Since the end of Season 2 in 2019, One-Punch Man Season 3 was one of the most anticipated anime. However, when it finally premiered in Fall 2025, fans were met with massive disappointment. Sloppy animation and character designs that strayed far from the manga left J.C.Staff facing relentless backlash.
Yet, while the world focused on criticizing Saitama, another disaster quietly emerged. Wandance has claimed the title of the worst anime of the year.
Why does Wandance surpass One-Punch Man in poor quality?
The reason Wandance gets less attention is its brand doesn’t compare to One-Punch Man. But in terms of production quality, Wandance is truly a disgrace to viewers.
In One-Punch Man Season 3, despite J.C.Staff’s inconsistent work, they still invested resources to salvage episodes with major battles, delivering a somewhat acceptable experience.
In contrast, Wandance is a tragedy from start to finish. As a dance-themed anime, smooth movement and emotional expression are essential. However, Madhouse, the studio behind the legendary first season of One-Punch Man, made a disastrous choice. They outsourced all dance scenes to Cyclone Graphics, using CGI technology.
CGI isn’t the problem, the execution is!
Anime fans often have a bias against CGI, but fairly speaking, CGI isn’t inherently bad. Look at how MAPPA handled Dorohedoro with such smooth 3D that fans barely noticed, or how Ufotable blends effects seamlessly in Demon Slayer. Even Studio Orange proved 3D anime can be a visual masterpiece with Beastars.
The issue with Wandance is Cyclone Graphics created shockingly lifeless footage. The dance scenes, the heart of the story where characters express their deepest emotions, came across like stiff robots lacking any vitality. Watching these frames, anyone would wonder why Madhouse adapted this series without any intention of honoring Coffee’s original work.
Wandance could have been a hit if handled by a dedicated studio treating it as a flagship project to showcase their skills. Instead, the partnership between Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics destroyed an inspiring story about the passion for dance.