Why is One Punch Man Season 2 worse?

The studio changed from Madhouse to J.C. Staff, with a new director. The story stayed strong, but the fights lost much of Season 1's fluid animation.

One Punch Man: Is It Worth Watching Despite the Studio Change?

Item: One Punch Man
Rating: 8.2

Our verdict — 8.2/10, worth watching

TL;DR — Season 1 (Madhouse, 2015, 12 episodes) is essential: a hilarious superhero parody with some of the best action animation on TV. After that the studio changed to J.C. Staff, and quality dropped. Season 2 (2019) was a step down, and Season 3 Part 1 (late 2025) was heavily criticised for static, slideshow-like animation. Part 2 is due in 2027. Many fans continue with Yusuke Murata's manga instead.

Infographic covering the premise, the studio change, and the verdict. — Best for fans of comedy, parody, and shonen subversion.

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The verdict

Season 1 is a must; after that, consider the manga. The story and comedy stay good throughout. What changes is the animation, and for a show whose jokes and fights depend on spectacle, that matters a lot.

The premise

Saitama trained so hard (100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and a 10km run every day) that he can now beat any enemy with one punch. The problem is that he's bored. The show parodies superhero and shonen power fantasies by making its hero unbeatable, then finds its drama in the heroes and monsters around him, like his intense cyborg disciple Genos and the bureaucratic Hero Association.

Season by season

Season 1 (Madhouse, October to December 2015, 12 episodes). Directed by Shingo Natsume. The fight with Boros in the finale is one of the best-animated battles in TV anime.
Season 2 (J.C. Staff, April to July 2019, 12 episodes). Introduces Garou, the hero hunter, a great antagonist. The animation is clearly flatter.
Season 3 Part 1 (J.C. Staff, October 12 to December 28, 2025, 12 episodes). The Monster Association raid. Heavily criticised for still frames and limited movement.
Season 3 Part 2 (2027). Announced after Part 1's finale, with new directors and character designers.

The manga

One Punch Man began as a crude webcomic by the artist ONE. Yusuke Murata's redrawn manga, running since 2012, is famous for its art and is well ahead of the anime. If Season 2 or 3 disappoints you, start the manga from where the anime stopped; many fans recommend it.

Who it suits

If you liked Mob Psycho 100, also by ONE, or enjoy parodies like The Boys, Season 1 is an easy recommendation. If you only want top-tier animation throughout, stop there.

Frequently asked questions

Why was One Punch Man Season 3 criticised? Part 1 (October to December 2025) relied heavily on still frames and limited animation. Its sixth episode was rated 1.5 on IMDb, and fans nicknamed it "One Slideshow Man."

When does One Punch Man Season 3 Part 2 come out? It's scheduled for 2027 on TV Tokyo, again from J.C. Staff, with some staff changes. No exact date or episode count yet.

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