One Punch Man Season 3 is a Disappointment: Stop Watching and Read This Instead

The Hard Truth: We Deserved Better

We waited years. We endured the silence. And now that One Punch Man Season 3 is finally airing in late 2025, the verdict is in: It’s not enough.

Look, I’m not saying it’s unwatchable. But when you are adapting the Monster Association Arc—arguably the most visually spectacular arc in Shonen history—"okay" animation is not acceptable. The internet is already flooded with side-by-side comparisons, and the difference is heartbreaking.

If you are watching the anime and wondering why people hype this series so much, you are looking at a blurry reflection of a masterpiece. Here is why you need to drop the show and pick up the manga immediately.

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1. Yusuke Murata is a God (And the Anime is Mortal)

The manga artist, Yusuke Murata, is widely considered one of the best draftsmen alive. His understanding of anatomy, perspective, and motion is superhuman. In the manga, when Garou moves, you feel the speed. When Saitama punches, you feel the impact shattering the planet.

The Anime Problem: Season 3 suffers from flat textures and excessive use of "blur" lines to simulate speed instead of actually animating movement. They turned detailed paintings into generic frames.

See the Difference: You have to see the double-page spreads to believe them. Start the Monster Association Arc (Volume 17) on Amazon.

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2. The "Garou vs. Saitama" Fight Needed Movie Budget

Without spoiling too much, the climax of this season involves feats of strength that literally change the geography of the Earth (and maybe the solar system). This required Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen levels of budget.

Instead, what we are seeing feels... constrained. The scale feels small. The terrifying presence of the Monster King Orochi looks like a CGI mess in some scenes, lacking the gritty, organic horror of the ink-on-paper version.

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3. The "Flipbook" Effect

Did you know that Murata often draws the manga like a flipbook? He draws so many frames per action that you can literally animate the manga just by turning the pages fast. The irony is that the manga sometimes flows better than the anime. The static images on paper have more kinetic energy than the moving images on your screen.

If you stick to the anime, you are watching a "slideshow" of the story. If you read the manga, you are experiencing the action as it was meant to be seen.

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Conclusion: Do Yourself a Favor

Don't let a mediocre adaptation ruin one of the best stories of our generation. The One Punch Man manga is distinct, fast-paced, and arguably the best-looking comic on the shelves today.

If you are frustrated with Season 3, vote with your wallet. Support the original artists.

Collect the Art: The volumes look incredible on a shelf. Grab the One Punch Man Box Set (Vol 1-20) and binge the real experience. Start reading right now!

Are we being too harsh? Are you actually enjoying Season 3? Tell us in the comments if you prefer the Anime or the Manga!