The popular manga One-Punch Man, originally created by ONE and later redrawn by Yusuke Murata, is still ongoing. After a six-year wait, fans were eagerly anticipating the third season of the anime, which began airing this October. However, the new season has been widely criticized by viewers for its simplistic production and numerous flaws, with many derisively calling it a "PowerPoint animation."
Now, the situation has taken another turn. The director of Season 3, Shinpei Nagai, recently posted a lengthy message on his personal social media before abruptly deactivating his X account. The move has sparked intense discussion among fans, shedding light on the toxic online environment the director has been facing.
As Shinpei Nagai has already deleted his X account, his statement is presented here via screenshots shared by other users. Please note that this may not be the complete text.
"Alright, I have some unfortunate news. Among my followers, there are a few individuals who pretend to be supporters but are actually stirring up controversy and leading the narrative. Because of this, I've decided to delete my account.""They've been deliberately taking my words out of context, trying to bait me into revealing information that would violate my non-disclosure agreement, and even profiting from it—I cannot accept or ignore this behavior."
"I have always given my all and worked sincerely for the fans, but I've come to the conclusion that this project cannot continue in such an environment.""What's most heartbreaking is that the most sincere fans are often the ones who get hurt the most. I cannot forgive those who trample on the dignity of the production team and exploit the creators' hard work to generate hate-based engagement."
"Therefore, I will be deleting the 'Shimpai Nagai' account completely and will not be creating a new one in the future.""I cannot tolerate any actions that would bring shame to the work itself. I hope everyone can understand."
"Honestly, all of this has taken a huge toll on my mental state. Continuing like this would only have a negative impact on the work, the team, and even the original author.""But this kind of despicable behavior is truly unforgivable. To all the fans who have been genuinely supportive and kind to me, I am sincerely grateful, and I want to say I'm sorry."
"I was truly happy to have spent this time with all of you."
Nagai's message makes it clear that a number of individuals on social media were not just debating the anime's quality but actively trying to bait him into leaking confidential information, which has clearly affected him.
In fact, even before Season 3 premiered, Nagai had already addressed the pressure on his X account:
"I took on this project, so beloved by its fans, with determination and resolve. The result may not satisfy everyone, and it might even cause displeasure, but someone has to take responsibility, and I've prepared myself for that."
"It may not fully compare to the first season, but please, at least accept this work, which is the culmination of our team's efforts. Today, many studios are backed by large corporations and attract a lot of talent. However, I want to reiterate my support for J.C.STAFF, a company dedicated to improving working conditions and nurturing its employees. Please stop the harassment and the repeated questions that I cannot answer due to my NDA. I'm begging you."
Prior to the broadcast, some overseas fans had exaggerated his statements, claiming the production would be bolstered by industry heavyweights. Others used his words to stir up drama and harass other animators, with the backlash eventually circling back to Nagai's personal account. It's evident that these issues didn't just start when the anime aired but were part of a sustained campaign of attacks, culminating in his decision to delete his account after just three episodes.
▼ Shinpei Nagai's social media account now shows that it no longer exists.
This development has left many fans concerned for Nagai's mental and physical well-being. Enduring such online turmoil while working in the demanding and stressful animation industry is an incredibly difficult burden to bear.
Fans abroad have noted that because Nagai actively engaged with the community to clarify situations, he inadvertently became a lightning rod for criticism. This kind of direct interaction from industry professionals can be risky. Now that the situation has escalated, many feel that while the anime's quality issues aren't his sole responsibility, he has been forced to take all the heat.
While some fans still hold out hope that the budget for One-Punch Man Season 3 is being saved for later, climactic episodes, the current outlook seems grim. At this point, many are just hoping the season turns out to be an improvement over the second, a verdict that will only be rendered as the remaining episodes air.