Solo Leveling just made a Dragon Ball Z reference fans can’t get over
CrunchyrollSolo Leveling just paid tribute to the legendary franchise Dragon Ball, with a nod that’s particularly timely given the passing of creator Akira Toriyama.
Like many great anime, Solo Leveling owes a lot to Dragon Ball. A large part of the modern audience for anime shows stems from the popularity of Dragon Ball Z in Japan and globally.
A cultural touchstone, Goku’s misadventures continue to define Shonen anime for many, leading to continued mass appeal. Likewise, Toriyama’s art and aesthetic are still massive reference points for any studio and creative team, especially now that the people who were fans of Dragon Ball Z as kids are now adults working in manga, manwha, and anime.
We frequently get little Easter eggs and such, and Solo Leveling Episode 9 contains one such hidden treat.
Solo Leveling Episode 9 has a tribute to Goku from Dragon Ball Super
In Solo Leveling Episode 9, Sung Jinwoo does a little dance to charge up for a battle, and fans thought the scene was familiar. Turns out, it’s the same warm up Goku employed when facing Broly in the Ice Continent in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
The angles are spot on, making it a clearly purposeful reference. This wouldn’t be all that noteworthy, since Dragon Ball nods are common — one need only check out how many shows and anime movies have the Yamcha pose — but in light of Toriyama’s tragic passing, it’s a reminder of the shadow he cast over the entire medium.
Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024, at age 68. His death resonated through not just anime and manga, but pop culture as a whole. Tributes poured out for the artist, whose work included multiple legendary video games on top of Dragon Ball and other manga.
Of course, that window is too tight for this to have been a willful inclusion on the back of his death. I’m sure A-1 Pictures are efficient, but that’d be next level turnaround. As fans have been pointing out, this panel isn’t in Chugong’s manwha, so it’s just the animators giving credit where it’s due.
May we all hope to leave such a legacy. You can catch Toriyama’s new anime, Sand Land, on Disney Plus starting March 20. Check out our list of the best anime like Solo Leveling and our guide on how to watch Dragon Ball if this has you hankering for more great anime.