Production of the third season of One-Punch Man is well underway. But many fans still have some concerns about the return of the hit superhero comedy anime. In fact, it's no exaggeration to say that there's only one thing that can overcome those concerns: top-notch animation quality!
Thus, the third season was announced in August 2022, and very little of the series was revealed, despite being scheduled to premiere sometime in 2025. Furthermore, the first season garnered praise for its quality, with incredible animation thanks to Madhouse. However, Madhouse was unavailable to produce the second season, which ended up being animated by JC Staff. While the storyline of the second season was well-received, the series received some harsh criticism due to the quality of the animation.
The third season of One-Punch Man should live up to the first
Initially, fans weren't thrilled when it was revealed that JC Staff would also be handling the third season of One-Punch Man . As such, many fans lack faith in JC Staff's ability to deliver animation on par with the first season. It's known that the second season of One-Punch Man had some production issues that resulted in the final animation quality falling short of what JC Staff could have delivered. Production initially began under Madhouse, after all, and only switched to JC Staff a year after it started.
The animation in the second season is considered slower, less fluid, and lacking in detail compared to the incredible quality of the first season. Many attribute this to JC Staff's lack of familiarity with action anime compared to Madhouse. Still, there's no reason to think that JC Staff is incapable of delivering excellent animation for One-Punch Man . The third season will be JC Staff's opportunity to prove that the low quality of the second season wasn't representative of the level of work they are capable of delivering.
The third season of One-Punch Man wasn't ruined simply because of JC Staff's involvement, contrary to what some fans might think. The JC Staff team actually had more time to work on the third season than on the second. Undoubtedly, the studio is trying its best to deliver a quality product to the fans!
The content of One-Punch Man's third season may push boundaries
The third season of One-Punch Man will deal with most of the Monster Association story arc. This arc is home to epic battles such as Tatsumaki vs. Psykos, Garou's light-speed battle with Flash, and the highly anticipated Saitama vs. Garou. These scenes could define everything, so it's easy to understand why fans have so much at stake in the animation quality of the third season.
One thing that's important to remember, however, is that regardless of the animation quality, the story and characters of the third season of One-Punch Man are the best the manga has to offer. The Monster Association saga depicts an all-out and intense battle between the heroes and the monsters. It pushes many of the heroes to their limits, forcing them to grow and evolve as characters.
While the story might be good for fans either way, the high quality of the story is really just another reason why it's so crucial to get the animation right. It would be a shame to have the story delivered excellently, only to be disappointed by what should be some of the most exciting fights the series has to offer.
The fate of One-Punch Man depends on the quality of the animation
Many fans have already threatened not to watch the 3rd season of One-Punch Man due to JC Staff's involvement. Therefore, if these fans are right about JC Staff, it will result in yet another blow to the show's popularity. With over 5 years since the 2nd season, the wait for the 3rd season has been far too long for it to end up being poorly animated.
With the potential to be either the most exciting release of the year or one of the most disappointing, One-Punch Man has a lot to gain. Faith in JC Staff among fans is low, but hopefully, with the extra time they've had, will the studio be able to put together an effort worthy of the fans' respect?
So, guys, what are your expectations for Season 3? Leave a comment below and see you next time!
