Alongside animation quality that fans find unacceptable, One-Punch Man Season 3 has also faced criticism for strict censorship and controversial creative decisions. Negative reactions peaked with episode 5, which adapted one of Garou’s most anticipated battles but disappointed fans by skipping a crucial scene involving the character.
One of the biggest challenges for Season 3 was the uneven pacing of the Monster Association arc in the manga. The anime trimmed content to reach the most intense moments faster. However, it cut one of Garou’s most brutal scenes, a key moment that illustrates his rapid transformation into a monster.
One-Punch Man Season 3 censors Garou eating a monster
In episode 5 of Season 3, a scene from chapter 92 of the manga was omitted. This scene shows Garou eating raw flesh down to the bone from a monster’s arm to regain lost energy and blood. The anime deliberately skipped this important moment, even though it is essential for Garou’s character development.
It’s unclear whether this scene was cut due to time constraints or censored to avoid depicting Garou’s brutal actions for younger viewers. The scene’s purpose is to highlight his cold, ruthless nature and explain part of why he becomes a monster. While many monsters in One-Punch Man mutate naturally, consuming monster cells can also transform humans.
The episode explains that surviving near-death experiences can trigger explosive growth and push someone beyond their limits. In the manga, Garou evolves continuously. His appeal lies in his full transformation, becoming more monstrous physically and gaining unmatched power. It’s disappointing that a significant part of this evolution was cut without clear reason.
Garou’s evolution feels underwhelming in Season 3
Another deleted scene from chapter 93 shows Garou dodging Super Mouse’s Unihorn attack after recalling his fight with A-Class hero Stinger. He also remembers Metal Bat during a conversation with Gyoro Gyoro. Both scenes demonstrate how Garou learns from past battles to improve himself, making him a far more compelling character.
Censorship is also evident in the adaptation of Garou’s fight with Orochi. In the manga, Orochi’s tentacle pierces Garou, leaving a visible hole in his body that the anime does not show. The anime only implies Orochi stabbed Garou, but the hole on Garou’s abdomen in the manga foreshadows a design change he undergoes later.
Cutting content to fit a short anime season and following Japanese TV censorship rules is common. However, repeatedly skipping key character development moments for Garou shows that for viewers wanting the full story, the manga remains the best choice over the anime adaptation.