‘One Punch Man’ Season 3 director deletes Twitter account after online harassment

The release of One Punch Man Season 3 — one of anime’s most anticipated returns — has been overshadowed by controversy after director Shinpei Nagai deactivated his social media account following sustained online harassment from fans.

The new season, produced by J.C. Staff, has drawn widespread criticism for its animation quality, with viewers calling it “lifeless” and “underwhelming.” Fans had high expectations after the first season, produced by Studio Madhouse, was hailed as a visual masterpiece. The disappointment has reignited backlash toward J.C. Staff, which also animated the show’s divisive second season.

Nagai, who previously worked on Psycho-Pass, deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account earlier this week, citing targeted harassment and mental health concerns. In a farewell post that has since circulated online, Nagai wrote, “There are a few people among my followers who are pretending to be allies but are actually engaging in rage-baiting, so I’ve decided to delete my account.” He condemned those who had “taken statements out of context,” “tried to elicit NDA violations,” and “turned them into profit.”

“It’s always the genuine fans who end up suffering the most,” Nagai continued. “Honestly, this is taking a toll on my mental health, and it only brings negatives to the work, the staff, and the original creators.”

The director thanked fans who had shown him kindness and made it clear he would not return to social media in the future.

Amid the controversy, veteran animator Vincent Chansard (One Piece) came to J.C. Staff’s defense, noting that the blame may lie with the production committee rather than the studio itself. “Sometimes it’s not about the animation studio,” he said. “Right now, it’s very difficult for them.”

Despite the backlash, One Punch Man remains one of anime’s most influential franchises, though its latest season has exposed deep fractures between creators and the fandom they serve.