After a six-year wait, One-Punch Man is back with its third season, and the enthusiasm among its global fanbase is palpable. With the release of the first few episodes in October 2025, expectations were sky-high, but the reaction has been far from unanimous. While some fans are delighted to see heroes like Saitama and Genos back in action, a large portion of the community has voiced serious concerns about the season’s execution.

The result: mixed reactions, intense debates online, and a spotlight on the complexities of modern anime production.

What Went Right: The Good From Season 3

• Story Continuation & Character Returns — Season 3 picks up where the previous one left off, bringing back familiar faces such as Saitama, Genos, Tatsumaki, and other members of the Hero Association. For many fans, just seeing these characters animated once again was enough to feel excited.
• Art Style, Lighting and Colour Work — Despite criticism, some viewers praised the new season’s visual presentation: the use of colours, lighting, and overall art design in certain non-action scenes has been appreciated. For viewers willing to give the season a chance, these elements offer hope that the show might improve as more episodes roll out.
• Set-up and Narrative Depth — A portion of the fandom argues that the initial episodes are meant to be a gradual build-up, focusing on exposition, character development, and setting the stage for bigger conflicts. This slower pace gives them a more nuanced and layered feel compared to an action-first approach.

Where It Fell Short: Major Criticisms from Fans

• Animation Quality and Fight Choreography — The most frequent complaint is that the animation quality feels inferior to what fans expect from a show of this calibre. Many describe fight scenes as stiff, clunky, or reminiscent of a “slideshow” rather than the fluid, dynamic action the series is known for.
• Pacing and Episode Flow — For some viewers, the pacing feels uneven. Episodes that should deliver high-octane action instead lean heavily on set-up and exposition — a choice that, while justified for story development by some, feels disappointing to others expecting excitement from the start.
• High Expectations vs. Harsh Reality — Given that the first season set a remarkably high standard, many fans feel the long wait should have translated into a top-tier comeback. The gap between what fans hoped for and what was delivered has contributed significantly to disappointment.

Production Challenges & Reactions Behind the Scenes

Season 3 is produced by J.C. Staff, with Shinpei Nagai directing, replacing the earlier team responsible for Seasons 1 and 2. According to Nagai, the switch was made withthe intention to innovate and manage production efficiently, possibly integrating new workflows.

In response to backlash, several industry voices have come to J.C. Staff’s defence. A respected animator pointed out that animation studios often work with tight budgets and schedules, making it difficult to meet every fan’s expectations, especially when the original standard was near perfection. The debate highlights a persistent issue in modern anime: balancing high-quality visuals with production constraints.

Why This Polarisation Matters

The strong divide in reactions to One-Punch Man Season 3 underscores how deeply fans care about their favourite shows. On one hand, there’s nostalgia, loyalty, and hopes for the story’s continuation; on the other, there's a demand for quality, especially from a series that once redefined a genre.

This split also reflects broader trends in anime consumption today, impatience for new content after long gaps, fierce expectations for studio output, and the influence of social media, where opinions spread fast and loudly.

Whether Season 3 ultimately redeems itself may depend on upcoming episodes. If animation improves, fights become dynamic again, and storytelling deepens, fans might come around. But the early disappointment has already shaped the reception in a significant way.

Final Thoughts

One-Punch Man Season 3 marks a return full of promise, yet it arrives amid turbulence. The season delivers the familiar world and characters fans love, but struggles under burdensome standards and production constraints. As a result, it has triggered passionate debate between those willing to enjoy the ride for what it is, and those who consider it a painful fall from grace.

The fate of the season now lies in what comes next, whether the studio and creators can rise to the challenge and restore faith in a franchise many hold dear.