Anime rarely cracks the top tiers of mainstream Western TV rankings, but 2025’s second season ofSolo Levelingis proving to be a different story. IMDb’s recently released list of the top-rated shows of the year includes just one anime, and it is a major one. In a field dominated by global dramas and prestige live-action series,Solo Leveling’sinclusion is no small feat.
While series likeWhen Life Gives You Tangerines, Invincible, andSeveranceare also riding high on critical and fan acclaim,Solo Levelingstands out as the only anime entry to make the cut. It shows a wider shift in audience tastes and a growing appetite for high-quality anime with global storytelling appeal.
Solo Leveling Earns a Spot in the Big Leagues
How Solo Leveling Climbed to the Top of 2025
Solo Levelingdid not just live up to its massive hype, it surpassed it. Adapted from the beloved Korean web novel and manhwa, the series premiered to strong buzz and quickly found its footing with fast-paced animation, a magnetic lead, and sleek world-building. It has consistently maintained high audience ratings since its January debut.
The story of Sung Jinwoo’s transformation from the world’s weakest hunter to its most powerful has gripped both long-time fans and newcomers. What helped solidify its place among 2025’s best is how well it executed that power fantasy, without losing its emotional weight or narrative cohesion. Viewers rewarded it with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
This critical and commercial success is especially significant becauseSolo Levelingdid not coast on its source material’s popularity alone.Studio A-1 Pictures elevated the story through cinematic fight sequences, strong pacing, and a haunting soundtrack, raising the bar for action anime adaptations. Its performance here proves anime can compete shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in global television.
What Solo Leveling Means for the Industry
Anime Is No Longer on the Sidelines and Solo Leveling Proves It
Solo Leveling’sappearance on IMDb’s Top 20 list proves a broader trend, where international stories are starting to dominate 2025’s TV landscape. Just asK-dramas likeWhen Life Gives You Tangerinesare capturing hearts globally, anime is carving out its own space in the prestige television conversation.
Its inclusion sends a clear message that anime is no longer niche, it is mainstream. With more internationalfans turning to anime platforms and streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix, series likeSolo Levelingare not just popular in Japan or Korea, they are being embraced worldwide.
In a year filled with genre-defining dramas and blockbuster thrillers,Solo Levelingis holding its own.
In a year filled with genre-defining dramas and blockbuster thrillers,Solo Levelingis holding its own. And if its spot on this list is any indication, it is a sign of even bigger things to come for anime in the years ahead.
