Global release of ‘Solo Leveling 2’ highlights challenges in dubbing and subbing for anime

The team behind 'Solo Leveling' Season 2 opens up about challenges in dubbing, subbing, and character localization.

The highly anticipated Solo Leveling- Arise from the Shadow Season 2, known in Japan as Ore Level, premieres globally on January 4, marking a milestone in Japanese anime’s global appeal. By becoming the most-viewed anime on Crunchyroll across 200+ countries, the show has set a high bar for global anime releases. Behind this success lies the intricate challenge of simultaneous localization for a worldwide audience.

Aniplex producers Sota Furuhashi and Fuuto Amako revealed the difficulties in producing an anime aimed at a global market. Since the original work, a Korean webtoon, featured localized Japanese character names, two distinct dubs were created: one for Japan and another for overseas markets. This ensured that names like “Mizushino Shun” (Japan) and “Sung Jin-woo” (global) matched viewers’ expectations. “We were conscious of people watching with subtitles,” said Furuhashi, adding, “Japanese voice actors are popular overseas, so we adapted accordingly.”

Balancing cultural authenticity and global appeal was another hurdle. While the team avoided altering the core essence of Japanese anime, they added global-friendly elements, such as English text for status screens. “We emphasized the strengths of Japanese anime while considering overseas preferences,” explained Amako.

The much-anticipated new season premieres on January 4, 2025, at 9:30 AM PST (12:30 PM EST). Fans can stream the latest episodes worldwide exclusively on Crunchyroll, with Amazon Prime Video also simulcasting starting January 4. Additionally, the anime’s official website confirmed that other platforms, including Netflix and Hulu, will begin streaming the episodes on January 7.