Solo Leveling quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, praised for its fast-paced action, eye-catching animation, and compelling protagonist. Its global success broke records, raised industry expectations, and earned Crunchyroll’s 2025 Anime of the Year award. With its massive success, many wonder if any other anime can reach the same level of popularity as Solo Leveling.
Earlier this year, a new Chinese anime premiered and steadily gained traction with its fresh storytelling approach. To Be Hero X may not have achieved the same global fame as Solo Leveling yet; however, with its unique qualities and audience-driven narrative, it could emerge as a major contender in the anime industry.
To Be Hero X Could Rival Solo Leveling’s Popularity
To Be Hero X Has a Unique Approach To Storytelling
To Be Hero X has been steadily gaining visibility since its debut in April 2025, with recent episodes earning impressive ratings. While the series is still far from reaching the same level of recognition as Solo Leveling, its growing momentum suggests it could soon rank among anime’s most popular titles, especially as word-of-mouth continues to spread.
The new Chinese anime, also known as donghua, is unlike anything seen before, with a diverse cast of characters, a non-linear narrative structure, and an exploration of complex hero archetypes. By focusing on multiple protagonists rather than just one, To Be Hero X can explore different perspectives, creating a multi-layered, interconnected world that keeps audiences engaged.
By focusing on different characters, the series opens the door to rivaling motivations, sets the stage for dramatic betrayals, and gives audiences an opportunity to connect with the characters in unique ways. By following a non-linear timeline, the series encourages viewers to piece together relationships and events as they unfold, keeping them engaged and rewarding their attentive viewing.
The series further stands out for its bold and dynamic animation style, effortlessly transitioning between 3D visuals and 2D animation. The style is sleek yet daring and will grab the attention of fans who praise Solo Leveling’s action sequences. To Be Hero X challenges expectations throughout its entire story, making each episode a visually stunning and engaging experience.
Fans Can Shape To Be Hero X’s Storyline
To Be Hero X Offers a Unique Interactive Opportunity
The most unique aspect of To Be Hero X is its innovative approach to audience engagement, allowing fans to shape the storyline of the upcoming season. Fans can vote for their favorite characters, and these choices will determine the amount of screen time for those characters and the direction of their story arcs, making it a groundbreaking series in anime.
With a hero system that revolves around trust values, the series cleverly involves viewers with its unique system. By allowing the audience to participate, the series gives fans the power to influence the storyline by projecting their own “trust” onto their favorite characters. Many other anime, including Solo Leveling, are limited to adapting an existing story with predetermined events.
While Solo Leveling is a global anime powerhouse, To Be Hero X is carving out its own path with a revolutionary approach to storytelling. Its steadily growing popularity, unique animation style, and strong cast make it a contender for global recognition. If its momentum continues to build, To Be Hero X could rise to rival Solo Leveling.
