One-Punch Man Season 3’s Premiere Is a Complete Flop — And It’s Not Going to Get Any Better

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Despite being a major anime release in 2015, *One-Punch Man* has significantly declined in popularity. It didn’t make a lasting impression on popular culture, and many previous fans now seem to have forgotten about it. While the controversial animation in Season 2 is a major reason for this drop, it’s not the sole factor that damaged the anime’s once-positive reputation.

After a six-year wait, Season 3 of *One-Punch Man* could potentially revitalize the anime. However, the first episode, “Strategy Meeting,” suggests that a comeback is unlikely. It appears to confirm fans’ concerns about the show’s quality and future, and at the current pace, *One-Punch Man* risks becoming one of the most disappointing anime of Fall 2025.

J.C. Staff Drops the Ball Again With One-Punch Man Season 3’s Animation

There’s been a lot of discussion about the animation in Episode 1, and it’s hard to overstate the difference in quality. While it’s not as bad as some online comments suggest, J.C. Staff’s work is a noticeable downgrade from the fantastic animation Madhouse delivered in Season 1. The contrast between Madhouse’s dynamic and impactful visuals and J.C. Staff’s comparatively flat and lifeless style is very clear.

The first episode of *One-Punch Man* Season 3 is noticeably lacking in action. With no fights or displays of power, the episode’s uninspired animation and direction are even more apparent. Characters mostly just stand or sit and talk, with minimal movement beyond simple gestures like waving or walking. While the character designs themselves are well-animated, it’s the only truly positive aspect of the episode’s visuals.

The first episode of *One-Punch Man* Season 3 unfortunately signals a continuing downturn for the series. Even dedicated fans will likely be let down by this lackluster premiere. While J.C. Staff can’t fix the underlying issues with the show through animation alone, their choices for this episode don’t help matters. Even if future episodes improve, the damage may already be done to Saitama’s storyline.

After 6 Long Years, One-Punch Man Season 3 Finally Resolves Season 2’s Cliffhanger

The first episode immediately continues the story from the end of Season 2, building up to the upcoming war between the Hero and Monster Associations. The Hero Association’s leaders are hesitant to start a full-scale war, wanting to proceed with caution. However, Nariniki, who funds the heroes, is pushing for immediate action because the Monster Association has kidnapped his son, Waganma.

Fubuki seeks help from Saitama and his team, who are still recovering after their tough fight with the Elder Centipede. It’s not hard to get Saitama to agree to join the battle, mostly because he wants to fight Garou. Meanwhile, Garou regains consciousness at the Monster Association headquarters and quickly becomes one of their leaders. To prove himself to the other monsters, he’s given one day to defeat and decapitate a hero.

The first episode of *One-Punch Man* Season 3 succeeds in establishing the main conflict for the season. However, as an animated episode, it needs to be more than just a setup – it needs to be engaging. The issue isn’t with the story itself, but with how it’s presented; the episode delivers the information in a dull and uninspired way.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Wastes the Characters & Fans’ Time With Meetings & Set-Ups

As the title suggests, the first episode consists entirely of meetings. The anime’s two central organizations spend the episode in boardrooms, seriously discussing the scale of the upcoming war. Instead of *showing* the danger, the episode simply *tells* us about it. What’s more, the characters doing the talking aren’t important – most of the leaders from both organizations are unremarkable, nameless officials who feel like background characters rather than key players.

As a viewer, the most exciting moments in these recent episodes of *One-Punch Man* are when they mention a really strong character like Garou. It’s been confirmed he’ll be a Dragon-level threat when he returns, and honestly, that’s about the only thing keeping me engaged. The problem is, even with that tease, Season 3, Episode 1 mostly focuses on the established heroes and monsters… and everyone just *talks*. Saitama, Fubuki, Garou – they all just stand around having conversations, which makes an already slow episode feel even more drawn out.

Honestly, the first episode of *One-Punch Man* Season 3 felt… slow. It’s the kind of episode that people might write off as just extra fluff, but it’s actually straight from the manga! And you know what? I think that’s a good thing. This war between the Hero and Monster Associations is going to be huge, and the episode really lays the groundwork for it. It’s setting the stage so that when things *do* kick off, it feels like it has real weight and importance. It’s a lot of setup, sure, but I think it’s necessary to give this conflict the impact it deserves.

The first episode of *One-Punch Man* Season 3 is disappointingly dull and predictable. Instead of building excitement for the long-awaited war, it feels like a tedious obligation. Sadly, these are the same issues that plagued Season 2, showing the creators haven’t addressed the show’s weaknesses and are likely to repeat them.

Saitama Continues to Be 1 of Anime’s Most Disappointing Heroes in One-Punch Man Season 3

The biggest disappointment with *One-Punch Man* is how it hasn’t fully utilized its incredibly original hero, Saitama. When the series began, Saitama was a brilliant satire of typical superheroes and shonen anime leads. He’s already the strongest being on Earth, able to defeat anyone with a single punch. But this immense power comes at a cost: a deeply unsatisfying life and a complete lack of meaningful connections with others.

One-Punch Man offered a fresh and more thoughtful take on the usual superhero and action anime. The first season explored what it truly means to be a hero when someone has nothing to lose and lacks personal ambition, highlighting the emptiness of a life without purpose. In a unique twist, the show essentially reverses the typical superhero origin story – it’s about a superhero discovering his humanity, rather than becoming a hero from being human.

Initially, *One-Punch Man* cleverly poked fun at and offered a thoughtful take on the superhero genre. However, as the series progressed, it began to resemble typical action anime focused on characters with superpowers. While Saitama maintained his stoic demeanor, he fell into predictable patterns common for anime heroes – even participating in a fighting tournament like so many before him. More disappointingly, he often took a backseat to supporting characters who had more compelling storylines and development.

The first episode of *One-Punch Man* Season 3 suggests a disappointing future for the main character, Saitama. It establishes that he’ll likely continue to be a powerful, yet sidelined, figure in his own story. He doesn’t even appear until halfway through the episode, and his scene is so short and unremarkable that it feels like a quick addition rather than a meaningful return. Saitama’s apathy now seems repetitive and expected, and he’s lost the unique energy he once had.

One-Punch Man Season 3 is now streaming on Hulu.

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2025-10-14 18:41