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One Punch Man Season 3 finally dropped its first episode, and the internet collectively held its breath. Six years felt like an eternity for a franchise that once dominated anime conversations with jaw-dropping animation and perfect comedic timing. The anticipation built so high that even a decent premiere might have struggled to meet expectations. What we got instead was something far more divisive than anyone predicted.
The blunt truth? One Punch Man Season 3 Episode 1 wasn't worth the wait. While polished artwork and cleaner character designs offered more improvements, the severe lack of actual animation stripped away what makes anime compelling as a medium. Viewers essentially watched an expensive slideshow with voice acting. For a series built on spectacular action and dynamic movement, delivering static frames felt like a fundamental misunderstanding of the assignment.
The most glaring issue with One Punch Man Season 3 Episode 1 comes down to movement, or rather, the lack of it. Throughout the twenty-plus-minute runtime, characters stood frozen while only their mouths moved during dialogue sequences. Even simple actions that should have included basic animation were replaced with still frames.
One scene involving Garou picking up a paper from a table was simply skipped, jumping awkwardly from one static shot to another. This approach might work for a mid-season episode with minimal action requirements. However, premiere episodes traditionally set the tone and build excitement for what is coming. The decision to present such a stiff opening after years of development raises serious questions about budget allocation and production priorities.
The comparison to Season 2 becomes unavoidable. Despite its flawed art style, Season 2's first episode featured fluid character movements even during non-combat scenes. One Punch Man Season 3 trades that vitality for prettier still images, which fundamentally misunderstands what makes anime engaging as a medium.
What Actually Worked in Episode 1 of One Punch Man Season 3?
Not everything deserves criticism in One Punch Man Season 3's premiere. The art direction shows genuine improvement over Season 2's questionable aesthetic choices. Character designs feel more faithful to Yusuke Murata's manga artwork, with bold outlines and cleaner linework throughout.
The removal of the gradient effects that plagued Season 2's character models represents a smart visual decision. Colors pop with vibrancy, and the lighting feels more natural and well-composed. The comedic timing mostly lands despite the limited animation support. Fubuki's attempts to rally Saitama's group into action provided genuine entertainment, showcasing the series' humor even when the visual presentation falls short.
New musical tracks introduced in this episode hit the right notes. The soundtrack placement demonstrated good understanding of scene requirements, building tension where needed and supporting comedic moments effectively.
The premiere episode of One Punch Man Season 3 contained almost no action sequences, consisting primarily of dialogue and setup. This dialogue-heavy nature meant animation requirements differed from what future episodes will demand. The opening animation sequence showed brief moments of fluid movement during action shots.
Episode 2 preview suggests more action-focused content ahead. If the studio delivers satisfying animation for key fights, many will forgive the slideshow presentation of talking scenes. The Monster Association arc contains some of the manga's best battles, and seeing them animated competently would validate the wait, even if episode 1 disappointed.
The Verdict
Was the first episode of One Punch Man Season 3 worth waiting six years for? Objectively, no. The episode delivered a functional story setup with improved artwork, but failed to justify its existence as animation rather than a motion comic.
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It isn't unwatchable or completely devoid of merit. Story developments remain interesting, character interactions provide entertainment, and technical improvements over Season 2 exist. But these positives feel like the bare minimum rather than achievements worth celebrating.
Future episodes hold the power to change this narrative. Strong fight animation could transform the season's reception from disappointment to cautious approval. Until those episodes arrive, the premiere stands as a mediocre introduction that failed to capitalize on renewed excitement.
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