The Fall Anime 2025 Preview Guide - One Punch Man Season 3

Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun.

After three years of ‟special training,” he's become so strong that he's practically invincible. In fact, he's too strong—even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch. Alongside Genos, his faithful disciple, Saitama performs his official hero duties as a member of the Hero Association.

One day, monsters claiming to be from the Monster Association suddenly appeared, taking a child of Hero Association executive hostage. The S-class heroes gather and plan a raid on the Monster Association hideout to rescue the hostage. Meanwhile, Garou, a ‟human monster” who was taken by the Monster Association during a battle with the heroes, awakens in the Monster Association's hideout.

One Punch Man Season 3 is based on a manga series by ONE and Yūsuke Murata. The anime series is streaming on Crunchyroll, Disney+, Hulu, and Netflix on Sundays, depending on your region.

Yes, because when I think of One Punch Man, I think of an episode frontloaded with so much exposition that I might as well be watching a slideshow. I'm not gonna sit here and lose my mind about the show's presentation. It's not as good as season one, it's not gonna be as good as season one—and even if it was, I don't think that would've made this episode particularly exciting. Just like most shounen's, we're in the middle of an arc transition. So we need to get everybody up to speed with the new status quo and how we're going to tackle the monster organization. The episode just consisted of people in rooms telling each other what to do or who to find—so of course this entire episode was just going to be a bunch of talking heads.

The premiere could've made its intentions a little less obvious, but thankfully, there were enough funny bits scattered throughout to stop me from completely falling asleep. I think this is also a testament to ONE's writing as he is able to fill these exposition heavy scenes with enough character that it doesn't come off as completely boring—whether it's Tatsumaki's confidence, Puri-Puri Prisoner's delightful aura, or Saitama's ability to just not care about anything that's going on. I will say, this does highlight an issue that I was starting to feel towards the end of season two: I think we might have way too many characters at this point.

One Punch Man is very much a parody of shounen by having an all powerful main character that could solve any situation with literally just one punch. That works in a comedic sense, but in a narrative sense, it breaks immersion since there's no tension. To get away from this, the series introduces a bunch of different characters and sub organizations that are all coordinating in order to take each other down. In a lot of ways, we are complicating the plot to the point where either Saitama can't fix everything with a simple solution or he just doesn't want to because it's too much of a bother. That's funny in its own way, but it also means that the show is just following a more traditional shounen format—and is losing a bit of the charm that made the series in the first place. The characters are still likable and there is still a good amount of fun to be had but it really does feel like One Punch Man isn't the same anymore.

Episode 2 Rating:

There was a lot of information jammed into this episode. Unlike the premiere, there was enough variety and actual character study, making it less monotonous. The episode threw me off at the beginning, with Garou roaming around, looking to join the Monsters Association. It isn't until later that it's eventually revealed that he's back in the city to perform an initiation. I do feel a little bad for Garou because he definitely has a good heart, but he keeps being put in situations to act like the bad guy. It does raise the question of whether he was put in different situations, he probably would've been a pretty capable hero. After seeing everything that happened in season two and where it looks like they're going with his character here in season three, I'm very curious to see what the end of his arc looks like.

I wish the premiere had handled things much like this episode did. While it did keep the focus on one character, everything was still engaging while also sharing insight into what's going on in the world. We see how society is falling apart for the average citizens, as the heroes, citizens, and monsters are all conflicting with each other. There's some good social commentary in there about how some people will just devolve into madness when they are confronted with a dangerous force they feel like they stand no chance against. ONE has always had this style where he would insert topical things under exaggerated circumstances, so they don't feel out of place in the world he creates, while also making sure the commentary hits. Plus, it was fast, and we were able to move on to the next thing, like Saitama's dine and dash.

I love it when Saitama acts as a jerk who's also out for himself when put into certain situations. He'll still save the day, but he's still a laid-back cynic perfectly fine with dropping the bill on somebody else as soon as the opportunity presents itself. I'm still curious what his place in this story is supposed to be. From what we have seen so far, it feels like everyone is just trying to drag him into the plot, but he doesn't want anything to do with it. It comes to a point where that starts feeling irresponsible. What's would happen if the monsters win the confrontation and start invading? Maybe the idea is that he trusts everybody else enough to deal with it, or he's just trying to put it off as long as he can until he gets involved. When the show is focusing on comedy, I don't usually think about these things. But like I mentioned last week, when the show tries to play a story this straight and dramatic with little sprinkles of comedy throughout, it's hard not to ask these questions.

You know what? They should call him Diminishing Returns Man! Folks. Is this thing on? Seriously, though, before I touch on the episode proper, I think it's appropriate to speak on the buildup to this particular premiere—or the lack thereof. I can't say I know anybody who was excited for One Punch Man to return in anime form. The show's first season, helmed by Shingo Natsume at Madhouse, elevated ONE's charming manga into a sakuga extravaganza that continues to stand alone. It was lightning in a bottle that would prove impossible to recapture, especially when the second season changed studios and directors. Now, six years later, the third season returns with yet another director (still at J.C. Staff), and I think its audience can see the writing on the wall. Fool me once, etc.

Even divorced from that context, after such a long break, the last thing One Punch Man needed was a story-heavy chapter that, despite its verbosity, provides hardly any recaps or onramps for its viewers. You have to catch up on your own time. More to the point, this show is called One Punch Man. This is supposed to be an action series starring an eclectic cast of superheroes whose designs and powers range from kooky to borderline offensive. It has no business opening a brand-new season with a bunch of talking heads in a boardroom dryly explaining where the plot is currently situated. Immediately, I feel bored and disengaged. I understand there has to be some denouement after last season's climax, but this is where a clever adaptation can rearrange and rewrite to give the audience something exciting to grab onto. There's no such effort here.

Instead, the anime kicks the action down the road while the premiere sets the stage for the upcoming clash between the Hero Association and the Monster Association. That's about it. It reintroduces some familiar faces and provides some insight into what the monsters are plotting, but overall, the writing deprives us of any thematic or emotional footholds. It's also just not very funny. While it is mildly amusing to see Saitama and his buds lounging at home while the Hero Association sounds the alarms, the adaptation doesn't juxtapose those extremes in a humorous way. It looks and feels very dull and flat, and there's little attention paid to comedic fundamentals like timing. When the new episode of your action comedy series has no action and little comedy, that's not a good sign.

I still like my boy Garou, though. He's an actual character with an arc and everything, and he's cautiously navigating this conflict between the heroes and the monsters. While I wouldn't call him deep, he at least has more going on than the rest of the cast. If there's one thing I'm looking forward to this season, it's seeing how his story shakes out. Otherwise, I think One Punch Man's one joke has run its course.

Okay, this is a definite improvement. In fact, this would make a better premiere than the actual premiere. While there's no going back to the apotheosis of One Punch Man, it's nice to see the second episode open with some blatant sociopolitical satire. Silly as it may be, it's proof that the series still possesses grander thematic ambitions beyond the scope of the narrative's text. That's basic stuff, sure, but it was easy to forget during last week's snoozefest.

Overall, the episode returns to One Punch Man's bread and butter: extracting quotidian comedy out of its larger-than-life characters. Garou may be on the hunt for hero noggins, but he's also a growing boy whose stomach is bigger than his wallet. Similarly, Saitama's pugilist perfection doesn't mean much when he has no cash on hand to pay his lunch bill. These setups layer their absurdities well—Garou literally orders “one of everything,” while a coincidental radio broadcast amplifies how mortified Saitama feels. Their resolutions feel in-character as well. Garou dines and dashes because there's no reason why he would care to do otherwise. Saitama, however, concocts a devious (and delicious) scheme to foist the bill onto Fubuki before running away himself. That's our hero. That is what One Punch Man is all about: being a jerk and getting away with it.

The added focus on Garou also benefits the second episode. Despite his worst intentions, Garou can't help but bring a modicum of righteousness to the panicking citizens, and that irony defines his character. The opening scene certainly justifies his misanthropy, but humanity isn't a monolith that can be judged on the actions of its vilest members. And this also means that Garou's increased monstrousness doesn't stop him from protecting the same kid from last season. The monsters, too, aren't a united front, as we see more of their inner machinations and different sects. Garou, refusing as always to let anybody tell him what to do, ends the episode preparing to kick the butts of the two crony creatures assigned to shadow him. However, in actuality, he does so in order to protect someone else. I really like Garou and all of his contradictions, so if the third season wants to keep me happy, it will continue exploring and enriching his arc.

The best joke of the episode is that Saitama and Garou meet and spar (technically) without either person realizing they are in the presence of their quarry. That's the flavor of dramatic irony that suits One Punch Man best. As long as it can adhere to that sense of humor and sprinkle in some heart now and then, the rest of the season may not be as dire as the previous episode indicated.

Well, that was… underwhelming. Even with my expectations measured from the most recent, uninspired trailer, and my generally middling reaction to the show's previous second season, I found this first episode of One Punch Man's third season a struggle to endure. I mean, for a show named One Punch Man, you might expect there to have been a single punch thrown, but no. This is talking head after talking head after talking head, and almost none of them are characters I care about.

It's been six years since the last season, so I guess it's reasonable to try to get viewers up to speed, but I don't think this episode does a great job. Perhaps this is a function of the material it's adapting, because season 2 ended essentially in the middle of a story arc, with the Monster Association giving the Hero Association an ultimatum, Saitama and Garou narrowly missing an engagement with one another. Now the injured Garou is in the monsters' custody. With many heroes out of action, the Hero Association's bigwigs have an extremely boring meeting—Reincarnated as a Slime–style—that could have been an email. And it takes up half of the episode.

We only briefly see Saitama, nominally the star of his own show, for a few moments in the second half. Yes, it's kind of funny that he's lazing around while the rest of the world goes to shit, playing video games with his other hero buddies, but there aren't any big laughs in this episode. The most amusing part comes at the end with a gag about Sonic and his weight loss.

The biggest concern in production is whether the animation will be any good. I think we need to come to terms with the fact that Madhouse's insane work on the first season will never be equalled, and that J.C. Staff's vastly inferior efforts on season two are likely to be the norm going forward. With an almost complete absence of action in this extremely staid installment, it's hard to say for sure, but with the preponderance of static frames, minimal motion even when characters move, plus whatever the hell was going on with Garou's walk cycle, I can't say my hopes are high.

At least the opening track from JAM Project and BABYMETAL kicks ass. I'd love for BABYMETAL to make more anime songs; they seem practically genetically engineered for the role. While the OP sequence has some decent animation cuts, I don't think that can be relied on as a sign that the aesthetics will improve later in the show. Often, OP sequences are animated by completely different teams from those working on episodes. I want to say I'm glad One Punch Man is back, but based on this terminally dull first episode, perhaps it would have been better if he'd stayed away.

Episode 2 Rating:

At least I can say that was a lot better than the first episode. Away from endless boring board meetings, One Punch Man seems to have remembered it's a show about superheroes, monsters, and those in between. Like Garou, who wants to become the most powerful monster in the world, but seems to retain some human-like morality, even saving a random guy from some crazy monster-cult weirdos. As the monsters who attack him in the episode's second half confirm, he's fought plenty of enemies, but he's never killed anyone.

Garou does manage to kill several platefuls of juicy steak, before dining and dashing, so it's not like he's a shining heroic example though. Not that Saitama is much better, unknowingly eating in the same restaurant before realizing he's lost his wallet. We can all empathize with his sinking feeling, his sensation of rising dread as he struggles to conceive of a way out. Thank goodness for Fubuki's appearance, poor woman. Saitama's so stressed he can't hear a word she says, before his decidedly non-heroic lightbulb moment. Offering her a single fry, he reasons she's now liable for the entire bill and uses Garou's dining and dashing to follow suit and chase him. I feel a little bit sorry for Fubuki. Saitama never pays attention to her!

Garou rescues a kid who looks a little like Mob from Mob Psycho 100 (by the same author as One Punch Man), at least as far as his bowl cut is concerned. Apparently, Garou saved this kid before, six years ago, in season two; you can forgive me for not remembering. He tries to give the kid a pep talk about sticking up for yourself before Garou finally has his showdown with Saitama, which, in typical understated fashion, is completely needless, is over within a fraction of a second, and Garou doesn't even realize who the “Caped Baldy” that defeated him with a single punch is.

His subsequent battle against a couple of high-level monsters sent to help model him into the perfect monstrous killing machine goes a little more his way, and there's even a reasonable cut of animation when Garou's attacked by the creepy King Ripper. It's little wonder the kid is terrified of this monster; he's renowned for murdering children. This particular sequence is credited to animator Kenichirō Aoki, who fans credit for producing the only decent animation cuts in One Punch Man's second season. I don't think an entire show can rely on a single animator for every action sequence, so I really hope he's not left to carry the show for every other episode. Although this episode had significantly more action than last week's, it's still a far cry from the spectacle of the first season.

This felt a lot more like the One Punch Man I used to love, with goofy humor and fun characters interacting in fun ways. I'll have to accept that it will never be as special as it used to be. I was almost ready to give up on the entire franchise after last week's snooze-fest, but I guess I'll give Saitama and friends (and enemies) another chance.