One-Punch Man Season 3 Director Calls Out Rage-Baiters and Toxic Fandom, Then Goes Dark on Social Media

One-Punch Man season 3 is finally here and, predictably, the internet is eating itself alive over it. Things got nasty enough that the season's director, Shinpei Nagai, just bowed out of social media entirely after calling out some fans for crossing the line.

What actually went down

• Shinpei Nagai deleted his account and says he is done with social media for good.
• His final post is gone with the account, but screenshots are circulating on Reddit.
• He says some followers were pretending to be supportive while trying to provoke him and twist his words, even fishing for NDA-breaking comments.
• Nagai says the harassment and bad-faith engagement have been taking a toll on his mental health, and he has no plans to make a new account.

"There are a few people among my followers who are pretending to be allies but are actually engaging in rage-baiting."

He did not mince words about the behavior aimed at him and the team.

"Such despicable behavior is unforgivable."

Nagai added that he has tried to act in good faith for fans, but the current climate is not workable for the show or its staff.

"I've always done my best for the fans with utmost sincerity, but I've come to the conclusion that continuing in this environment is untenable for this project... I cannot forgive those who tarnish the staff's honor or exploit the struggles of the creators for profit through hate... I cannot overlook actions that degrade the work itself."

Why the blowback now?

Fans have been loud about season 3 not being up to par, which was always going to happen after a six-year wait between seasons 2 and 3. On top of that, the first season was handled by Madhouse, then J.C. Staff took over for season 2 and is back for season 3. Different studios, different styles — and endless side-by-side comparisons that put J.C. Staff in a no-win position.

Other creators and fans weighed in

The pile-on got heated enough that One Piece animator Vincent Chansard stepped in publicly. Over on Reddit, plenty of commenters are backing the staff. As one put it: "I can understand being frustrated if your favorite series doesn't get a good adaptation. But I don't understand why people have to take it out on the staff." Another did not sugarcoat it: "I just find anyone who sends hate mail to someone, especially over a piece of media, to be a massive loser."

Where the season is right now

Season 3 adapts the arc where the Monster Association shows up at the Hero Association claiming monsters and heroes can coexist — which, surprise, is just a front for what they actually want.

The anime draws from the hit manga illustrated by Yusuke Murata. If you want to jump in, episodes 1–3 of One-Punch Man season 3 are streaming on Crunchyroll now, with new installments rolling out on the current schedule. If you need dates, we have the season 3 release calendar.