Warning: The following contains spoilers for Solo Leveling's manhwa!!

Solo Leveling has gained popularity mainly for its incredible animation and action-packed fights; however, what many viewers may not know is that the anime contains several exciting Easter eggs and references not just to other media but nods to future developments in the story that only the most observant manhwa readers will be able to spot.

Even in the Solo Leveling original webtoon, the artist DUBU includes many references to other popular franchises with cameos of characters like Louis Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist and from acclaimed films like Parasyte. This tradition was kept alive in the anime adaptation, proving the love for the project, as the production team went above and beyond to not only offer high-quality animation in Solo Leveling Season 2 but also to hide little tidbits and scenes for fans to notice and pick apart, making the viewing experience even more enjoyable.

10 The Silhouette of Beru

Fans Got the Confirmation of the Jeju Island Raid Arc Long Before its Release

During the beginning of Solo Leveling Season 2, there was a big debate among fans about whether the season would be able to cover up to the Jeju Island arc completely and if viewers would be able to get a glimpse of Beru, one of Jinwoo's most powerful shadow soldiers.

However, this was confirmed by the anime production team long before the release of Solo Leveling Season 2, since in the main key visual, although it is cleverly blended into the design, many fans couldn't help but notice that, hidden in plain sight, Jinwoo's hoodie forms the silhouette of Beru. This, along with the several original scenes meant to build up the Jeju Island arc since season 1, helped create anticipation for Beru's impending appearance in the anime, which didn't disappoint fans at all with his great character design.

9 The Ant King Channels his Inner Hulk

A Marvel Cinematic Universe Reference in Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 11 includes a subtle reference to the MCU in the way Ant King fights the S-rank hunter Ma Dongwook. In the episode, after Min Byung-Gu heals Ma Dongwook, he unsuccessfully attempts to attack the Ant King, but the latter is faster and grabs his leg, slamming him into the ground repeatedly, similar to how Hulk did to Loki in a scene from the first Avengers movie.

While this isn't a confirmed reference to the Marvel film, and it is a common action scene meant to show the difference in strength between the characters, the resemblance of both scenes is quite striking, and in Solo Leveling's manhwa, the Ant King only throws Ma Dongwook once, meaning this was a creative decision of the anime's production team. Curiously, Solo Leveling's author was a fan of Western comics, and he included several small references in the webtoon to popular heroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Batman.

8 Kargalgan’s Death in the Anime References the Double Dungeon

The Anime Does a Masterful Job of Referencing s From Solo Leveling's Manhwa

In Solo Leveling Season 2, episode 6, the anime added a scene of Kargalgan fighting his elite guards after they become shadow soldiers of Jinwoo. This doesn't only make his defeat more gruesome, since Kargalgan's death is simpler in the manhwa with a single of him being stabbed, but also makes a direct reference to Jinwoo's death in the double dungeon at the beginning of the series.

The glitching frames and the way the guard brandishes the sword before killing Kargalgan in the anime resemble the moments before Jinwoo is saved by the system in chapter 10 of the manhwa. Originally, this scene was adapted differently in Solo Leveling episode 2, which means that when deciding how to best display Kargalgan's death, the anime production team might have referred to the first chapters of the webtoon, nodding at one of the most shocking moments of the series.

7 Solo Leveling Season 2 English Dub Includes a Nod to Gurren Lagann

Jinwoo Vs. Baran is One of the Epic Moments in Solo Leveling Season 2

In Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 9, the fight of Jinwoo vs. Baran includes many original moments that made it more memorable than in the manhwa, like Igris beheading Baran's dragon or the explosion following Jinwoo's uppercut punch. This gives the fight its own identity and charm, an example followed by Solo Leveling's English dub, which included in Jinwoo's finishing attack a reference to Kamina from the anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

In the manhwa and Japanese dub, before punching Baran, Jinwoo says, "It's time to end this." However, this was changed in the English dub for the catchphrase of Kamina, "Who the hell do you think I am?!" This quote was said most in Gurren Lagann initially by Kamina and later by several characters throughout the series. Even though Jinwoo's English voice actor, Alexs Le, didn't confirm if the choice of the quote was to pay tribute to Gurren Lagann, this change made the scene more epic, which is something that characterizes Kamina.

6 Jinwoo Becoming the Shadow Monarch

Jinwoo's Job Change Hints at One of the Most Important Moments in the Series

In Solo Leveling Season 2, episode 12, an Easter egg teasing a future development can be seen when Jinwoo accepts to change to the necromancer class. Jinwoo's eyes and aura turned purple for a second. This is different than in the manhwa, where Jinwoo's aura is still blue like in the most part of the series, which only changed later when he uses the ability Monarch's Domain.

However, this easter egg is a foreshadowing of the major event in the Solo Leveling Season 3 when Jinwoo gets the black heart during the double dungeon, becoming the true Shadow Monarch as he starts showing purple eyes and an aura like Ashborn. This is a good addition by the adaptation which also shows the studio's love for the series to include litltle details for the manhwa readers.

5 Jinwoo Is Forced by the System To Follow Saitama’s Training Regimen

One-Punch Man Creates the Ultimate Workout to Become Overpowered

After Sung Jinwoo's reawakening, he receives a daily quest from the system to strengthen his body, which he has to follow to avoid being sent to the penalty zone. However, what is curious is the exercises included in the daily quest, as it is the same training regimen that Saitama from One-Punch Man did to become strong, and that made him unfortunately lose all his hair. Luckily, Jinwoo just became taller and stronger without turning into a Caped Baldy.

One-Punch Man workout: 100 situps, 100 pushups, 100 squats, 10-kilometer run.

This Easter egg in Solo Leveling confirms One-Punch Man’s influence, not only on other shōnen anime, but also on other mediums like Korean webtoons. Moreover, One-Punch Man has also been Invincible and in anime like Mob Psycho 100, which was created by the same author, ONE.

4 Jinwoo Does Goku’s Warm-up in His Fight With Kang Taeshik

A Tribute to the Master Akira Toriyama

Solo Leveling Season 1, episode 9, hides an homage to Dragon Ball, as when Jinwoo prepares for a fight to the death against the A-Rank hunter Kang Taeshik, he uses a warm-up technique that was previously showcased by Goku in the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly. While this could be dismissed as a typical preparation before a fight, the way Jinwoo hops, alternating his legs before dashing into the battle, mirrors the movements of Goku.

Moreover, this was added in the anime, as in the manhwa, Jinwoo just momentarily stops to read the system notification before continuing the fight. However, even if it was an unintended coincidence, since the release of the episode coincided with the announcement of Akira Toriyama's ing, fans claimed that Solo Leveling's studio wanted to pay tribute to Dragon Ball, which is unlikely given the production schedules of the anime. Another curious resemblance to the warm-up of the legendary hero happens in Solo Leveling Season 2, episode 10, where Jinwoo does the characteristic stretching of Goku before sparring against Ryuji Goto.

3 Min Byung-Gu Asks Jinwoo To Use His Powers

A Significant Change from the Manhwa Ahead of Solo Leveling Season 2 Finale

In the final part of Solo Leveling Season 2, episode 12, when Jinwoo looks for a way to save Cha Ha In after the Elixir of Life failed to heal her, the episode ends just after he unexpectedly turns to look at the camera. While this creates a great cliffhanger, which was the norm throughout Solo Leveling Season 2, this scene hides a tidbit, since after the screen goes black and the music stops, an unintelligible whisper can be heard. This is revealed to be the Min Byung Gu, who asked Jinwoo to use his powers to heal Cha Hae In.

This Easter egg was a clever way to introduce a change from the manhwa, since originally Jinwoo thought ing shadow extraction on Min Byung-Gu since he knew about his death and had two failed attempts to extract him, which highlights his personal quandary of turning a good person into a shadow. However, as Min Byung-Gu's soul is the one calling out to Jinwoo, it takes away the angst of the source material, turning it into a sweet moment that continues to humanize Jinwoo.

2 The System Notification About the Key to the Cartenon Temple

An Eater Egg that Sets up Solo Leveling Season 3

In Solo Leveling Season 2 finale, there’s a glitch showing a system notification when Jinwoo reaches level 100. This notification shows the information of the item that Jinwoo obtained in the Demon Castle in episode 15, which he couldn't read at the time for not meeting all the conditions, revealing it is the key to the Cartenon Temple.

The Cartenon Temple is the double dungeon that appears at the beginning of Solo Leveling, and the fact that this wasn't revealed till now means that Jinwoo needed to reach level 100, hinting that the system wanted to make him stronger for a specific purpose. Since this is an original detail from the anime, as in the manhwa, the item's information is noticed by Jinwoo in chapter #111, it became an excellent way to set up the biggest arc for Solo Leveling Season 3, the Double Dungeon Arc.

1 The Face of the Architect

A Hidden Nod to the Biggest Mystery About the System in Solo Leveling Season 1

The job change arc was undoubtedly one of the highlights of Solo Leveling Season 1, featuring the incredible fight of Jinwoo against Igris the Blood Red Commander and giving him the new class of the Shadow Monarch. Yet, just before Jinwoo enters this dungeon, there is an Easter egg teasing an important antagonist who will make his appearance in an Solo Leveling Season 3.

When Jinwoo accepts the job-change quest in Solo Leveling Season 1, Episode 11, during a split second in minute 1:01, there's an impact frame when the gate appears in which the face of the Architect can be seen. The Architect is the one responsible for creating the system and making Jinwoo a player, and he will appear once he returns to the double dungeon, as it is being teased at the end of Solo Leveling Season 2.