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When the first season of the anime adaptation ofSolo Levelingfinally dropped in January 2024, the title’s pre-existing fans were simply ungovernable as their excitement reached a fever pitch.With A-1 Pictures on production, fans knew we were about to witness potentially the best anime adaptation of a manhwa that had ever been by then. Those who were already fans of the title were of the mind that the series would grow into a phenomenon, but the rapid growth of the Solo Leveling anime into potentially the most recognizable new title of 2024, and even more so with its second season in 2025, is something no one could have predicted.
With its global popularity and new reputation as yet another battle shonen juggernaut, series protagonist Sung Jinwoo finds himself among a different kind of “S-Rank”; as potentially the newposter child of the anime overpowered protagonist. How?
Let’s Define “OP”
For the Sake of Clarity
Overpowered anime characters are by no means a new phenomenon, especially in fantasy and isekai titles, where it is commonly the endgame for the main character to become the most powerful character in their respective -verse. To some extent,Dragon Ballicon Son Gokuis seen as right up there when it comes to the overpowered anime MC, but oftentimes these are appraisals of his greatest feats and indomitable will allowing him to defeat even the most powerful villains.
However, Goku isn’t necessarily OP beyond the reasonable scope of the ever-increasingDragon Balluniverse, as he has limits (that he constantly surpasses). For the sake of clarity in this conversation, the “overpowered protagonist” we’re zooming in on is more along the lines of aSaitama fromOne Punch Manor maybe even Goku’s older cousin, Arale from Akira Toriyama’s first big hit,Dr. Slumpboth of whom are literally without peer in their respective universes given the fact that they come from gag manga. Characters like the titular character ofThe Disastrous Life of Saiki K, Cid Kagenou fromThe Eminence in the Shadow, Tatsuya Shiba fromThe Irreguar at Magic High School, Seiya Ryuuguuin fromCautious Hero, for instance, are all characters who, regardless of the threat, they are not only able to counter it, but they completely outclass their enemies, pretty much every single time.
Let’s zoom in on some of the aforementioned. Tatsuya Shiba is the most ridiculous instance because in a world defined by the scientific advancement of magic, Tatsuya is incapable of wielding it himself, and yet has the greatest understanding of its workings, to the point of rendering any kind of magic useless.Cid Kagenou is capable of dropping literal atomic bombson his enemies on a whim, all while saying edgy stuff like “I am atomic”, while Saiki K changes the rules of his universe and has been doing so since infancy. Seiya stands apart because despite already being overpowered from the beginning, he spends most of his time in preparation for the next battle, which only further makes him an overwhelming force.
To be completely honest, most isekai protagonists who wind up on the fast track to overpowered all have the same idea about them: they’re so strong they go against the laws of their respective universes, bring about socio-political change, and are constantly underestimated by scrubs. The most notorious OP protagonists tend to be voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, withSword Art Onlinemain character Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigayabeing right up there in this regard.
What Makes Sung Jinwoo So Prominent?
Mastery Over the Formula, Or Just the System’s Influence?
Like most other OP protagonists, Jinwoo starts off hisSolo Levelingjourney as the weakest Hunter ever, but after a near-death experience, he gains access to a video game-like matrix that enables him to continue to grow despite the fact that Hunter potential is set at the moment of their awakening. The thing that sets Jinwoo apart is the fact that, unlike most other OP main characters, he isn’t one who turned his most disadvantageous trait into the very core of their power. InRising of the Shield Hero, Naofumi is cast in the role of a scorned cardinal hero, who, unlike the three others, doesn’t even make use of an offensive weapon to carry out his duties. As a result of this, public perception, and just blatant disrespect, he’s forced to embark on the path alone.
Over time, he comes to realize the immense offensive potential of the Shield, which has an inherent “Gluttony” type of Skill, enabling him to craft wares and absorb the abilities of his enemies on some level. The drawbacks of the shield are effectively only due to the limited imagination of people, and before long,Naofumi becomes the only hero who actually gets anything done. Jinwoo’s overpowered nature isn’t a subversion of his weakness, but simply the application of video game mechanics with cosmic entities at the core of his power. As the vessel of the most powerful entity, bar the Absolute Being himself, Jinwoo grows into a phenom ofSolo Leveling, but it isn’t necessarily what he does on the battlefield that sets him apart. It’s the edge. Let’s talk about what the internet today refers to as “aura farming”.
Sung Jinwoo: The Ultimate Aura Farmer
“ARISE”
What has made Sung Jinwoo rise to the point of becoming the face of overpowered protagonists in contemporary anime is simply the combination of just the right amount of edginess. Coolness has always been a factor in people’s favour of a character, especially when it comes to shōnen, but Jinwoo takes it to another level by bringing in another kind of cool to his every movement.His ability to raise the deadas members of his Shadow Army is just edgy enough to hold the audience’s attention, for they’re well aware that he’ll get through the challenge fairly easily or overcome it even when he is being outclassed. His silhouette, which features a lot of coats and a flowing cape-like look as a result of the coats, is a clear upgrade from the hoodies he’d worn in the early parts ofSolo Leveling. Beyond that, the way he seems to ooze coolness in everything he does, and his dwindling humanity creates a hero who is hardly ever shaken up by the enemy; one who arrives just in time to save the day but waits long enough to let some damage be done before his intervention.
“Aura farming” is an internet term that describes characters' tendency to essentially do cool things and give off a cool demeanour, usually in moments that don’t even call for that level of finesse. It’s Piccolo standing on the highest mountain with his cape flowing in the wind, or Night Raid inAkame ga KILL!standing on literal threads while a blood-red moon looms behind them, or Rukia appearing out of nowhere in Ichigo’s room just to say something cryptic like “It’s here”. There’s a certain atmosphere brought to the characters due to these activities that grants the character an air of mystique that fans seem to really enjoy. The concept of the “Jojo Pose” is potentially anime’s most famous aura farming activity, and if you may understand why that’s cool, you understand why Sung Jinwoo has become one of the most prominent overpowered protagonists. It’s all aura.
