The world has lost one one of the legendary creators in anime, Akira Toriyama. Kids and adults all around the world enjoy the world of Dragon Ball, and fans may find themselves revisiting the anime franchise after Toriyama’s passing.
It’s no doubt that the world he created had so much influence on other anime. The latest episode of the anime adaptation of the Solo Leveling manhwa referenced Goku’s training jumps.
In Episode 9 of Solo Leveling, Sung Jin Woo reunites with former hunters to explore a dungeon. The old friends find themselves in a tense temporary alliance with three hunter-prisoners looking to reduce their sentences. Accompanying the ex-convicts is the mysterious Kang Tae Shik from the Hunter’s Association.
A quick flashback reveals Kang Tae Shik is not only accompanying the three prisoners but is out to execute them. Two of Sung Jin Woo’s former hunter companions witness the brutal scene, but they die in the hands of Kang.
Sung Jin Woo and his two close friends discover what happened and confront Kang Tae Shik. The main character engages in a bloody knife fight with Kang, until the former has no choice but to sink into a murderous intent (wink).
The scene shows Sung Jin Woo jumping from side to side in preparation for his attack, which strongly parallels that of Goku’s battle prep against Broly in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
While the animation had been prepared months before Toriyama’s unfortunate passing, fans can’t help reference Goku in this scene. After all, Akira Toriyama’s indelible legacy lives in Dragon Ball and in the minds of all anime fans.
But even wish-granting dragons cannot bring back a legend.
RIP Akira Toriyama.
