Hannan Mundia 
The first trailer for the long-awaited One Punch Man Season 3 finally dropped, answering fan questions about whether Mappa will be animating it.
One Punch Man Season 1 took the anime world by storm when it debuted in 2015, becoming one of the most talked-about anime series around. The second season finished airing in 2019, and fans are anticipating a third season that promises to continue Saitama and Garou’s brewing feud. However, while the first season was an acclaimed hit, the second didn’t leave fans buzzing, in part because of the change in animation studio from Studio Madhouse to JC Staff.
There were reports of the studio Mappa picking up One Punch Man Season 3, but the newest teaser has given a definitive answer of which studio is animating the third season. Fans who were hoping for something significantly different from One Punch Man Season 2 likely won’t be happy about the answer.
Which studio is animating One Punch Man Season 3?
JC Staff, the same animation studio that worked on One Punch Man Season 2, is returning to animate Season 3.
Known for popular anime series like Food Wars and Bakuman, many fans were disappointed by how JC Staff animated One Punch Man Season 2, with the general opinion that the first season did things much better. Studio Madhouse, the studio behind Death Note, Hunter X Hunter, and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, animated the first season of One Punch Man. The first season introduced the world’s most powerful superhero, who was toiling in obscurity because he was so efficient in dispatching enemies. The second season expanded on the story by introducing the self-proclaimed “Hero Hunter” Garou.
With little news during the lead-up for the first teaser trailer for the new season, there were reports of it being animated by Mappa, the studio known for Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and the final season of Attack on Titan. However, these reports were proven inaccurate. Mappa will not be animating One Punch Man Season 3, as the official teaser trailer confirms the return of JC Staff.
One Punch Man Season 3 release date
It’s unknown when One Punch Man Season 3 will be released, although a voice actor working on the show suggests it will come out in 2024.
The teaser trailer only stated that the season’s production is “in progress,” but Saito Ishikawa, the Japanese voice actor of Genos from One Punch Man, posted a list of projects he’s worked on scheduled to come out in 2024. One Punch Man was included in that list, indicating that its release might be closer than expected.
While the general response from fans about the trailer has been positive despite the lack of Mappa, One Punch Man Season 3 there’s cause for concern regarding the departure of longtime artist Yusuke Murata from the series. Murata worked alongside series creator “One” on both the manga and both initial seasons of the anime. It’s unknown how his absence will affect the show, but fans will find out once its release date arrives.
A 2024 release would be great for fans regardless, as there is set to be a solid lineup of hard-hitting anime series including the next part of Kengan Ashura and My Hero Academia Season 7.
