While fans hoped for a spectacular return of Saitama and his league of heroes, what they got instead was an underwhelming visual experience that many have likened to a school PowerPoint presentation.
A scene featuring Garou sliding down a grassy field has become the center of controversy. In the original manga, this moment was rich in motion and detail, with trailing grass effects adding a sense of dynamic movement. However, in the anime, Garou is shown gliding across a static background, giving off the vibe of a pasted character awkwardly moving across a flat image.
Fans were quick to mock the scene online, saying it “looks like someone added a slide transition in class using PowerPoint.” Others pointed out the glaring lack of polish and emotional weight a major step down for a series once hailed for its high-octane visuals.
The criticisms didn’t stop there. Eagle-eyed viewers even spotted inconsistencies in basic elements like fences, which changed between frames in the same scene something fans called “amateurish.”
Social media platforms have since been flooded with reactions comparing One Punch Man Season 3 unfavorably to other anime with acclaimed animation, such as Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan. Some even drew parallels to Blue Lock, another anime previously criticized for budget-style visuals.
Season 3’s premiere episode is currently sitting at a record-low 6.1 rating, making it the worst-reviewed episode in the franchise’s history. Fans voiced frustration over the missed opportunity to reignite the brand, especially after years of hype and anticipation.
“After waiting since 2019, this is what we get? It’s heartbreaking,” wrote one Twitter user.
Many fans now fear that the iconic franchise may struggle to maintain relevance amid a booming anime landscape increasingly dominated by high-quality productions.
Tensions have escalated to a boiling point, forcing One-Punch Man Season 3 director Shinpei Nagai to make a sudden and dramatic decision: delete his social media account amid a wave of fierce backlash from fans.
In a now-deleted statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Nagai shared his painful reasoning:
“Well, I have some rather unfortunate news. Some of my followers have been pretending to be allies, but are in fact stirring up hostility. So I’ve decided to delete this account… Their actions—such as quoting me out of context, trying to provoke comments that would violate my NDA, or monetizing the controversy—are unacceptable and cannot be ignored.”
Nagai emphasized that he has always given his best to the fans with the utmost sincerity, but the current social media environment has become intolerable for the project. He expressed deep disappointment:
“The ones who suffer the most are always the true fans. I cannot forgive those who tarnish the reputation of the staff or exploit the struggles of creators for profit through hatred.”
Most concerning, Nagai revealed the backlash has taken a toll on his mental health:
“To be honest, it’s affecting my mental well-being, and it’s only bringing negativity to the work, the staff, and the original creators.”
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