When the anime forOne-Punch Manfirst aired, many fans felt like a dream come true. With intense fights, sharp satire, and extraordinary animation, season one delivered it all. The show’s momentum, fanbase, and reputation for being unlike anything else in the genre made it stand out.
However, as the series went on, its momentum ultimately faded due to pacing issues, strange creative choices, and a growing disconnect from its source material.One-Punch Mangot dragged down by production changes that took away what made the original webcomic special. At this point, continuing the anime does a disservice to the original story.
One-Punch Man Was Set To Become One of the Best Anime
WhenOne-Punch Manfirst hit the screens in 2015, it quickly became an instant sensation. The animation was bold, the comedy sharp, and the action scenes set a new bar for what to expect from action anime. Its premise of a bored hero who defeats everything too easily may sound like it wouldn’t work, but the show made it work.
One-Punch Manused absurdity to explore deeper themes such as hero culture, ego, and purpose with surprising depth. Paired with Saitama’s blank expressions and unassuming appearance, the show used that contrast to amplify its satire.Fans and critics alike celebrated the anime, turning Saitama into an immediate pop culture icon within the anime community.
At the time, the series was a hit and seemed destined for longevity. As the fanbase grew and demand for more increased, the anime industry took notice. However, with long gaps between seasons, a manga and anime that diverged from the source material, and inconsistent pacing, the franchise’s popularity gradually started to decline.
One-Punch Man Lost Too Much in Translation
Drifting Away From the Webcomic Killed Its Adaptation
Thebiggest turning point inOne-Punch Man’sdeclinecame when the anime and manga it adapted started to drift away from the original webcomic. What started as smart refinements eventually evolved into larger rewrites, with important storylines becoming either diluted or cut entirely. This caused the pacing to slow and reduced the emotional weight and narrative focus.
Major arcs lost their impact, and moments like the S-Class vs. Garou showdown were either heavily altered or removed altogether. What was once filled with tension and moral complexity was replaced by flashier battles with less substance. Even characters became less interesting, handled inconsistently, or relegated to background roles, like Genos’s arc, which felt stalled.
The manga’s adaptation started to feel increasingly hollow, with scenes being stretched or entire sequences added just to fill space.The story’s momentum was ultimately lost and suffers from constant revisions, especially evident in the Monster Association arc. Since the anime follows the manga’s adaptation, it experienced the same issues.
Season Three ofOne-Punch Manwill adapt the Monster Association arc.
As a result, the anime no longer feels like a continuation of the story that fans initially loved and has lost many of its greatest strengths in translation. Itadapts a version ofOne-Punch Manthat no longer honors the original vision. It has become disconnected from what made the story compelling.
Fans Want a Faithful Adaptation of the Webcomic
Many fans have made it clear that they want a full remake ofOne-Punch Manthat stays true to the original webcomic. A fresh adaptation could capture the essence of what made the series so compelling at the start of its development. With the webcomic’s pacing, character depth, and narrative potential, a faithful adaptation would surpass the current anime or manga.
Looking at other franchises shows that it’s not an impossible dream to hope for. For example,One Pieceis getting a remakethat will cover its entire story from the beginning, improving animation and pacing to better reflect the source material. Similarly,One-Punch Mancould receive a course-correcting adaptation likeFullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
One-Punch Manwould benefit from a remake once the webcomic concludes.The result would be a series that honors the source material and gives fans the opportunity to see the story as it was meant to be. However, while it’s not an impossible prospect, it is highly unlikely that it would come to pass.
One-Punch Man’s Creator Is Behind Other Stunning Anime
One Created One-Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100
The creator behindOne-Punch Man, known simply as One, has demonstrated impressive storytelling talent that shouldn’t be overlooked. His other major work,Mob Psycho 100, iswidely regarded as a modern anime masterpiecethat explores raw emotion, humor, absurdity, and action with a recognizable visual style. The success ofMob Psycho 100proves the creative depth One has to offer.
Mob Psycho 100excels in exploring complex themes such as identity, self-worth, and personal growth. Along with the show’s animation, it captures the characters' emotions in a way that enhances the overall narrative.It stands as a prime example of what One’s stories can achieve when executed well.
One’s vision and storytelling talent are undeniably strong, but the existing anime and manga fall short of showcasing his full potential.
WhileOne-Punch Manstruggles with pacing, inconsistencies, and direction,Mob Psycho 100demonstrates how powerful the seriescould have been with a faithful adaptation of One’s story. Even if it’s unlikely, fans hope thatOne-Punch Manwill someday reach the same heights with an authentic adaptation that tells the story as it was meant to be told.
One’s vision and storytelling talent are undeniably strong, but the existing anime and manga fall short of showcasing his full potential.One-Punch Mancould have rivaled his other acclaimed works and easily been considered a modern masterpiece if it had been handled with greater care.
