As a One Punch Man fan, I’ve been through the worst. It was not even the waiting, which has been going on since 2019. It is the not knowing, the uncertainty, that was the main problem. While the manga is so far ahead, we still haven’t gotten an adaptation for the Monster Association arc.
After the disaster, that was Season 2, with its lifeless animation, stiff and choppy fight scenes, and a complete downgrade from the masterpiece that was Season 1 by Madhouse. So when J.C. Staff was confirmed for Season 3, my heart drooped a little, I knew better than to get my hopes up.
But now, looking at how they’re handling the promotion after nearly six years of delays, I can’t help but feel like we’re being played.
Lowering the bar on purpose?
October 2025 has been confirmed as the release for Season 3, but with it came a terrible preview and key visual. It is extremely rough, and I do not understand how they could have been working for years and give us this kind of result.
But then something struck me, of course, I could be absolutely wrong, but hear me out first. I believe that J.C. Staff is deliberately lowering our expectations so that when they deliver something mid (which they are good at), we will still praise it for being “better than Season 2” and a “good effort.”
One Punch Man Season 3 new visual
byu/Turbostrider27 inanime
Let’s start by talking about that preview visual. It has no background, no incredible scene; it is just a weird collage of characters slapped together, even kids could do that on PowerPoint.
Comment
byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion
inanime
Comment
byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion
inanime
It is not just that, many have compared it with that of Frieren’s (suspicious timing), and that has lowered the expectations of fans even further. It seems like J.C. Staff wants us to believe that ‘Madhouse’ quality cannot be reached and that it will fail miserably when compared to it.
But when we measure Season 3 against the second season, it may be much better (it’s a low bar). So, by lowering our expectations we might end up appreciating an ‘average’ or ‘mid’ level anime.
That’s one way to ‘exceed expectations’
It is like a starving man finally getting his hands on some food; he will devour it no matter how bad it tastes, and then he will tear up in happiness. This may be why I had to starve for more than six years. I think we are getting played, which can be seen each time they take a step.
They have not yet revealed the director (the most important cog in the wheel), and the animation producer had humbly said that they were trying hard not to disappoint, by saying such things on an official scale, they are making us believe that we shouldn’t expect much from Season 3. The worst thing about all of this is it is working!
One Punch Man Season 3 Producer Says They Are Working Hard to Not Disappoint at J.C. Staff
byu/AdNecessary7641 inanime
J.C. Staff is not a no-name studio; they have Railgun and Fairy Tail on their belt, this is not their first rodeo. After the disaster that was the second season, why would they be pulling such stunts? Their reputation in the industry would take a massive hit if they ended up botching this.
Comment
byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion
inanime
Comment
byu/Turbostrider27 from discussion
inanime
That is why I am not buying it. They could have taken a few more years if they wanted to and deliver a better result, but they know they have enough, but not enough to escape being compared to the ‘legendary’ Season 1.
Maybe I am making all of this up because, by hook or crook, I want to see Season 3 be a good one. One Punch Man cannot survive another flop.
One Punch Man Season 3 is set to release in October 2026.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
