One-Punch Man – 20 Question Anime Review

What’s the show? ONE PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!!!

Sorry did you say One Piece? No. Never One Piece, not even once.

Ok sure, so what’s the sho- ONE PUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!!!

*sigh* It’s going to be one of those reviews, huh? No! I’m just enjoying myself, geez such a spoilsport. The show is called One-Punch Man.

Glad to see you’re back with us, and what’s it about? It’s about an ordinary bald man named Saitama who can defeat any enemy, no matter how powerful, with just one single punch.

Hmm, seems kind of overpowered, doesn’t that get boring for what I presume is a fighting style anime? Ah, but it’s not just a fighting anime. It’s got a bit of science fiction, it’s got quite a lot of comedy, it’s a very well rounded show when it comes to having a little bit of something for everyone.

But does it spread itself too thin because of that? A little, it’s kind of like, being almost a parody of loud-battle anime’s doesn’t mean you should still lean so heavily into the tropes of those shows. The show is at it’s best when it indulges in little character moments between Saitama and his cyborg sidekick Genos, or when it delves deeper into Saitama’s dissatisfaction and depression about fighting not being fun because of his overpowered punch.

And at its worst? Well the show tries to come up with ways to have villains that challenge Saitama’s god-tier abilities but there’s never the sense that he’ll ever lose. It’s not until the end of the season does anything in the show really feel like a threat.

Anything else? Not enough female characters, there’s literally one recurring female character and she’s not even introduced until half way through the show and she does so little it’s kind of a bit insulting. There’s no reason that more of the S-class heroes couldn’t have been female.

Fair enough, sounds like you have a lot of complaints, that’s kind of rare for you, you’re usually so positive about anime? It’s like this, if a show is going to have the kind of ambition that this show does and put a unique spin on a familiar anime genre, than they should commit to it, and it doesn’t always feel like that. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a very good show, the visuals are fantastic and the action is well animated, but you can’t half ass the story just because you have some good ideas.

Sounds more like you’re scolding a naughty child, not reviewing an anime. I’m not upset, I’m just disappointed.

This is a very highly regarded anime, if I’m not mistaken? Indeed, very. It’s ranked #38 on popular anime scoring website that will remain nameless.

And you’ve taken a sort of critical opinion on it and decided to post it online. Yes I have.

This is a bit against protocol but what score are you intending to give it? This is very unorthodox, but I’ll allow it. It scores 81 out of 100. So not a terrible score at all, that still qualifies as a hearty recommendation.

But yesterday you gave ‘Yamada’s First Time: B Gata H Kei’ an 82 out of 100. And what’s it’s ranking on popular anime scoring website that will remain nameless? #3084. What’s your point?

Don’t you think you owe it to your readers to explain why the scores are like that? Because I have taste and people on that site don’t?

Whoa! Shots fired! No but there is a reason though isn’t there? Why so many slice of life and ecchi anime score in the high 80’s and 90’s and shows like this score lower? Cute girls?

No, it’s because you’re easier on those other shows, I can tell that much from the short time we’ve talked together, it’s okay you can be honest. Listen, that’s only partially true but it’s not like I’m just giving them a higher score because if one were to imperially measure one against another, a slice of life would score lower because it’s a slice of life. I judge a slice of life or an ecchi anime on it’s own merits, not comparing it to things which the mainstream like to consider to be better. If a slice of life does everything it set out to do, does everything right, is funny and charming and cute and ticks all the boxes why shouldn’t it score in the high 80’s or 90’s? There’s plenty of slice of life show’s that I think are just okay, or average, believe it or not there’s even some I hate but I don’t like writing negative reviews, so that’s why I prioritise positive reviews over negative ones. This isn’t even a negative review, so I don’t know why I need to defend myself!

You don’t, your only arguing with yourself here after all. Huh, true. Guess I was just anticipating a backlash that probably won’t even happen. Well it felt good to get it out.

After all that’s said and done, final recommendation? Even if you don’t think you’ll like it, you probably will and even if, like me, you have issues with it you’ll probably still enjoy it a whole lot too. 81 out of 1PUUUUUUUUUUUUUNCH!