One-Punch Man is one of the best action anime that got off to a strong start with the first season of Madhouse releasing 12 incredible episodes that left fans wanting more. Many years later, the hype around the series still lives on, but its momentum isn't quite the same. While One-Punch Man Season 1 set the bar high with its flawless animation, Seasons 2 and 3 struggled to keep up.
'I'm losing motivation': Animator working on One Punch Man Season 3 highlights production issues
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even so One-Punch Man produced some of the best episodes in modern action anime. From Saitama's debut episode as an overpowered hero to his jaw-dropping battles with terrifying monsters and alien invaders, One-Punch Man has 10/10 episodes that fans can't stop talking about to this day.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 1: The Strongest Man
The first episode One-Punch Man explosively introduced the most casual hero in anime, Saitama. Not only was he fighting a gigantic looking villain Dragon Ball's Piccolo, but also defeated another huge villain that resembles many Titans Attack on Titan. The infamous Crablante and the kid with the weird looking beard were also present in this episode, mixing humor into the mayhem.
That's not all, as Saitama also got busy fighting the underground in his dreams by the end of the first episode. Strange, in real life he was so strong that he dreamed he was weak. All of these moments established Saitama as an overpowered hero who strikes so hard that the villains can't help but die after a single hit.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 2: The Lone Cyborg
Like Saitama, One-Punch ManResident cyborg Genos got an explosive introduction in the anime's second episode. Fighting Mosquito Girl, who was controlling a massive swarm of mosquitoes, Genos first fired his incinerators to burn every insect in sight.
Meanwhile, Saitama was comically trying to kill a single mosquito, making the second episode as funny as it was ironic. He even had bug spray on his hands while Genos burned the streets of Z City with his incinerators. However, the best part of the episode was watching Saitama and Genos team up for the first time against the weak monsters of the House of Evolution.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 4: The Modern Ninja
Who could ever forget Speed-o'-Sound Sonic's first appearance in episode four One-Punch Man? The ninja looked deadly, dressed in his sleek black ninja suit with prominent purple markings under his eyes, giving off a menacing air despite his feminine features. His greatest asset was his unmatched speed, which he used to finish off the Paradise group with ease.
However, the second half of the fourth episode played Sonic for laughs. His first encounter with Saitama ended in a disaster that was forever etched in his memory. The funnest part was watching Sonic's hype, only to be outdone by Saitama, who accidentally turned Sonic's grand entrance into an instant humiliation.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 5: The Ultimate Mentor
The long-awaited sparring between Genos and Saitama took place in One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 5. Their first ever confrontation was action-packed, courtesy of Madhouse. The fight choreography and fight sequences were flawlessly executed, making Genos and Saitama's fight the highlight of the episode.
The fifth episode also delighted viewers with Saitama and Genos passing the Hero Association entrance exams. Saitama broke all records in the physical test but somehow ended up as a C-class hero, while Genos passed both the written and physical tests and ended up as an S-class hero.
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One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 7: The Ultimate Disciple
When a huge meteor threatens to wipe out an entire city One-Punch Man episode 7, most of the heroes present in Z City are scrambling desperately. They all thought they were going to die as no hero seemed strong enough to destroy the colossal meteor before it struck.
Throughout the episode, the mood was serious and tense, with S-rank heroes like Genos, Bang, and Metal Knight openly discussing the possibility of dying. However, for someone like Saitama, even the colossal meteor barely registered a threat. Saitama smashed the meteor into pieces with a single blow, inadvertently damaging parts of the city and earning the disgust of the surviving citizens.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 9: Unyielding Justice
After the meteor incident, the world faced the wrath of the Sea King, who looked like a merman in make-up. He was a merciless monster as he defeated so many heroes, including the S-rank hero, prisoner Puri Puri; A-rank hero Stinger; Class C hero Mumen Rider; and even Genos himself.
The Sea King enjoyed humiliating these heroes until Saitama stepped in. The hooded bald man casually ended the battle only to receive insulting remarks from the survivors. They questioned Saitama's credibility, but our protagonist didn't care and went about his day like a true champion.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 11: The Dominator of the Universe
The biggest villain in the first season One-Punch Man is Lord Boros and the Dark Matter Thieves. They appeared on Earth not only to invade and conquer, but also because Lord Boros believed that a worthy challenger awaited him there. Their arrival brought forth heroes like never before, S class heroes like Metal Bat, Bang, Atomic Samurai and even Tatsumaki fought on the front lines.
Fans got to see the S-Class heroes at their best in this episode as they took turns showing off their skills in close combat against the alien invaders. However, Saitama easily stole the spotlight, effortlessly infiltrating an alien spaceship and accidentally dispatching the Dark Matter Thieves' most powerful generals.
One-Punch Man Season 1 Episode 12: The Strongest Hero
Definitely the last episode One-Punch Man Season 1 is still the best episode of the entire anime adaptation. Madhouse did an excellent job bringing Saitama's final confrontation with Lord Boros to life with flawless animation, turning the epic battle into a visual feast. Every punch and explosion is perfectly executed, almost as if the budget had no limits, with Saitama's final fight in season 1.
Additionally, this was the first time fans saw Saitama take real damage from a powerful enemy. His fight with Lord Boros also lasted longer than expected, letting Boros shine as a villain while still showing Saitama's unmatched dominance on the battlefield.
One-Punch Man
- Release date
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October 5, 2015
- Network
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YouTube, TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- directors
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Shinichiro Ushijima, Makoto Sokuza, Nobuhiro Muto, Ryoh Ando, Shuuji Miyazaki, Youhei Suzuki, Miyuki Ishida, Katsushi Sakurabi, Hideki Okamoto, Yoshio Suzuki, Hiroyuki Okuno, Riki Fukushima, Shigeki Awai
- Writers
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Tatsuro Inamoto
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Makoto Furukawa
Saitama (voice)
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Kaito Ishikawa
Genos (voice)
