The story of SANDA begins in near-future Japan, in the year 2080, where the birth rate has plummeted drastically, causing children to become society's most precious resource. Traditional holidays like Christmas have faded into myth, and adolescence is artificially extended to preserve youth. Society enforces strict controls on minors, including arranged marriages from infancy and unusual developmental restrictions. Santa Claus is believed to be a sealed, cursed figure, and Christmas is considered an ancient legend.

On December 25, during a snowy day, middle school student Kazushige Sanda's body seal is broken by his classmate Shiori Fuyumura. This event causes Sanda to transform into a Santa Claus-like figure. Sanda discovers he can switch between his youthful middle school form and his Santa form by eating jellybeans or wearing red clothing, respectively.

Shiori reveals that she broke the seal because she believes Sanda's Santa powers can help find her missing friend, Ono Ichie. She hopes that by involving Sanda, they can uncover the truth behind Ichie's disappearance and also revive the forgotten spirit of Christmas in their society.

Sanda initially wants to keep his Santa lineage and abilities secret but reluctantly agrees to help Shiori. Their first encounter with the mystery involves a confrontation where Shiori fatally stabs Sanda, forcing him to reveal his powers to protect the class and herself. This incident sets the tone for the darkly comedic yet thrilling action that follows.

Together, Sanda and Shiori embark on a dangerous adventure. They navigate a society that has distorted childhood and youth, facing various challenges and uncovering hidden truths about the curse on Santa Claus and the disappearance of Ichie. Along the way, they encounter figures such as Oshibu, a 92-year-old obsessed with youth through plastic surgery, and Saburo Yagiuda, a top agent of the St. Nick Pursuit Unit, who represent the societal forces opposing their quest.

Throughout their journey, Sanda and Shiori confront multiple threats and obstacles. They engage in fights and escapes that reveal more about the curse, the true nature of Christmas, and the dystopian world they inhabit. Each confrontation is detailed with Sanda using his Santa powers strategically, shifting between forms, and Shiori's determination driving them forward.

As they delve deeper, they uncover that the curse on Santa Claus is tied to the societal suppression of joy and childhood innocence. The disappearance of Ono Ichie is linked to these dark forces, and finding her becomes symbolic of restoring hope and the lost magic of Christmas.

The story progresses with Sanda and Shiori making key decisions to challenge the oppressive norms, risking their safety to bring back the spirit of Christmas and protect the precious children of their world. Their adventure is marked by emotional moments, revelations about their own identities, and the rekindling of forgotten traditions.

The final sequences reveal the full extent of the curse and the societal decay caused by the loss of Christmas. Sanda fully embraces his role as Santa Claus, using his powers to confront the root of the darkness. Shiori's faith in him and their friendship prove crucial in overcoming the obstacles. The mystery of Ono Ichie's fate is resolved, symbolizing a new beginning for their society.

The series ends with a renewed sense of hope as the magic of Christmas begins to reawaken in the hearts of the people, and Sanda and Shiori stand ready to protect this fragile joy in a world desperate for light.

The ending of the 2025 TV show SANDA concludes with Sanda Kazushige and Shiori Fuyumura successfully uncovering the truth behind the disappearance of their classmate Ono Ichie and breaking the curse that sealed Santa Claus. This restores the forgotten magic of Christmas to their society, symbolizing hope and renewal in a dystopian future where childhood and traditional holidays had been suppressed.

In the final episodes of SANDA, the narrative unfolds with Sanda Kazushige and Shiori Fuyumura deepening their investigation into the mystery of Ono Ichie's disappearance. The story begins with Sanda, who has been revealed as the descendant of Santa Claus, grappling with his dual identity--his middle school self and his Santa form, which he can switch between by eating jellybeans or donning red clothing.

The climax occurs on a snowy December 25th, the symbolic day of Christmas, which had long been forgotten in their near-future Japan. Sanda and Shiori confront the forces that had sealed Santa Claus away, a curse that had erased Christmas from collective memory and contributed to the societal decay marked by the plummeting birth rate and the artificial prolonging of adolescence.

Scene by scene, the story shows:

• Sanda and Shiori tracking down clues about Ono Ichie's whereabouts, revealing that Ichie had been caught in the crossfire of the societal control mechanisms that suppress youth and joy.

• A tense confrontation with the St. Nick Pursuit Unit, led by Saburo Yagiuda, who represents the oppressive system enforcing the erasure of Christmas and childhood innocence.

• Sanda embracing his Santa powers fully, transforming into his Santa form to protect Shiori and to challenge the curse directly.

• The breaking of the curse through a combination of Sanda's inherited magic and the rekindling of belief in Christmas by the people around them, symbolized by the return of snow and festive lights.

• The reunion with Ono Ichie, who had been hidden away but is now freed, representing the restoration of lost innocence and hope.

• The final scenes depict society beginning to change, with children reclaiming their place and Christmas returning as a symbol of joy and renewal.

Regarding the fates of the main characters:

• Sanda Kazushige embraces his role as the new Santa Claus, balancing his youthful self and his magical heritage, becoming a beacon of hope for the future.

• Shiori Fuyumura remains by Sanda's side, her determination and belief pivotal in breaking the curse and restoring Christmas.

• Ono Ichie is rescued and reintegrated into their community, symbolizing the recovery of lost childhood and friendship.

• Saburo Yagiuda and the St. Nick Pursuit Unit are shown to be challenged and weakened by the breaking of the curse, signaling a shift away from oppressive control.

The ending is rich with visual and emotional detail: the snow falling gently as Christmas lights flicker back to life, the expressions of wonder and relief on the children's faces, and the warm camaraderie between Sanda, Shiori, and Ichie. The narrative closes on a hopeful note, emphasizing the restoration of forgotten traditions and the resilience of youth in a society that had tried to suppress them.

Yes, in the TV show SANDA (2025), at least one character dies: Ichie Ono. She is a classmate and best friend of Fuyumura who suddenly disappears and is officially declared dead by the school. Her disappearance and presumed death are central to the plot, as Fuyumura desperately seeks to find her or confirm if she is really dead, believing that Santa Claus (the curse bearer in the Sanda family) might be able to help her.

Another significant event involving death is that the protagonist, Kazushige Sanda, is fatally stabbed by Fuyumura early in the story. This stabbing is not a straightforward murder but a necessary act to trigger Sanda's transformation into Santa Claus, a supernatural curse in his family. The stabbing happens very early in the first episode and sets the tone for the series' mix of mystery, supernatural elements, and teenage drama.

To summarize:

• Ichie Ono: Disappears mysteriously and is officially declared dead by the school. Her death is a mystery and a driving force behind Fuyumura's quest.

• Kazushige Sanda: Is fatally stabbed by Fuyumura in the first episode to activate his Santa Claus transformation. This stabbing is a pivotal plot event rather than a simple death.

No other character deaths or detailed circumstances of death are mentioned in the available information.

The TV show SANDA (2025) does not have a traditional post-credits scene. Instead, it features a creditless ending sequence that serves as a chill, laid-back epilogue to the intense action of the series. This ending sequence is set to Soushi Sakiyama's song "Diary" and shows more relaxed moments from the daily life of Sanda and his classmates, providing a calm contrast to the high-octane battles in the show.

There is no indication of an additional scene after the credits that teases future plot points or adds extra story content. The focus is on this creditless ending video rather than a post-credits scene.

Sanda Kazushige can transform into Santa Claus by wearing red and revert to his middle school form by eating jellybeans. These powers are central to the plot as they enable him to help his classmate Fuyumura Shiori in her quest to find their missing friend Ono Ichie. His Santa form grants him abilities that are crucial for the dangerous and mysterious adventure they undertake, and he initially wants to keep these powers secret to protect his family's lineage. However, he uses them out of kindness and a desire to help children, which drives much of his character's motivation and the story's progression.

The curse is linked to the sealing of Santa Claus and the fading of Christmas into myth in their society. Fuyumura Shiori believes that Sanda carries this curse, which is connected to the hidden magic of Christmas and the mystery surrounding Ono Ichie's disappearance. By breaking Sanda's body seal, she hopes to awaken his Santa Claus powers to help find Ono and restore the significance of Christmas. The curse thus serves as a plot device that intertwines the characters' fates and the broader societal context of a future Japan where Christmas is forgotten.

In the near-future Japan setting of SANDA, the birth rate has dropped dramatically, making children the most precious commodity. Society artificially extends adolescence to preserve youth, and children have higher social status than adults. This societal structure affects the characters deeply: it creates a backdrop where traditional holidays like Christmas are myths, and children like Sanda and Fuyumura navigate a world with strict controls and expectations. This environment heightens the stakes of their adventure, as the disappearance of a child like Ono Ichie is a significant event, and the mystery they unravel challenges the societal norms.

Fuyumura Shiori breaks Sanda's body seal to awaken his Santa Claus powers because she believes he can help find her missing classmate, Ono Ichie. Her motivation is twofold: she wants to locate Ono and also hopes that Sanda's powers will remind society of the lost magic and significance of Christmas. Despite the danger and the curse associated with Sanda's lineage, Fuyumura is determined to use his abilities to solve the mystery and challenge the societal forgetting of Christmas.

Ono Ichie's disappearance is the central mystery that drives the plot and the partnership between Sanda and Fuyumura. Ono's absence prompts Fuyumura to seek out Sanda's help, believing his Santa Claus powers are key to finding her. This quest to uncover the truth behind Ono's fate leads the characters into a dangerous and strange adventure, revealing hidden aspects of their world and themselves. Ono's role is pivotal as the catalyst for the story's events and the emotional connection that motivates the protagonists.

The TV show SANDA (2025) is not fully family-friendly and may contain content potentially upsetting for children or sensitive viewers. It is set in a dystopian near-future Japan where Christmas is outlawed, children are heavily surveilled and emotionally stunted, and the story involves dark themes such as death, disappearance, and societal decay.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Dark and somber tone involving the death or disappearance of a child, which deeply affects the characters emotionally.
• Themes of societal control and surveillance over children, with a dystopian atmosphere that may feel oppressive or unsettling.
• Violence and action scenes with darkly comedic but thrilling elements, including characters using supernatural powers in dangerous situations.
• Emotional distress and psychological tension, such as characters dealing with grief and trauma.
• The presence of a villainous figure who is unnaturally youthful due to surgeries, adding to the unsettling dystopian setting.

While the show features middle school protagonists and some fantasy adventure elements, its mature themes and dark tone suggest it is more suitable for older teens and adults rather than young children or highly sensitive viewers.