Asian Invasion: Anime
One-Punch Man: Season 3 (2025)
From my understanding, One-Punch Man this started off as a joke on a web comic book in 2009. The creator, “One”, made a super-hero so powerful that he can defeat anyone with just one punch. It’s just a joke, like a punch-line to a long windup and buildup to the fight… only to end with a punch and it’s over.
The comic gained popularity, so a re-make, re-imagined version of One-Punch Man was drawn by Yusuke Murata in 2012. The chapters were then reprinted in manga format on Viz Comics. By 2015, the webcomic-turned-manga was adapted into anime, thanks to Madhouse. Currently, One-Punch Man is currently on its third season. How far this little joke has grown.
I think originally, at least in the first season, that One-Punch Man is pretty good and funny. I don’t think it was ever meant to stay beyond its welcome… so I’m sad to report that the latest third season is absolutely just not going anywhere. It’s just not good. We rarely see One-Punch Man, it’s as if he’s not the star of his own show.
I totally understand why this is: you can’t tell a compelling story if the hero ends the conflict with just one punch. So, what do you do? You need to showcase other heroes in this universe… and there are sooooo many! My favorite are the joke-characters, like that turtle bike rider or “King” who is just an ordinary guy. The whole thing is a parody of other super-hero anime, and it works in this universe. You’re not supposed to take them seriously. No one is going to die, it’s all good fun.
As of this writing, we’re almost near the end of Season 3, and the story has not really moved an inch forward. Instead, Season 3 is spotlighting these other S-Tier heroes, like Zombieman, who cannot be killed or that Kid Genius (he has a backpack full of gadgets). There’s nothing wrong with these characters, it’s cool that we learn more about them… but in a One-Punch Man show, it just distracts from our hero. Based on all the setup, I am assuming One-Punch Man will have his own episode in the finale, where he ends the conflict. That’s just how it goes.
Maybe I will appreciate the show when I see the whole thing… but right now, Season 3 is absolutely not very good. I thought Season 2 dragged on a little, but Season 3 takes the cake in its slow walk to the finish.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc (2025)
If you attended any comic book or anime convention, you’ll see some Chainsaw Man cosplay. This is an incredibly popular manga-turned-anime. In fact, I first learned about Chainsaw Man when I overheard a couple of girls were clamoring over the latest book when I was at Barnes & Nobel. That clued me into this very unique-looking hero.
Visually and logically, it just didn’t make any sense. Is he part mechanical? How is the chainsaw powered, where does the chains go? How does he stay clean, he must be chopping up everything around him, unintentionally. If you can get past that, this is an interesting universe that Tatsuki Fujimoto created.
I saw the anime in 2022, and I think it ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I’ve always thought a Season 2 was in the works, but apparently the team was busy working on a movie instead. That movie came out in September 2025, and is titled Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
So, the problem with the movie is that you do need to watch the anime first. The show sets up Chainsaw Man’s origin, and his girls dilemma. I didn’t re-watch the show before watching the movie, and, boy, I was lost (and bored) in the first 30 minutes. Once you find out who the major villain is in the movie, it all made sense.
While I like that the movie is very narrow and just focused on Chainsaw Man (and the Bomber villain)… those hoping to see the support characters will be disappointed, because mostly absent or rarely used in the movie. Plus, many of them had to re-explain their powers, for those who didn’t watch the show or read the manga.
I like that the animation, the art, everything is 100% better than the original anime, they really leveled up on the movie version. If you love the show or manga, you’ll love the movie… but for everyone else, I suggest starting with the show first before watching the movie.
Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle (2025)
One of the highest-grossing film of 2025 is an anime called Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle. It shouldn’t surprise anyone who is into comic book or anime, everybody loves Demon Slayer. Personally speaking, I have not followed the manga or the anime, so I was not the target market for this film, Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle.
I did give it a college try, but not knowing the situation (there’s a whole season leading up to this event), not knowing any of the characters (who’s yellow-haired guy?), not understanding what this is all about… I was completely lost. And, of course, the film makes little or no effort in catching you up.
So, my recommendation for non-fans or clueless fan, as myself, this is not the film for you (yet). Your homework assignment is to watch the anime before starting the film.
From my newbie understanding, our heroes, the green guy has his sister-demon in a wooden box, and they boarded a train. His traveling companion is a bore-head character and a yellow-haired guy. They meet-up with a fire sword guy and together, they have to hunt and kill some demons. It works kind of like Snowpiercer, where you start at the back of the train and work yourself to the front… killing demons all the way, I guess.
Although the subject matter is slaying demons, the movie looks so silly at times. Since I haven’t seen the anime television, I am assuming that is also the tone of the show. I can see why it’s appealing to teenagers, but that’s definitely not my style. I like serious, gory, boys-anime, such as Fist of the North Star or Vampire Hunter D.
So, I’ll say it, I did not like Demon Slayer… but I recognize why it’s one of the most popular anime.
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