The hugely popular South Korean webcomic Solo Leveling has finally been adapted into an anime series, much to the delight of fans who had high expectations. The production company A-1 Pictures seems to be doing justice to the source material so far, as the premiere episode has proven very successful.
According to recent chatter on social media, after the first episode aired, there are reports coming out of Japan that Taito Ban, the Japanese voice actor playing the main character Jinwoo, may be going too intense with his voice acting in the recording booth.
Fans uncovered an old pre-release interview with Solo Leveling’s director, Shunsuke Nakashige, in which he gave some insight into Ban’s dedicated acting process.
Apparently, Ban wants to fully immerse himself into the role and emotional mindset of Jinwoo, often requesting multiple re-takes to get the performance just right. He digs deep to channel Jinwoo’s resolve and intensity in the heat of battle.
While this level of method acting may produce an incredible vocal performance, the studio team is concerned Ban may be pushing his voice to unhealthy extremes that could cause strain or damage over time.
They are urging him to dial back the intensity occasionally for his own self-care, but Ban is relentless in his quest to bring Jinwoo completely to life. His passion is admirable, but hopefully, a balance can be found so both his talent and vocal health are preserved throughout this and future seasons.
Taito Ban’s Unprecedented Commitment to Jinwoo in Solo Leveling Raises Concerns
In the interview with director Shunsuke Nakashige, new concerning details came to light about lead voice actor Taito Ban’s extreme dedication to his role as Jinwoo in Solo Leveling.
Nakashige revealed that at one point during the initial recording sessions for the first half of season one, Ban pushed his vocal performance so intensely that he actually coughed up blood.
Given the raw display of anger and anguish that audiences heard in Jinwoo’s voice in recent episode two, Ban’s extreme method of acting comes as little surprise.
He fully immerses himself in the dark emotions of the character, holding nothing back. While this has resulted in an incredible vocal performance that elevates the show, it has sadly taken a physical toll on his health.
Understandably, this story is now circulating widely amongst fans as Solo Leveling continues to build buzz as a potential Anime of the Year contender – and it’s still very early on.
With so much intense content still left in season one for Jinwoo’s character, Ban will need to pace himself or risk permanent damage to his vocal talents that fans cherish him for.
One can appreciate his dedication to his craft, but hopefully, a balance is struck between protecting his long-term voice acting career and delivering the authentic emotional Jinwoo moments that only Ban can produce.
If not properly managed, the anime community risks losing one of its most gifted stars.
Solo Leveling Anime Available on Crunchyroll
For those who haven’t yet caught up on the popular new anime series Solo Leveling, the show is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
The series is adapted from a South Korean webcomic which has already been completed and can be read in full on the platform Tapas.
Providing some context for new viewers, Solo Leveling centers around the character of Jinwoo Sung, considered the weakest hunter in the world with a low E-rank.
Due to financial struggles in his family, he has no choice but to keep risking his life going on dangerous raids despite his lack of talent. When the promise of a bigger reward comes up, he joins a difficult quest only to encounter a horrifying monster whose power exceeds anything he’s faced.
With the team leader gravely injured and missing an arm, their only healer terrified, and the rest of the hunters far outmatched, Jinwoo faces incredible odds of getting everyone out alive.
The story that follows shows Jinwoo discovering his own dormant potential in order to protect humanity. Fans praise Solo Leveling for its gripping emotional storytelling combined with absolutely stunning visuals during action sequences.
As Jinwoo unlocks new abilities, the fights only increase in thrills and imagination. New viewers can look forward to this and more as they experience the journey of the “Weakest Hunter,” who refuses to give up even when confronted with terrifying monsters in a post-apocalyptic world.
