'One Punch Man' Season 3 director quits social media after fan harassment over animation quality

Shinpei Nagai, the director of One Punch Man Season 3, has deactivated his X account following intense backlash from fans over the show’s animation quality.

The anime’s first season, released in 2015, was praised for its exceptional animation by studio Madhouse, known for series like Death Note and Hunter x Hunter.

However, the second season, produced by J.C. Staff, drew criticism from viewers who felt it failed to match the visual standards set by the original.

With J.C. Staff returning to animate Season 3, fans had hoped for a visual improvement. Instead, early reactions have reignited complaints, prompting Nagai to issue a statement before deleting his account.

“I have some rather unfortunate news,” Nagai wrote. “There are a few people among my followers who are pretending to be allies but are actually engaging in rage-baiting, so I’ve decided to delete my account. Their actions—such as taking my statements out of context, trying to elicit comments that violate NDAs, or turning them into profit—are unacceptable and cannot be overlooked.”

He added that the harassment had taken a toll on his mental health, saying he would not create another account in the future. “To the fans who have been truly kind to me, I want to express my gratitude and apologies. It was truly enjoyable,” he concluded.

This is not the first time creators in the anime industry have faced similar issues. Nagai’s decision comes after he previously asked fans in September to “stop with the harassment and the persistent questions” related to production constraints.

Despite his departure from social media, One Punch Man Season 3 continues to air, though its early episodes have reportedly received lower viewer ratings than previous seasons.