With season 3 of One-Punch Man nearing its end, it’s becoming clear that it hasn’t lived up to expectations. The story has become slow-paced, especially with key characters Saitama and Garo taking a backseat, and even the better moments are hampered by consistently weak animation that rarely rises above mediocrity.
The ninth episode of One-Punch Man season 3 showed a clear improvement in animation and art, though it wasn’t perfect. More surprisingly, the episode’s story took a direction that even long-time fans didn’t see coming, and it raises some really interesting possibilities for the future.
How One-Punch Man’s Anime Completely Changed The Manga
A unique aspect of the One-Punch Man manga is that the artist, Yusuke Murata, sometimes completely revises chapters and even entire story arcs, either to enhance the artwork or change the plot. This results in multiple versions of some chapters, which often confuses and frustrates fans.
The recent updates to the animation in One-Punch Man are significant because of how they connect to the latest episode. Episode 9 of Season 3 adapted the fight between Child Emperor and Phoenix Man, and this fight was one of the first in the original manga to receive major revisions. These changes focused on developing the characters of both fighters more fully.
The most recent version of the fight between Child Emperor and Phoenix Man is considered the official one, but the anime surprisingly chose to show the older version instead. This original fight was much more focused on dramatic visuals, and because of how the manga has been revised, it’s no longer available through official channels.
It was a surprise when the One-Punch Man anime used a story arc that wasn’t part of the original manga. If this continues, it suggests the anime might selectively adapt content, choosing between different versions of chapters—something fans didn’t believe was possible.
Why One-Punch Man’s New Direction Is Secretly Brilliant
Most redraws of One-Punch Man are criticized for simply taking too much time, but others are disliked because they remove enjoyable story moments or add new content that doesn’t improve the overall plot. The fight with Phoenix Man is a good example of this, although the redraws did help develop the character of Child Emperor.
Based on the latest episode of One-Punch Man season 3, the anime seems to have the freedom to make its own choices about the story. This means they can prioritize what makes for a better viewing experience, even if it differs from the original manga.
As a viewer, I’ve noticed a lot of discussion around changes made from the original manga, and it’s understandable why fans of the source material are upset. Episode nine, in particular, received criticism for deviating from the established story and losing some important context. I’m hoping the anime doesn’t just ignore the redrawn chapters entirely, but instead uses them when they actually improve upon the original version. It would be great if the anime prioritized the stronger material, regardless of which version it came from.
As a huge fan, I’m really excited about the potential here! Not only does this approach allow for completely new stories, but it also opens the door to adapting directly from the original One-Punch Man webcomic – which a lot of us actually think is even better than the manga! It’s all just speculation right now, but the possibilities are so good, it’s fun to imagine.
Does One-Punch Man’s New Direction Redeem The Anime?
The new path for One-Punch Man is promising, but it raises concerns about how it will be received. Currently, the anime’s animation quality is still noticeably poor, and even changes to the storyline likely won’t fully address the existing issues with the Monster Association arc.
Considering the issues with the One-Punch Man anime since J.C.Staff began production, any improvement to make the show enjoyable – even just for the good animation sequences – is a positive step. If changing the story helps achieve that, it’s likely the best approach.
It’s hard to say how much the One-Punch Man anime will deviate from the original story, but the latest episode suggests these changes will actually make it better. Hopefully, future alterations will be just as good.
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2025-12-10 19:42