A breath of fresh air. That is the word that first came to mind when the first season of One Punch Man aired in 2015. Those who were familiar with the popular manga would have gone in knowing what to expect. For those new to anime and for humor-centric anime in general, One Punch Man proved to be a phenomenon.
Whilst the anime world was still processing the Attack on Titan sensation, released just two years ago, One Punch Man came in with a powerful message of its own. Mixing humor, high-octane action, and a delightful cynicism headed by a near-perfect protagonist, that was much needed in the too-serious anime world.
One Punch Man – The Anime for Non-Anime Fans
When one speaks of great anime, one of the measuring rods is how well the show is received outside the anime world. The core fan base in Japan, the US, and elsewhere will simply eat up a decent-quality show. The challenge for anime productions is to really stand out in a competitive industry. With studios churning out high-value shows, in the end, it’s how the product resonates with average viewers.
Attack on Titan has proven that it can resonate with average viewers. And we can safely say that One Punch Man hits that mark pretty well. A show that takes the tried and tested superhero trope and turns it not exactly upside down but shifts it in a hilariously self-critical direction. It does so with a simple premise: why does the hero only need a single punch to take out the enemy? Any enemy!
Anime that Explores a Hero-Life Crisis
Like any good action anime worth its salt, One Punch Man is filled to the brim with great spectacles. The villains are varied, the world-building (urban Japan) is believable, and the stakes, depending on the ‘threat level’, can be astronomical. However, our hero remains unfazed amidst the carnage and destruction unleashed by the many monsters. All he requires is one punch.
This predicament leaves him depressed. And this becomes one of the driving forces of the plot. Since Saitama, the One Punch Man only needs a single punch, he is never challenged. Hence, the viewer is never faced with that suspense. One that turns the show into a relaxing romp. Provided you don’t mind seeing countless others get flattened by supervillains.
One Punch Man – A Relaxing Anime for Adults
When you watch One Punch Man for the first time, you might not be forgiving for its lighthearted take on subjects like aliens, terrorist organizations, and cruel monsters that have little regard for human life. And then there is the gore. And there is a lot of it. A bit too much for some. And it is at this point the show’s credentials become clearer. One Punch Man is no Shonen anime aimed at teenagers.
The action scenes do get violent. And the producers don’t shy away from throwing some horrific adversaries, with many innocents caught in the bloody rampage. But have no fear; we have the nearly-invincible Saitama to save the day. Go enjoy the show if you haven’t already.
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