Production ofOne-Punch Manseason 3 is well under way, but many fans still have some reservations about the return of the hit superhero comedy anime. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that there’s only one thing which can overcome these reservations, and that’s for the animation quality of season 3 to be through the roof.
One-Punch Manseason 3 was announced in August 2022, over two years ago at this point, and very little of the series has been revealed at this stage, despite it being set todebut some time in 2025.One-Punch Man’s first season was praised for its quality, with incredible animation thanks to Madhouse and a tone that perfectly captured the series' charm. However, Madhouse wasn’t available to do the second season, which instead ended up being animated by J.C. Staff. While season 2’s story content was well-received, the series saw some harsh criticism due to the animation quality taking a nosedive under the new studio.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Must Measure Up to Season 1
One-Punch Man’s Quality Must Return to The High Level It Once Was
Given the situation with season 2, fans were not thrilled when it was revealed that J.C. Staff would also be handling season 3 ofOne-Punch Man. Many fans have no faith in J.C. Staff to deliver animation on par with the first season, but that’s a bit of a cynical perspective.It is known thatOne-Punch Manseason 2 had some production issues which caused the final animation quality to be below the level that J.C. Staff might’ve preferred it to be at.Production initially began under Madhouse, after all, and only changed to J.C. Staff a year into production.
The animation in season 2 ofOne-Punch Manis regarded as being slower, less fluid, and lacking in detail compared to the incredible quality of the first season. Many attribute this to J.C. Staff’s lack of familiarity with action anime compared to Madhouse, who are a much more beloved and generally better-known studio. Still, there’s no reason to think that J.C. Staff is incapable of delivering some excellent animation forOne-Punch Man. Season 3 will be J.C. Staff’s opportunity to prove that the low quality of season 2 wasn’t representative of the level of work they can offer.
Season 3 ofOne-Punch Manisn’t ruined simply due to J.C. Staff’s involvement, contrary to what some fans may think. The team at J.C. Staff has already had more time to work on season 3 than they got for season 2, and there’s still an unknown amount of time left before the series releases this year. No doubt the studio is trying its best to deliver a quality product to the fans, and not being rushed by deadlines will be key to actually producing a good show.
One-Punch Man’s Season 3 Content Could Push Boundaries
The Complexity of Season 3’s Plot Offers Some Amazing Opportunities
Season 3 ofOne-Punch Manwill deal with the bulk of the Monster Association story arc, which sees the heroes going up against an organized group of powerful monsters, who began to appear in the final episodes of season 2. The arc is home to some truly incredible battle scenes, such asTatsumaki vs. Psykos, Garou’s lightspeed battle with Flashy Flash, and, of course, the long-awaited Saitama vs. Garou. These scenes could be genre-defining if animated properly, so it’s easy to understand why fans have so much tied up in season 3’s animation quality.
One thing that’s important to remember, though, is that regardless of the animation quality, the story and characters ofOne-Punch Manseason 3 are the best that the manga has to offer.The Monster Association saga depicts an all-out, knock-down drag-out battle between the heroes and the monsters, pushing many of the heroes to their limits and forcing them to grow and evolve as characters. The fallout of the Monster Asssociation saga has been massive in the story ofOne-Punch Manafter that point, redefining who some familiar characters are entirely.
While the story may be good forOne-Punch Manfans regardless, the high-quality of the story is really just one more reason that it’s so crucial to do the animation properly. It’d be quite a shame to have the story delivered in an excellent fashion, only to be let down by what should be some of the most exciting fights that the series has to offer. If the animation can live up to the quality of the writing, thenOne-Punch Manseason 3 could easily end up being the greatest anime to release in 2025.
One-Punch Man’s Fate Rests On Its Animation Quality
The Series' Success Could Be at Risk in the Event of Failure
With how many fans have already threatened not to watchseason 3 ofOne-Punch Mandue to J.C. Staff’s involvement, there’s some cause to be concerned for the anime’s future. If these fans are right and J.C. Staff simply isn’t up to the job, the animation quality will definitely result in a hit toOne-Punch Man’s popularity once again.With it having been over 5 years since season 2 aired, the wait for season 3 has been too long for it to just turn out to be poorly animated.If season 3 winds up being a let-down, that could be it forOne-Punch Manadaptations, which is something no one wants to see.
With the potential to be either the most exciting release of the year or one of the most disappointing,One-Punch Mandoes have a lot riding on its third season. Faith in J.C. Staff among the fanbase is low, but hopefully, with the added time they’ve had to develop season 3, the studio will be able to put together an effort that’s worthy of fan respect. It’s time for J.C. Staff to prove their stuff and deliver a third season ofOne-Punch Manthat will not only wow viewers, but prove that they’re the right studio for the series to call home.
One-Punch Man
Cast
Saitama, a superhero from City Z, faces an existential crisis as he can defeat any opponent with a single punch, leading to a lack of challenge and sheer boredom. His quest for a worthy opponent leads him to meet new friends and enemies and join the Hero Association to gain official recognition while accidentally (and secretly) solving all of the world’s problems with a single punch.
