A thorough review of the second season of One Punch Man: Evolution and deepening beyond expectations

One Punch Man (Season 2) - The invincible hero and his challenge

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

April 3, 2019 - July 3, 2019
1:35～ ※Including pre-broadcast special

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

ONE, Yusuke Murata

■ Director

Sakurai Chikayoshi

■ Production

・Animation production: JCSTAFF

■Works

©ONE, Yusuke Murata/Shueisha, Hero Association Headquarters

■ Story

Saitama is a man who started being a hero as a hobby. After three years of special training, he has acquired invincible powers and is a hero who can defeat any enemy with a single blow. He begins his official hero activities at the Hero Association together with Genos, who becomes his disciple through a strange turn of events. As the rate of monster occurrence increases abnormally, the Hero Association tries to take measures in response to the prophecy left behind by the great prophet Shibabawa that "the Earth is in danger." Then Garou, a hero hunter, appears.

■Cast

・ Saitama/Makoto Furukawa ・ Genos/Kaito Ishikawa

■ Main staff

・Original work: ONE and Yusuke Murata "One Punch Man" (serialized in Shueisha's "Tonari no Young Jump")
・Director: Chikayoshi Sakurai ・Series Composition: Tomohiro Suzuki ・Character Design: Chika Kubota ・Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda, Yukiko Maruyama ・Color Design: Mayumi Tanahashi ・Director of Photography: Yoshio Okouchi ・Editor: Masahiro Goto (REAL-T)
・Sound Director: Miwa Iwanami ・Music: Makoto Miyazaki

■ Main Characters

Saitama
A man who gained invincible powers through three years of special training. He is a hero as a hobby.
Genos: A young cyborg. He admires Saitama's strength and becomes his apprentice.

■Subtitle

Episode 13: The Hero Returns Episode 14: The Human Monster Episode 15: The Hunt Begins Episode 16: The Metal Bat Episode 17: The Martial Arts Tournament Episode 18: The Monsters Uprising Episode 19: S-Class Hero Episode 20: The Strong Man's Resistance Episode 21: The Strongest Worry Episode 22: The Siege of Justice Episode 23: Each Person's Pride Episode 24: Cleaning Up the Disciple's Aftermath

■ Related works

One Punch Man Season 1

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
Period: 13-24
・Apostle of Silence ・Lyrics by Yukinojo Mori ・Music by Ricardo Cruz ・Arrangement by
・Song: JAM Project
・ED1
Period: 13-24
・I'll come back even without a map・Lyrics by Aki Hata・Composition by Yuki Honda・Arrangement by
・Singer: Shin Furukawa

The appeal and evaluation of One Punch Man (2nd season)

One Punch Man (Season 2) is the sequel to the popular anime series based on the manga by ONE and Yusuke Murata, which aired in 2019. After the huge success of the first season, fans were excited for the second season, and it lived up to those expectations with a deeper, more expansive story and character development.

The story of the second season depicts Saitama and Genos officially joining the Hero Association and struggling with the abnormally high rate of monster occurrence. In particular, the prophet Shibabawa's prophecy that "the Earth is in danger" is a major turning point in the story, and the heroes come together to take measures. In addition, the appearance of Garou, a hero hunter, is an important element that tests the heroes' sense of justice and beliefs.

Another point not to be missed is the character growth. While Saitama has invincible power, he also has worries and conflicts as a hero. His appearance is portrayed not only as a strong character but also as a human being, eliciting deep empathy from viewers. Meanwhile, Genos grows as Saitama's disciple and is depicted as searching for his path as a hero while facing his own past.

JCSTAFF, in charge of animation production, continues to provide high-quality visuals from the first season. In particular, the power of the battle scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters greatly enhance the visual appeal. In addition, under the direction of director Sakurai Chikayoshi, series composer Suzuki Tomohiro has firmly incorporated the essence of the original work into the anime, making the story unfold smoothly and easy to follow.

The music also plays an important role. The opening theme, "Silent Apostle," is performed by JAM Project, and its powerful vocals and melody inspire the viewers. Meanwhile, the ending theme, "I'll Return Even If There's No Map," is sung by Furukawa Makoto, and the lyrics and melody are memorable as they gently embrace Saitama's inner self.

One Punch Man (2nd Season) Review and Recommendation

One Punch Man (Season 2) continues the success of the first season, while introducing new characters and storylines to add depth and breadth to the series. In particular, the appearance of Garou and the actions of the Hero Association have provided viewers with new excitement and emotion. In addition, through the growth of Saitama and Genos, there are many scenes that call into question the sense of justice and beliefs of heroes, conveying deep messages to viewers.

The animation quality is also high, and the intensity of the battle scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters greatly enhance the visual appeal. The music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the opening and ending theme songs resonate strongly with the viewers.

This work is recommended not only for those who like hero and action anime, but also for those who want to enjoy deep stories and character development. In particular, those who have seen the first season will be able to enjoy the story and character relationships that will be further deepened in the second season. Also, those who are new to this work will surely be drawn in by Saitama's invincible power and the humanity behind it.

One Punch Man (season 2) depicts the hero's sense of justice and conviction, but also his struggles and growth as a human being, making it a work that deeply moves and sympathizes with viewers. It's an anime that I want many people to see.