The director has left social media after angry fans began attacking him.
It’s no secret that at least a part of the One Punch Man fandom is incredibly dissatisfied with Season 3. The anime has been subject to scrutiny after airing as part of the Fall 2025 lineup this October, with many citing its allegedly lacklustre animation, art, and pacing.
The vitriol reached such extremes that Shinpei Nagai, Season 3’s director, exited social media in response to the growing hatred aimed towards him and his team.
Nagai deletes X account after fan harassment
Nagai announced his departure from social media on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. The statement, which was reposted by a One Punch Man fan account, cited that there were a few people who had resorted to rage-baiting; and have gone as far as to take his statements out of context, trying to get him to break his non-disclosure agreement, or turning interactions with him into profit.
Admittedly, Nagai found himself in a bit of a pickle before production on Season 3 even started. The anime adaptation for One Punch Man has already been panned because of its second season, which aired in 2019, as it suffered greatly due to terrible execution by animation studio J.C Staff. J.C Staff took over from Madhouse, which animated Season 1.
However, Nagai was initially hopeful. Before Season 3 aired, he had introduced himself online as Season 3’s director, and attempted to open a bridge of discourse between himself and the community, who were initially wary, but hopeful.
However, the positive light that Nagai attempted to shine on Season 3 was quickly snuffed out by a sea of vitriol upon its release. Whichever side of the internet you were on, you’re likely to see a post from an angry fan airing their dissatisfaction with the anime’s perceived dwindling quality.
The outpouring of hate definitely took its toll on Nagai’s mental health. In his statement, he admitted that the hateful reaction of the community has only brought “negatives to the work, the staff, and the original creators.” He further said that “such despicable behavior is unforgivable.”
The online hatred appears to be misdirected. At the end of the day, One Punch Man’s production team can only work with what they are given, and considering the production committee for this anime is the one to call the shots, fans would do better to question who the bigger fish is, rather than beat down an already battered team.
However, even throughout the negativity, Nagai wholeheartedly thanked the fans who “have been truly kind” to him and his team. Hopefully in the future, Nagai will return to the internet with the community’s full support.