One Punch Man Season 3: Episode 3 vs Episode 1 — Did the Animation Level Up or Fall Off?

One Punch Man season 3 finally twitched in episode 3. Not a comeback, not a return to glory, just... movement. After the season opened with a whole lot of nothing, this week sneaks in a brief fight and reminds you what momentum looks like. Expectations were already scraping the floor, which is probably why a middle-of-the-road episode suddenly feels like progress.

The small win: a short, scrappy brawl

The one thing that works in episode 3 is a quick clash pitting Garou against Royal Ripper and Insect Man. It is nowhere near the ridiculous highs of season 1, but compared to the empty calories we got in episodes 1 and 2, it is at least something to chew on. The problem is the same as it has been all season: the animation sits at average, repeats moves, and just cannot sell speed or impact. Still, action beats actually happen this time, which puts it a hair ahead of the premiere that parked itself in neutral.

The big problem is still the big problem

Episode 3 pretty much confirms this is the visual ceiling for the season. You get long stretches of monotone conversation, most of it covered by slow pans across still images like the show is padding time. That slideshow vibe is hard to ignore. Direction-wise, it feels like the studio is trying to stretch every second and every drawing as far as it can. The Garou sequence barely lasts a minute or two, and the rest of the episode slides right back into the same issues as episode 1. When an action series cannot communicate velocity or impact, you feel it. Honestly, Yusuke Murata's manga pages have more life and motion than a lot of what is on screen here.

Why some fans are oddly upbeat anyway

Because the bar is subterranean after the first two weeks. When you have been watching characters talk over pans of stills, seeing anybody actually move reads like an upgrade. If the show can squeeze out one decent fight per episode from here on out, a lot of viewers will chalk that up as a win.

• Episode 3 edges out episode 1 thanks to a brief Garou vs Royal Ripper/Insect Man fight, but the animation remains flat, repetitive, and light on speed/impact.
• Long, static dialogue scenes keep eating runtime; the episode relies on slow pans over still images to fill space.
• The Garou sequence clocks in at roughly a minute or two; the rest reverts to the same issues that sank the premiere.
• Season 1's standard is still miles away, and episode 3 makes it clear the visuals are not magically improving this season.
• For context: IMDb user scores so far — Episode 1: 5.9/10, Episode 2: 6.2/10.
• If you want to watch anyway, One Punch Man season 3 is streaming on Crunchyroll.

So, did episode 3 feel like a step up to you, or just more of the same with one decent scuffle stapled on? I am leaning toward the latter, but I will take any forward motion this season can manage.