Global music superstar J Balvin is making his anime debut in Solo Leveling Season 2 – Arise from the Shadow – lending his voice to the fearsome dungeon boss, Kargalgan. Crunchyroll confirmed the news, revealing that the Grammy-nominated artist will voice the character in both the English and Spanish dubs.
From Reggaeton to Orc Shaman: J Balvin Enters the World of Anime
J Balvin’s casting marks a significant moment for Solo Leveling, one of the most anticipated anime series of recent years. Initially announced in an unspecified “major role,” Balvin’s character has now been revealed as Kargalgan, a powerful High Orc shaman who leads an army and possesses telepathic powers, as well as the ability to cast spells referred to as “songs.”
“To me, I think it’s the coolest fighting scenes yet in the series,” Balvin said of his role, “He’s an orc shaman. He’s the boss of the orcs and has telepathic power, anti-gravity. He casts spells that he calls songs. Like, every type of song, Song of Fire, Song of Anti-Gravity, that’s super cool.”
A Lifelong Anime Fan
Balvin’s passion for anime dates back to his childhood. “I started since I was, I don’t know, I think 10 years old. Because at that time it was Supercampeones,” Balvin stated, referencing the Spanish name for Captain Tsubasa. He also cited Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac as early influences.
He further explained, “I think I didn’t choose anime. They chose me. I think anime chose all of us. I think people don’t really look for it. It’s kind of — it finds you. That’s how I see it with all my friends. It wasn’t like they were like, ‘Well, I’m going to look for this’…”
A New Challenge for the Music Icon
While J Balvin is accustomed to recording music, he found voice acting to be a unique challenge. “You have to be precise and disciplined — it needs a lot of discipline,” J Balvin told TheWrap.
He elaborated on the differences between music recording and voice acting: “Normally, when you do a song, you record, you listen, you talk with your boys, then you come back. It’s art, it’s a totally new vibe … You’re watching the video before it’s out. [In music,] you do a song, you then see the video. In this case, you already have the images there … You got to be extra focused and try to make the best lip sync and also [stay] in character. You have people that have [scheduled] time for that project. It’s not like when I go to the studio — if I want to take a week, I take a week or a month. In this case, we’re all here working.”
The Shadow Rises: ‘Solo Leveling’ Season 2
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo, a weak hunter in a world where humans possess magical abilities. After a near-death experience in a dungeon, he gains the ability to level up and become stronger, a power unique to him. The anime is based on the popular webtoon by Chugong and DUBU from REDICE Studio.
English and Spanish Dub Release Dates
The English dub featuring J Balvin as Kargalgan premiered on February 22nd. The Spanish dub will follow on March 1st.
The English Dub Cast
- Aleks Le as Sung Jinwoo
- Rebecca Wang as Sung Jinah
- Daman Mills as Barca
- Emi Lo as Han Song-Yi
- Patrick Seitz as Kim Chul
- Trina Nishimura as Park Heejin
- Geoff Bisente as Go Myunghwan
- SungWon Cho as Woo Jinchul
- Matthew David Rudd as Hwang Dongsoo
- Michelle Rojas as Cha Hae-In
- Ian Sinclair as Choi Jong-In
- Kent Williams as Go Gunhee
- Christopher R. Sabat as Baek Yoonho
- Cory Yee as Ahn Sangmin
- Anthony Bowling as Hyun Kichul
- J Balvin as Kargalgan
Behind the Scenes
The English dub is directed by Caitlin Glass, produced by Samantha Herek, and adapted by Jessica Sluys. Gino Palencia serves as the mixer, and Jamal Roberson is the engineer.
‘Solo Leveling’: A Global Phenomenon
Solo Leveling has garnered a massive international following, becoming one of the most anticipated anime of recent years. The series has been praised for its compelling story, stunning animation, and captivating characters. The first season won Best Anime Series Award in the Astra TV Awards category.
The addition of J Balvin to the cast further solidifies the anime’s global appeal. With over 35 million albums sold worldwide and numerous accolades, including Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and Latin GRAMMYs, Balvin is one of the best-selling Latin artists of all time.
His involvement is expected to draw in a wider audience, introducing new viewers to the world of Solo Leveling.
