Irrespective of the time they spend on screen, it’s easy to tell which characters fit the strong, cool archetype in Solo Leveling. Choi Jong-In is one such character, earning himself the moniker of the Ultimate Hunter. Compared to the manhwa, his character in the anime has a much different air about him.
This is no surprise as the anime has made many changes and original additions to the story. From changing the narrative flow to fleshing out the side characters, Solo Leveling anime is elevating the overall experience.
Except the same can’t be said about Choi’s character. The anime has switched up his perception for the worse, and his manhwa counterpart is comparatively more interesting. And, here’s why that is the case.
Anime-only changes are a disservice to Choi Jong-In’s character in Solo Leveling
Choi Jong-In was introduced at the beginning of the anime, whereas in the manhwa he appeared much later on. He appears only briefly, narrating his thoughts on the major events of the Hunter world. It can be said that all the original additions and scenes in the anime so far have hardly contributed anything in Choi’s favor.
Unlike other S-Rank Hunters who have interacted with Jinwoo and showcased their abilities to some extent, we have only seen the Ultimate Hunter in basic conversations. His trajectory and character arc in the manhwa weren’t much different; however, his aura compensated for the lackluster aspects.
The first time Choi appears in the manhwa is right after Jinwoo’s reassessment. Choi asks Woo Jinchul about Jinwoo. During that interaction, he exudes menace. Multiple panels tease his proper introduction as his words are matched with different profiles, concealing his appearance. The moment his face is revealed, it’s evident that an air of danger surrounds him.
He seemed shrewd, conceited, and extremely strong. In contrast, he seems too friendly and soft in the anime. The interaction fails to create a similar impact and atmosphere. His aura in the manhwa suggested how he could have twisted motivations for seeking Jinwoo. It needs to be mentioned that its art is among the manhwa’s strongest aspects, and part of the reason why the character appears the way he does.
That version of him reminded many fans of Sosuke Aizen from Bleach. Beyond the identical appearances, these two characters have similar personalities, at least on a superficial level.
The anime version simply can’t be compared to Aizen
Sosuke Aizen is revered as one of the best anime villains. Within a few chapters of the manga, he went from the kindest soul alive to a narcissistic harbinger of doom. This switch was exciting. Similarly, Choi’s introduction to the manhwa allowed fans to experience a similar thrill. His cordial greeting to Jinwoo was in stark contrast to his proud expressions.
It was difficult to trust him. Jinwoo’s disinterest crushed his arrogance which revealed a different side of Choi. The anime presents him as a less intimidating and more simplistic character, stripping away his appeal. Even with a few moments, Choi was able to leave an impression in the manhwa, which doesn’t seem to be the case for his manhwa counterpart.
Solo Leveling is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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