Highlights
- Solo Leveling episode 8 is delayed due to Taito Ban's COVID-19 diagnosis, putting health first for the cast and crew.
- Fans express frustration at Aniplex's history of recap episodes, but also show support for the series and its staff.
- Episode 7.5 will air on February 24, with special narration from Taito Ban, while episode 8 is set for release on March 2.
Fans of Solo Leveling were disappointed to learn, shortly after the airing of the series' seventh episode, that there would be a delay in the release of episode 8. The news was first dispensed on the series' official X (Twitter) account on Saturday after episode 7 ended, where it was revealed that the next one would be episode 7.5, titled "How To Get Stronger", which will recap the events of the Solo Leveling anime thus far.
For many fans, the series' distributor, Aniplex, is to blame for the decision, as they are notorious for putting recap episodes into several anime series in the past; however, some fans are also aware of the fact that Sung Jinwoo voice actor Taito Ban has fallen ill and therefore needs to take time off to recover before returning to the studio. The Solo Leveling recap episode will air on Saturday, February 24 at 12 am JST or 7 am PT, while the 8th episode is expected to drop on March 2 at 9:30 am PT.
Solo Leveling: A Vision of Hell
Jinwoo enters an S-Rank Instance Dungeon, while in Washington, another S-Rank threat plots to exact revenge.
Why is Solo Leveling Episode 8 Being Delayed?
COVID-19 Health Concerns Have Set Production Back
The biggest reason for the decision to push back the release of the 8th episode of Solo Leveling was out of concern for the health of Taito Ban, who voices Sung Jinwoo in the Japanese dub. About a week ago, it was reported that Taito Ban tested positive for COVID-19, which means that things cannot be business as usual as it would put his fellow cast members and others involved in the production at risk of infection.
At the height of the pandemic, there were hefty delays in the production and release of various anime, and even after production was allowed to commence, various studios had to quickly close their doors due to huge swathes of their staff coming down with the coronavirus and therefore being unable to work.
"The young man was called "humanity's weakest weapon.''
He took the first step to become stronger.
Looking back at episodes 1 to 7 with newly recorded character narration."
– @Solo Leveling_PR on X (Twitter)
Are Fans Blaming Aniplex?
A History of Troubled Productions
Part of the dissatisfaction among fans is the fact that the recap episode is a tool that often comes up in various anime titles distributed by Aniplex. As a subsidiary of Sony, Aniplex is one of the biggest companies involved in the planning, production, and distribution of various anime series, from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, 86 Eighty-Six, and Sword Art Online. Various anime produced by the company in the past five years have had recap episodes incorporated into them, or experienced lengthy delays, including the aforementioned 86, which had a whopping four recap episodes; the first season of Mashle,Wonder Egg Priority, and the anime adaptation of Nier;Automata, which saw significant challenges in production and roll out.
While Taito Ban's health is of utmost importance, the announcement made by the Solo Leveling social media channels revealed that the recap would include special narration from the voice actors, Taito Ban included. While many fans were aggrieved by the news, there were also countless fans who echoed words of support for the series and its production staff, expressing an understanding of the hectic demands of producing a weekly anime, let alone one this highly anticipated.
When Will Episode 8 Release?
Fans Won't Have to Wait Long
Luckily, the delay isn't going to be for too long, and as much as fans dislike recap episodes, watching it may mitigate one of the big reasons why fans were dreading this: the stifling of the show's momentum. The Solo Leveling anime has been doing very well so far, so the delay has had fans worried about the continued success of the anime; however, episode 8 will air on March 2. Hopefully, the rest of the episodes of Solo Leveling coming out this Winter season will air without issue, but in the meantime, fans will be wishing the talented Taito Ban a speedy recovery.
Sources: Solo Leveling Official X (Twitter); Taito Ban on X
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