Summary:
- One Punch Man Season 3 is finally out but will it beat the animation of season 1?
- J.C. Staff is animating the third season, the same studio that worked on season 2.
- If you thought season 2 of One Punch Man was bad, season 3 might just be your worst nightmare.
One Punch Man Season 3 is finally out after six long years of waiting. Usually, an anime season takes one to two years to release, but fans of One Punch Man have been waiting since 2019. The first season premiered in 2015, followed by Season 2 in 2018. Season 1’s cutting-edge visuals look flawless to date and are still featured in anime edits and compilations. Unfortunately, Season 2 could not live up to those standards, and it seems like Season 3 might be even worse .
Season 3 Reduces One Punch Man to Still Images and Faceless Voices
Garou’s walking seems weirdly rigid | Credit: Bandai Namco
One Punch Man Season 2 ended with Saitama defeating the Elder Centipede, and Garou being taken to the Monster Association. Season 3 picks up after those events as we see the Hero Association officials having a meeting. That said, even in such a simple scene, signs of cost-cutting are evident. Characters talk while the camera lingers on a static shot or zooms in on their eyes to avoid animating mouth movements.
Even in the scenes where the characters can be seen talking, the background dissolves into a solid color. While this is a common feat in anime, it is clearly overdone here, leaving characters talking against flat, empty backdrops for long stretches. The Monster Association in One Punch Man Season 2 felt grand, with multiple distinct characters. Season 3 reduces these villains to white silhouettes.
Can One Punch Man Still Redeem Itself
Even in a scene where Fubuki is in focus, her pearls aren’t fully animated | Credit: Bandai Namco
While the argument can be made that this is just the first episode of One Punch Man Season 3 and the upcoming episodes will feature more action, the difference in quality is undeniable. One Punch Man Season 1 had shots of Saitama walking that were handled with immense care. Compare that to sequences in season 3, and the latest season is already leagues behind.
One Punch Man Season 3 Episode 1 currently has a rating of 6.6 on IMDb, which is the lowest in the entire series as of writing. This episode was directed by Shinpei Naga,i who has previously worked on well-directed anime like Psycho Pass and Food Wars.
However, his direction here feels lacking. There is little to no breathing space in between dialogues, and none of the characters command the presence or authority they once did when they speak.
