The One-Punch Man Anime Is Dead, And There’s No Going Back

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Over the last ten years, very few anime have sparked as much debate among fans and critics as One-Punch Man. The first season was incredibly well-received, but the second season suffered from noticeably lower animation quality and long delays. This unfortunately led many to view the show negatively, and it’s struggled to shake that reputation.

Watching One-Punch Man season 2 was a really disappointing experience for a lot of fans, and it seriously hurt the show’s reputation. Still, there was some hope for season 3, mostly because people figured it couldn’t possibly be worse. Sadly, season 3 has actually been even more of a letdown, and after the most recent episode, I honestly don’t see any chance of the anime being saved.

Why One-Punch Man Season 3 Has Been So Disappointing

Even before it officially began, One-Punch Man season 3 seemed to be facing problems. It took three years after the announcement in 2022 to get any news about the season. The initial trailers and promotional images were disappointing – they lacked exciting animation and action, leaving even dedicated fans concerned.

The situation with the director was particularly concerning. Shinpei Nagai wasn’t announced until just a month before the anime’s release, and his background wasn’t reassuring. He hadn’t directed much action anime before, with most of his previous work limited to short, fanservice-focused episodes – a worrying sign for the project’s quality.

I had a feeling going into season 3 of One-Punch Man that it wouldn’t be good, and unfortunately, it lived up to those fears. Each episode has been plagued with noticeably poor animation and uninspired directing – it’s gotten to the point where people are making memes about how bad it looks. Honestly, at this point, I’m surprised when a scene even looks okay.

Why One-Punch Man Season 3’s New Episode Is The Last Straw For Fans

Season 3 of One-Punch Man has faced a lot of criticism, but fans were still hoping for improvement. Episode 5 generated a lot of excitement because it featured the work of many skilled animators, including Vann Oba, who even built anticipation for it on social media. Many believed this episode would be a turning point for the season.

Episode 5 of One-Punch Man was a step up from earlier installments. The action sequences, particularly Garou’s battles with Overgrown Pochi and Orochi, featured some excellent animation. A specific moment – Vann Oba’s scene during the fight with Orochi – was arguably the best animated sequence since J.C. Staff began working on the series.

Episode #5 was largely disappointing. While it had a few good moments, they were overshadowed by significant flaws. The episode continued to suffer from the same problems as the rest of season 3 – awkward animation, poor transitions, and weak action sequences – and, in many ways, felt even worse than previous episodes.

The battle between Garou and Orochi was particularly disappointing. Beyond one good shot by Vann Oba, the animation and artwork throughout the fight were consistently poor and difficult to watch. Considering all the anticipation for One-Punch Man episode #5, it was likely the worst episode so far, and it caused many viewers to stop watching.

Is The One-Punch Man Anime Truly Beyond Saving?

So far, the third season of One-Punch Man hasn’t been very impressive. While there are a few moments with good animation, the overall direction and animation quality are noticeably poor – even worse than season 2, which, although not as strong as the first season, was generally decent.

The shift in quality is often linked to the change in animation studios, but the real problem isn’t just that One-Punch Man moved from Madhouse to J.C. Staff. The first season benefited from a strong team of freelance animators, and the anime hasn’t been the same since none of them returned for the subsequent seasons.

However, it’s not entirely J.C. Staff’s fault. Their parent company, Bandai Namco Filmworks, has a reputation for underfunding and rushing anime productions. Even with a talented team, Bandai’s poor management could have still negatively impacted One-Punch Man season 3.

For One-Punch Man to improve, Bandai needs to give the animation studio, J.C. Staff, more time and better resources. While that’s possible, it probably won’t happen, which is especially frustrating considering how strong the series began.

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2025-11-11 02:41