One Punch Man Season 3 Part 2 Is Officially Set for 2027

The return of Saitama to the small screen has followed a non-traditional release schedule that has kept fans on edge for years. Following the conclusion of the first half of the season in late 2025, official production reports and streaming schedules have confirmed that the wait for the continuation will extend into 2027. This split-cour approach for the Monsters Association Arc represents one of the most significant gaps in modern anime production, mirroring the complex narrative density of the source material provided by ONE and Yusuke Murata.

The Confirmed Release Timeline for One Punch Man Season 3

To address the most pressing question for the global audience: One Punch Man Season 3 Part 1 concluded its broadcast on December 28, 2025. This first cour consisted of 12 episodes that initiated the long-awaited raid on the Monster Association headquarters. Following the finale of episode 36 (Season 3, Episode 12), the production committee officially announced that the second cour is scheduled to premiere in 2027.

While a specific month or day for the 2027 premiere has not yet been localized for international markets, the pattern suggests a return during one of the major anime seasons (Winter or Spring 2027). The decision to split the season was driven by the sheer scale of the Monsters Association Arc, which is the longest and most action-intensive segment of the manga to date.

Historical Context of the Release Schedule

Season 1: Premiered in October 2015 (Produced by Madhouse).
Season 2: Premiered in April 2019 (Produced by J.C. Staff).
Season 3 Part 1: Aired from October 12, 2025, to December 28, 2025 (Produced by J.C. Staff).
Season 3 Part 2: Officially scheduled for 2027.

The journey to Season 3 was marked by a three-year silence following the initial announcement in August 2022. The production cycle reveals a commitment to adapting the high-fidelity artwork of Yusuke Murata, even if the execution has faced varying degrees of critical reception.

Where to Stream One Punch Man Season 3 Part 1

For fans looking to catch up before the 2027 continuation, the distribution rights for Season 3 are spread across several major platforms depending on the region. VIZ Media remains the primary license holder for North America, Latin America, and Oceania.

North America (United States and Canada)

In the United States, the series is available exclusively on Hulu. New episodes were released simultaneously with the Japanese broadcast at 8:15 a.m. PT on Sundays. For Canadian viewers, Disney+ is the primary streaming home under the Star banner.

International Markets

Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand: Netflix holds the rights for these territories, offering both subbed and dubbed versions.
Europe and the Middle East: Crunchyroll serves as the main hub for fans in these regions, continuing its long-standing partnership with the franchise.

Digital purchases for Season 3 Part 1 are also available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google TV for those who prefer permanent library access over subscription-based streaming.

Production Insights: The J.C. Staff and Shinpei Nagai Era

Season 3 saw a continuation of the partnership with J.C. Staff, the studio that took over the franchise from Madhouse starting with Season 2. However, there were significant leadership changes behind the scenes for this new installment.

New Direction and Staff

Shinpei Nagai took the helm as the director for Season 3, replacing Chikara Sakurai. Nagai, known for his work on projects like Dogeza and I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying, brought a different pacing style to the series. Tomohiro Suzuki returned to handle series composition, ensuring narrative continuity with the previous two seasons.

The artistic department saw a major overhaul. Sakura Murakami took over as art director, while Chikashi Kubota remained as the character designer, joined by Shinjiro Kuroda and Ryosuke Shirakawa. This collaborative design team was tasked with translating Murata’s incredibly detailed manga panels into a format suitable for weekly television animation.

The Animation Quality Controversy

Despite the high anticipation, the first cour of Season 3 faced substantial criticism from the core fanbase. Upon review of the episodes aired in late 2025, several technical issues became points of contention:

Static Shots: Critics noted an over-reliance on panning across static images. Episode 30 (titled "Motley Heroes") became notorious for a sequence featuring nearly 20 seconds of a building exterior with only voice-over audio, leading to a dip in user ratings on platforms like IMDb.
The "Garou Slide": During high-intensity combat scenes, certain frames appeared to lack the kinetic fluidity expected of the series, with character models "sliding" across the screen rather than being fully animated through the movement.
Visual Consistency: While the character designs remained faithful, the background art and lighting often lacked the cinematic depth that defined the first season produced by Madhouse.

These production challenges are widely cited as the reason for the extended gap leading into the 2027 release of Part 2. The production committee appears to be allotting more time for the animators to handle the climax of the arc, which involves some of the most complex battle sequences in shonen history.

Detailed Episode Guide for Season 3 Part 1

The first 12 episodes of Season 3 covered the initial phase of the Hero Association’s assault on Z-City’s underground. Below is a breakdown of the key events that transpired between October and December 2025.

Episode 25: Strategy Meeting

The premiere focused on the bureaucratic tension within the Hero Association. After the kidnapping of Waganma, the son of a high-ranking executive, the S-Class heroes are summoned to plan a rescue mission. This episode re-established the stakes and the terrifying hierarchy of the Monster Association led by Gyoro-Gyoro and King Orochi.

Episode 26: Monster Traits

Garou’s recovery inside the Monster Association hideout takes center stage. The episode explores the concept of "monsterization" and what it takes for a human to transcend their limits. The philosophical divide between Garou’s goals and the Monster Association’s chaos begins to widen.

Episode 27: Organism Limits

Saitama’s role in this cour is largely peripheral, as he wanders into the sewers looking for the source of a loud noise (which happens to be the epicenters of the monster hideout). This episode introduces the "Limiter" theory by Dr. Genus, providing a scientific backdrop to Saitama’s god-like strength.

Episode 28: Counterattack Signal

The raid officially begins. A-Class and B-Class heroes are deployed as a vanguard to clear the surface level, while the S-Class prepare for deep infiltration. The visual highlights include the initial skirmishes that showcase the diverse powers of the lower-ranked heroes.

Episode 29: Monster King

The first proper look at Orochi’s true form. The animation budget was clearly prioritized for this sequence, as the "Monster King" looms over his subordinates. His interaction with Garou sets a dark tone for the battles to come.

Episode 30: Motley Heroes

This episode focused on the lesser-known heroes and their struggles against Demon-level threats. Unfortunately, this was also the episode that received the most backlash for its static animation, becoming the lowest-rated episode in the franchise’s history.

Episode 31: Counterstrike

The S-Class heroes finally enter the fray. Atomic Samurai and Flashy Flash display their overwhelming speed, slicing through dozens of monsters in seconds. The contrast between the speed of the heroes and the helplessness of the monsters is a recurring theme.

Episode 32: Ninja Tale

A deep dive into Flashy Flash’s backstory and his connection to the Ninja Village. The episode features a high-speed chase that was one of the better-animated segments of the cour, capturing the lethal grace of the S-Class ninja.

Episode 33: Brave Child

Child Emperor takes the spotlight in a grueling battle against Phoenix Man. This episode utilized complex tactical gadgets and showcased Child Emperor’s maturity under pressure. Due to sports coverage on TV Tokyo, this episode’s broadcast was slightly delayed, adding to the tension for live viewers.

Episode 34: Immortal Bloodbath

Zombieman’s incredible regenerative abilities are put to the test. The episode is significantly darker and more violent than previous installments, reflecting the "seinen" roots of the original webcomic. The battle of attrition highlights the horror elements of the Monster Association.

Episode 35: Top Dragons

The introduction of the "Executives"—the Dragon-level threats that lead the Monster Association. Black Sperm, Evil Natural Water, and Gums make their appearances, immediately shifting the power dynamic against the Hero Association.

Episode 36: Ultimate Life Form

The Part 1 finale. The episode leaves the audience on a cliffhanger as the battle reaches a stalemate. Saitama finally encounters a meaningful obstacle underground, though his reaction remains characteristically indifferent. The announcement of the 2027 return followed immediately after the credits.

Narrative Breakdown: The Monsters Association Arc

The reason Season 3 is divided into parts is the sheer volume of content in the Monsters Association Arc. In the manga, this arc spans over 80 chapters, featuring dozens of individual duels that occur simultaneously.

The Role of Garou

Garou serves as the narrative engine for Season 3. Unlike previous villains who were simply "monsters of the week," Garou is a human undergoing a painful transformation. His journey is a mirror to Saitama’s; while Saitama is a hero who became too strong and grew bored, Garou is a man who hates the unfairness of the hero society and seeks to become the "Absolute Evil" to unite humanity through fear.

The Hero Association Raid

The structure of Part 1 followed a traditional "dungeon crawl" format. The S-Class heroes, including Tatsumaki (Terrible Tornado), Bang (Silverfang), and Superalloy Blackluster, each have dedicated chapters focusing on their specific combat philosophies. The anime has attempted to balance these multiple perspectives, though the 12-episode limit of Part 1 meant that many fights were cut short or saved for the 2027 return.

Saitama’s Existential Boredom

A recurring critique of this arc is the lack of Saitama’s screen time. True to the source material, the "One Punch Man" himself is often absent from the main conflict, busy dealing with mundane problems like noisy neighbors or lost pets, while the rest of the world faces an apocalypse. This serves to build anticipation for his eventual arrival, which usually results in the instantaneous resolution of the conflict.

Why is Season 3 Part 2 Delayed Until 2027?

The announcement of a 2027 release date for the second half of Season 3 has sparked intense debate. Several factors contribute to this lengthy production window:

Animation Quality Recovery: Following the negative feedback regarding the "slideshow" animation in Part 1, the production committee and J.C. Staff are likely taking the extra time to ensure that the climactic battles—specifically the showdown between Garou and the S-Class—meet the fans' high expectations. The second half contains significantly more movement and special effects-heavy sequences.
Manga Synchronization: While the manga is far ahead of the anime, the specific fight between Saitama and Garou in the Murata version features planet-scaling action that requires immense resources to animate. Waiting until 2027 allows for a higher budget allocation and better scheduling of key animators.
Split-Cour Strategy: Modern anime production has shifted away from continuous year-long broadcasts. By splitting the season, the studio can maintain a higher level of "event" status for each premiere, maximizing streaming revenue and merchandise sales.

The Sound of Season 3: Music and Voice Acting

One aspect of Season 3 that has remained consistently praised is the audio production. The soundtrack, composed by Makoto Miyazaki, continues to blend rock, electronic, and orchestral elements to match the chaotic energy of the battles.

Theme Songs

The opening theme for Season 3, "Get No Satisfied!" by JAM Project featuring BABYMETAL, was a highlight for fans. The collaboration brought a new level of intensity to the series’ tradition of high-energy openings. The ending theme, "Soko ni aru akari" (The Light, That’s There), performed by Makoto Furukawa (the voice of Saitama), provided a more melodic and reflective conclusion to each episode.

Voice Cast Performance

The core cast has returned with stellar performances:

Makoto Furukawa (Saitama): Perfectly captures the deadpan delivery that defines the character.
Hikaru Midorikawa (Garou): Receives the most praise for his ability to convey Garou’s physical pain and manic determination.
Aoi Yuki (Tatsumaki): Continues to portray the bratty yet terrifyingly powerful psychic with great charisma.
Takehito Koyasu (Gyoro-Gyoro): Brings a manipulative, oily tone to the primary antagonist of the arc.

What to Expect in One Punch Man Season 3 Part 2 (2027)

When the series returns in 2027, it will dive straight into the "Executive" battles. The stakes will elevate from underground skirmishes to a full-scale war that reshapes the surface of the planet.

Key Plot Points to Watch For:

Tatsumaki vs. Psykos: One of the most visually spectacular psychic battles in manga history, involving the literal peeling of the Earth's crust.
The Evolution of Garou: Garou will continue to shed his humanity, evolving into a form that even the S-Class heroes cannot fathom.
The Secret of Blast: More hints regarding the Rank 1 S-Class hero, Blast, are expected to appear as the threat level reaches "God."
Saitama’s Final Intervention: The eventual meeting between Saitama and the fully evolved Garou, which serves as the emotional and physical climax of the saga.

Summary

One Punch Man Season 3 is a tale of two halves. The first part, which aired in late 2025, successfully set the stage for the Monsters Association raid but struggled with production quality and pacing, leading to mixed reviews from the community. With the official confirmation that Part 2 will not arrive until 2027, the production team has a significant window to rectify previous technical shortcomings. For now, fans can revisit the 12 episodes of Part 1 on platforms like Hulu, Disney+, and Netflix, while waiting for the "Strongest Man" to return for his final punch in 2027.

FAQ

Is One Punch Man Season 3 finished?

No, only the first part (Cour 1) is finished. It consisted of 12 episodes and aired from October to December 2025. The second part is currently in production.

When does One Punch Man Season 3 Part 2 come out?

The official release date for Part 2 is set for 2027. A specific month has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be part of the 2027 anime calendar.

Which studio is making Season 3?

J.C. Staff is the studio responsible for Season 3, with Shinpei Nagai serving as the director.

Why is the animation in Season 3 being criticized?

Many fans have pointed out an increase in static shots, a lack of fluid motion in fight scenes (the "Garou slide"), and a perceived drop in visual depth compared to the first season by Madhouse.

Where can I watch One Punch Man Season 3 in the US?

In the United States, Season 3 is available for streaming on Hulu.

Does Saitama fight Garou in Season 3 Part 1?

Saitama and Garou have brief encounters, but their main, world-shaking battle is reserved for the upcoming Part 2 in 2027.