The comparison between the dubbed version and the subbed version of an anime series is one of the most serious topics in the industry. Fans have always compared the two different dubs to find out which one is better, and Solo Leveling was certainly no exception to this. However, the series somehow managed to satisfy both categories of fans.

The unique story of Solo Leveling follows the adventures of Sung Jinwoo, the weakest hunter, and his struggle to become the strongest hunter in a world filled with monsters. So the comparisons between the dubbed and subbed versions of Solo Leveling would obviously be judged by the performances of the voice actors in Sung Jinwoo.

In the Japanese version, Sung Jinwoo is voiced by Taito Ban, and in the English version, Aleks Le takes on this responsibility. In a recent interview, the English ADR manager of Solo Leveling revealed how she helped Le avoid harsh comparisons between him and Ban for the role of Sung Jinwoo.

Aleks Le uses Taito Ban as a template for Sung Jinwoo’s voice

In an exclusive discussion with Comic Book Resources, Solo Leveling’s Automated Dialogue Replacement Director, Caitlin Glass was asked how she integrates the advancements in voice acting implied in Solo Leveling’s title. Glas revealed that they are listening to Ban’s voice change and using it as a template.

Glass said:

Jin-woo can only grow as the anime allows him to develop. We are definitely listening to how the voice is changing. Taito Ban is a wonderful Seiyu to use as a template, and I’m not asking Aleks to sound like him. He is not the English version of that actor. It’s more like these are two actors who can both play this character and how it would be portrayed in English.

According to the voice director, although they use Ban’s voice as a guide to understand the growth of Sung Jinwoo’s character, they have no intention of Alex Le sounds like him.

Instead, they allow him to portray Sung Jinwoo’s character in English as he sees fit after understanding it from Ban’s voice. In this way, they maintain a sense of uniqueness in the dubbed version of Solo Leveling.

Taito Ban’s voice changes help Aleks Le

While further explaining the process of Le’s voice comes into play Solo LevelingGlass pointed out that the English voice actor has done a good job understanding Ban’s performance up until now and adapting it in his own way. She pointed out that he absorbs the cues from Ban’s portrayal and uses them as he sees fit.

Glass commented:

That’s Alex’s job. We take cues from Taito Ban’s performance, Aleks absorbs them and we listen to where he sounds more naive and where he sounds more confident. There are certain places where the voice changes very specifically, and we play with them.

Glass went on to explain that in the first season, Jinwoo’s growth is reflected in his internal dialogues that he has with himself. Therefore, it makes the task a bit more complicated.

But the analysis of Ban’s performance as Sung Jinwoo giving them a specific guide to work through these aspects. That is why both versions of Solo Leveling have been greatly appreciated by fans all over the world.

Solo Leveling available to watch on Crunchyroll.