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As the countdown toOne Punch Manseason 3 continues, J.C. Staff is ramping up the promotional campaign—but not in the way fans were hoping. Instead of a good trailer or detailed production update, the studio has shifted to a visual rollout featuring the monsters of the upcoming season. This week’s spotlight is onMonster King Orochi and Gyoro-Gyoro, two of the arc’s most formidable antagonists.
What should have been a hype-building moment for fans has instead sparked frustration. Both visuals, drawn by different artists on the team—Ryosuke Shirakawa for Orochi and Shinjiro Kuroda for Gyoro-Gyoro—were posted to social media without one key feature: a comment section. The official accounts disabled comments across the board, a move that many see as an attempt to shield the posts fromthe growing backlash the series is facing.
One Punch Manbegan in 2015 with a near-flawless debut season from Madhouse. The adaptation was sharp, funny, and visually explosive, quickly earning the show a reputation as one of the most stylish and entertaining anime of the decade. However, by the time Season 2 rolled around in 2019, the magic had faded. With production shifting to J.C. Staff, the animation took a hit, the direction felt rushed, and pacing issues dragged down what should have been major narrative beats. That was six years ago. Since then, fans have waited, hoping Season 3 would be a return to form. But the early signs, including the lack of a proper trailer and these static visuals, are raising more concern than confidence.
The Monster Visuals: A New Focus, Familiar Concerns
King Orochi and Gyoro-Gyoro Revealed
As part of its new set of monster visuals, J.C. Staff has begun showcasing villain designs for Season 3. The first visual drop features Monster King Orochi—designed by Ryosuke Shirakawa,known for his work onViolet EvergardenandMiss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid. The design takes creative liberties, showing a version of Orochi that, while detailed, lacks the menace manga readers had hoped to see.
The second visual, featuring Gyoro-Gyoro, comes from Shinjiro Kuroda. It’s stylistically distinct, emphasizing the grotesque alien features that define the character in the manga. Both images reflect different interpretations—but they share the same issue: they’re static, stylized, and don’t offer a glimpse into the actual animation quality fans are waiting to see.
The Backlash: Animation Anxiety and Creative Doubts
The fandom’s reaction hasn’t been kind. Even with the comment sections disabled, discussions across Reddit and Twitter have lit up with criticism. Many point to the fact that these visuals look fine on their own, but the real concern is what happens when these designs have to move. One fan on Reddit summed it up best:
It looks good, but the problem is not the style. It is the animation of which I have no expectations, taking into account the second season.
The lack of a good trailer is also fanning the flames. Despite a long production cycle, the best fans have seen so far are a few promo videos that barely count as animation.With no major reveals at AnimeJapanand a history of production problems behind them, fans are worried Season 3 is repeating the same missteps.
Release Date, Plot, and Production Team
When Is One Punch Man Season 3 Coming Out?
Season 3 is officially slated to premiere in October 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced. That gives J.C. Staff a few more months to sway public opinion—and, ideally, drop a proper trailer.
Theupcoming season will cover theMonster Association Arc, arguably the most important and expansive storylines inOne Punch Manto date. This arc sees the Hero Association launching anall-out raid against the Monster Association, resulting in massive, multi-episode battles and long-awaited character moments—especially for S-Class heroes like Flashy Flash and Zombieman. Garou’s storyline will also reach new levels, setting up what could be the most intense conflict the series has seen yet.
Who’s Working On It?
While J.C. Staff returns for Season 3, the production team includes a mix of returning and new talent:
The hope is that this mix of veterans and fresh blood can breathe life into a season that, for many, feels like it has something to prove.
