game aspect of their series, Shangri-La Frontier is superior. Solo Leveling is unique, but the anime often fails to show this with its sometimes necessary focus on action. Yet, Jinwoo’s journey is superior in other ways, like pacing. Despite that, Shangri-La Frontier remains the most accurate video game anime.
