A recent viral Facebook post claimed that the upcoming third season of the popular anime One-Punch Man would be produced through a special collaboration between two highly regarded animation studios, MAPPA and Bones.
This post sparked excitement among fans who were eager to see the stunning visuals and epic fight scenes that characterized the first season brought back for the third installment.
However, anime aficionados on X were quick to point out that this enticing rumor was false.
Though the post spread widely on Facebook, garnering tens of thousands of interactions before the truth came out, knowledgeable fans debunked the supposed “confirmation” on X within hours.
While some fans were thrilled about the prospect of MAPPA and Bones teaming up, as news spread that it was just a hoax, their initial enthusiasm turned to displeasure at being misled.
The discussion around which studio will actually animate One-Punch Man Season 3 continues, but for now, the MAPPA-Bones rumor has been thoroughly disproven, much to the chagrin of fans who hoped the hype was real.
Dissecting Rumors and Hopes for a MAPPA-Bones Collaboration
The rumor of a MAPPA-Bones collaboration for One-Punch Man Season 3 seemed plausible to many fans, given the circumstances around the previous seasons.
Season 1 was animated by renowned studio Madhouse, but they did not return for Season 2. Instead, the work was handed off to J.C.Staff, resulting in what many fans felt was a noticeable decline in animation quality.
So the prospect of MAPPA and Bones teaming up to recapture the magic of that first season made sense to some.
Additionally, theories circulated that manga artist Yusuke Murata’s new animation studio might be involved, as he had recently showcased impressive skills in his own anime project, Zaiyuki.
Season 3 was announced back in August 2022, but few updates since fans were eager to believe a powerhouse combo like MAPPA-Bones or involvement from Murata himself could revive the epic scale of Season 1.
But alas, none of these tantalizing theories have panned out so far, leaving fans disappointed but still holding out hope for who may ultimately produce the much-anticipated next season of One-Punch Man.
The Return of Saitama’s Unrivaled Punching Power
Enthusiastic fans have impatiently looked forward to a third season of the widely praised anime series One Punch Man ever since the second season wrapped up in 2019.
This distinctive show skillfully fuses thrilling action sequences with amusing comedy as it chronicles the adventures of Saitama.
Despite his rather unimpressive and average outward appearance, Saitama possesses extraordinary strength that enables him to vanquish any opponent with a single punch.
In the inaugural season, audiences were introduced to the mighty yet bored Saitama, who joined the Hero Association more for entertainment than necessity, frustrated that no enemy posed even the slightest challenge requiring any degree of effort or skill to quickly defeat.
The second season continued in a similar vein, as the seemingly invincible Saitama consistently prevailed with ease, but a new threat emerged in Garou, an exceptionally gifted martial artist harboring a vendetta against officially recognized heroes, proclaiming himself the “Hero Hunter.”
With the long-hoped-for third season of One Punch Man now confirmed to be in active development, devoted fans are curious to learn specifics on the expected release timeframe as well as which prominent characters might reappear and what narrative arc may unfold to propel the plot forward in new directions.
Though unverified, speculation suggests the new season could premiere by late 2023 or early 2024.
One thing is certain – Saitama will bring his signature brand of quirky comedy blended with hard-hitting fight scenes that leave enemies flattened in one punch.
Delays and Possibilities for MAPPA’s Involvement
Despite passionate fans eagerly awaiting definitive news on One Punch Man’s return for a third season, the premiere date remains unknown as of now.
However, some smart predictions can be made by examining previous time windows.
Season one took shape rapidly, hitting Japanese airwaves just 7 months after the initial March 2015 reveal.
Yet season two perplexingly lingered in development for over 2 and a half years following its September 2016 announcement before finally materializing in April 2019.
Intriguingly, reports suggest the substantial season two delay traces back directly to switching animation duties from the renowned Madhouse studio to J.C. Staff. Rumblings now indicate season three may change creative hands again, with MAPPA – the new home for anime juggernaut Attack On Titan’s culminating episodes – taking the reins.
