Solo Levelinghas been nothing short of a smash hit for anime streaming service Crunchyroll, and now it seems like the series will grow even bigger thanks to the addition of Grammy-nominated artist J. Balvin to the series' English and Spanish dubs.
Balvin, 39, is a well-known Columbian musician who has collaborated with huge names in the music world such as Cardi B, Justin Bieber, and Beyoncé. Though it’s unclear at this time who Balvin will be voicing in season 2 ofSolo Leveling, the acclaimed artist is clearly excited to join the series. In a statement released by Crunchyroll, Balvin reiterated how big this move is for both him and the anime.
“I’m beyond thrilled to join the cast of Solo Leveling! This series has such a passionate fanbase and getting the chance to be part of the anime world, after being a fan for such a long time, is an absolute honor. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been working on!”
What Balvin’s Casting Means For Solo Leveling Season 2
The Musician Joining Solo Leveling Is A Huge Vote Of Confidence
Balvin is an absolutely massive musician in Latin America, so him joining the voice cast ofSolo Levelingseason 2 for the English and Spanish dubs is impressive to say the least. While there are no hints yet of who the artist is playing, his casting says a lot aboutSolo Levelingseason 2 and the kind of confidence Crunchyroll has in the series.
Season 2 of the manhwa adaptation, titled -Arise From the Shadow-, hasalready broken several Crunchyroll records, with the premiere episode racking up a truly impressive 129,000 likes in just one day.Anime adaptations of Manhwahave grown increasingly popular in recent years as the likes ofTower of GodandTrue Beautyearn a great deal of fan acclaim. WithSolo Leveling, it seems anime based on manhwa have truly and unequivocally broken into the mainstream.
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While the process of casting musicians to voice anime characters in common in Japan, it’s less frequently employed for dubs. This just makes Balvin’s casting in two ofSolo Leveling’sdubs all the more impressive. If Crunchyroll is willing to expend the resources to score a major talent like Balvin for their English and Spanish dubs ofSolo Levelingseason 2, then that suggests the anime streaming giant thinks of the series as a marquee title.
J. Balvin’s Castin In Solo Leveling Season 2 Could Hint At A Broader Strategy For Crunchyroll
Appealing To The Latin American Market Would Make A Lot Of Sense
Given Balvin’s popularity in Latin American territories, it is tempting to speculate that this signals a broader attempt to appeal to that market by Crunchyroll. As any anime fan knows, series likeDragon Ballare absolutely massive throughout Latin America, soit would make sense for Crunchyroll to try and appeal more to the region by casting a well-known celebrity like Balvin.
Balvin’s role inSolo Levelingis noteworthy in itself as a clear sign of what Crunchyroll considers its top series
Regardless of whether his casting represents the start of a new strategy for Crunchyroll, Balvin’s role inSolo Levelingis noteworthy in itself as a clear sign of what Crunchyroll considers its top series. In an era where a giant likeDragon Ball Daimais airing, that’s no small achievement. Balvin’s casting proves that Crunchyroll has incredible faith inSolo Leveling’scontinued success.
