By One-Punch Man season 3 has at last arrived after a six-year hiatus, yet several fans are dissatisfied with the premiere episode. The highly anticipated new season debuted yesterday on Crunchyroll, and the responses thus far have been unexpectedly mixed, with some fans voicing concerns about the quality of animation and the absence of “fluidity” in the action scenes.
“For an episode that featured almost 0 breathing space… It primarily consisted of static frames. I’m apprehensive about how they will manage the battles,” remarked one Reddit user in a discussion thread concerning episode 1, highlighting the divergence in feedback thus far.
“Here’s to hoping they are reserving their efforts to invest significantly into the battles,” responded one viewer, while another added that “even if that were the situation,” there is “still no justification for the six-year wait” for the new season. “It resembles Blue Lock all over again. Stunning illustrations, designs, and colors, yet the actual animation simply falls short,” stated another user.
Nonetheless, not all feedback has been negative, as some spectators have noted that the new episode already appears to be an enhancement over the previous season. “I believe the best aspect so far is the visuals themselves; by that, I mean illustrations, lighting, color, and overall artistry. It’s superior to season 2 so far; let’s hope the action delivers later,” commented a Reddit user.
Another person argued that the premiere episode doesn’t appear bad at all and serves its role as an introduction to the new season.
“The frames genuinely looked excellent. The colors, style, and minor animations were commendable. Honestly, there wasn’t much in this episode that required extensive animation. A lot of exposition and lore were presented, which makes sense as this follows immediately after the conclusion of S2. I’m pleased with the voice acting, and the music was good as well. If they allocate their focus towards the battles and maintain the quality of the non-fight stills, I think I will be satisfied with this season,” the fan expressed.
As we can gather from these initial reactions from fans, One-Punch Man urgently needs to re-establish its credibility after such an extended hiatus and a lackluster second season. Will the remainder of the season succeed in captivating viewers?
For additional information, check out our One-Punch Man season 3 release timetable to discover when new episodes are available, and see our compilation for all the forthcoming new anime in 2025, which includes Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 2.