One Punch Man Season 3 director deletes Twitter account after on-line harassment

The launch of One Punch Man Season 3 — one in every of anime’s most anticipated returns — has been overshadowed by controversy after director Shinpei Nagai deactivated his social media account following sustained on-line harassment from followers.

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

Nagai, who beforehand labored on Psycho-Pass, deleted his X (previously Twitter) account earlier this week, citing focused harassment and psychological well being issues. In a farewell submit that has since circulated on-line, Nagai wrote, “There are a couple of individuals amongst my followers who’re pretending to be allies however are literally partaking in rage-baiting, so I’ve determined to delete my account.” He condemned those that had “taken statements out of context,” “tried to elicit NDA violations,” and “turned them into revenue.”

“It’s all the time the real followers who find yourself struggling essentially the most,” Nagai continued. “Honestly, that is taking a toll on my psychological well being, and it solely brings negatives to the work, the employees, and the unique creators.”

The director thanked followers who had proven him kindness and made it clear he wouldn’t return to social media sooner or later.

Amid the controversy, veteran animator Vincent Chansard (One Piece) got here to J.C. Staff’s protection, noting that the blame might lie with the manufacturing committee relatively than the studio itself. “Sometimes it’s not in regards to the animation studio,” he stated. “Right now, it’s very troublesome for them.”

Despite the backlash, One Punch Man stays one in every of anime’s most influential franchises, although its newest season has uncovered deep fractures between creators and the fandom they serve.