One-Punch Man Season 3 has sparked intense backlash since its premiere, with viewers expressing widespread disappointment over its animation and production quality. In the midst of this backlash, legendary animator, Takashi Hashimoto, has stepped forward to address the controversy. Hashimoto has publicly commented on the situation, offering a direct response to the criticism.
Takashi Hashimoto responds to One-Punch Man Season 3
Takashi Hashimoto has issued a direct response to the backlash surrounding the animation of One-Punch Man Season 3 after criticism across social media. The season has drawn intense online backlash, with Episode 6 becoming one of the lowest-rated anime episodes in IMDb history.
Posting on his Bluesky account, Hashimoto described the volume and tone of overseas criticism as “overwhelming.” He expressed concern for staff, noting that the negativity has taken an emotional toll.
“The production team probably feels a lot of pain because of it. Everyone shares the same feeling: nobody sets out to make a bad product. Yet, we get criticized for the smallest details. Where is our motivation supposed to go?” he added.
The acclaimed animator also warned that hostile reactions have real consequences for staff morale. “Please, think about the creators behind the screen. We aren’t doing this as volunteers; this is everyone’s job. The more you bully us, the more the staff will disappear. Guaranteed,” he wrote.
Hashimoto is not the only figure who has reacted publicly. Director Shinpei Nagai previously attempted to respond to criticism on X (formerly Twitter) before deleting his account. Nagai claimed that some users were deliberately provoking him and encouraging him to violate nondisclosure rules. He wrote, “I cannot forgive those who tarnish the staff’s honor or exploit the creators’ struggles for profit through hate.” (via CBR)
Season 3, which premiered on October 12, drops a new episode every week on Hulu/Disney+.
