One-Punch Man season 3's director says he had to hide his identity because he is "relatively unknown" and that might leave a "bad impression" with fans: "I sincerely apologize for keeping quiet about this"

The One-Punch Man season 3 director has addressed why he's only now allowed to officially confirm he's making the anime's latest episodes.

Shinpei Nagai took to social media to explain why he's been on the down-low concerning his role in the production.

While outlining his journey to his current position (maybe don't Google some of his more NSFW back catalog), Nagai explained, "Since I'm relatively unknown and don't have standout achievements as an animator, I thought it might give a bad impression, so I asked to keep it under wraps."

Nagai added, "I sincerely apologize for keeping quiet about this. The team is giving it our all on site. I can't discuss details about the production, but I'm open to answering what I can within limits."

While such an admission could raise some eyebrows, there's a chance the production team chose to shield any individuals from blowback – especially given the weight of expectation on the animation staff after a six-year layoff, plus the reaction to the show's controversial animation so far.

One-Punch Man season 3 hits our screens on October 5, with the new season adapting the manga's Monster Association arc.

One-Punch Man isn't the only major name arriving as part of this fall's stacked new anime lineup. Demon Slayer Infinity Castle is just days away (and even closer if you head to early screenings), while the Chainsaw Man movie and My Hero Academia's final season all drop in October. Looking further afield, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2 kick off 2026's slate in January.

For more, check out the best anime you should be watching right now.