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One-Punch Man Season 3 Part 2 is set to premiere in January 2026, and ahead of its highly anticipated release, several new character portraits have been released, along with information pertaining to the show’s new ending theme song. While recent episodes of One-Punch Man have struggled to live up to viewer expectations, fans are hoping that the next round will harken back to the series’ glory days, though only time will tell.

Starting as a web comic in 2009, One-Punch Man‘s manga remake launched online in 2012, and in North America, new chapters appear in the digital version of Weekly Shonen Jump. Written by One and illustrated by Yusuke Murata, the series follows Saitama, an independent superhero who has trained to the point that he can defeat nearly any opponent with a single blow. Bored and frustrated by a lack of challenge, he sets out to find stronger foes to face, meeting many other heroes along the way. As of July 2026, the manga series has sold over 38 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time, on par with other hits like Chainsaw Man and Black Butler.

One-Punch Man Releases New Character Visuals Ahead of Season 3 Part 2

Six new character visuals have been released ahead of One-Punch Man Season 3 Part 2, highlighting the show’s heroes and villains. Additionally, it has been confirmed that Makoto Furukawa will perform the new ending theme, titled “The Corners of the World.” Furukawa, also the voice of Saitama, previously performed the ending themes for Season 2, as well as the first part of Season 3. It was previously announced that JAM Project would be returning to perform the opening theme, titled “Never Done -SUPREME POWER VS ULTIMATE FEAR-.”

Season 1 of the One-Punch Man anime adaptation has been widely applauded as one of the best series of the 2010s. Featuring animation by Madhouse, the studio behind Frieren and Overlord, the first season was directed by the prolific Shingo Natsume, known for his work on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Space Dandy. While Season 2 drew mixed reviews, One-Punch Man Season 3 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many calling it the worst anime of 2025. Its art, animation, and direction left much to be desired, leaving many of the series’ fans disappointed and frustrated. With its return in January, many dedicated viewers are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that it will see some major improvements.

From June 26 to July 20, 2026, a One-Punch Man 10th Anniversary Exhibition was held at Sunshine 60 Observatory Tenbou-Park in Tokyo, with fans able to purchase exclusive goods, see original sketches and autographs on display, and try out some special themed food items. These included the Saitama Burger and Genos’ Incineration Cannon Soda, both of which came paired with a random gift. Visitors were also able to insert themselves into popular scenes from the series for some memorable photo ops.

In 2020, Columbia Pictures confirmed that a live-action film adaptation of One-Punch Man was in development, with Scott Rosenberg (Venom) and Jeff Pinkner (Lost, FROM) writing the movie. In 2022, Justin Lin was confirmed to be directing the project, with production set to begin later that same year. Unfortunately, things behind the scenes seem to be somewhat troubled, as in April 2024, Heather Anne Campbell (The Eric Andre Show, Saturday Night Live) and Dan Harmon (Community, Rick and Morty) were reportedly hired to rewrite the script.

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is currently awaiting the release of chapter 1198, which is set to be published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 49 on November 8, 2026. With the Elbaf arc hitting its climax and set to wrap up within the next few chapters, all eyes of the fans are on the next arc of the series. As things stand, Eiichiro Oda has already announced the next arc at Jump Festa 2026, and with the major players of the One Piece world, such as Nerona Imu, Sun God Nika, and many other powers, already at play, it goes without saying that One Piece’s next arc is going to be quite chaotic.

One important element that is going to make the next arc even more special is a unique timeskip that Oda has crafted after the Elbaf arc. One Piece entered its first timeskip around 16 years ago, on August 30, 2010, following the release of Chapter 597, titled “3D2Y.” This timeskip lasted for two long years and saw the Straw Hat Pirates reunite on Sabaody Archipelago following their individual training. Now, a slightly different form of timeskip is set to take place at the end of Elbaf, and the basis for it has been laid by Eiichiro Oda throughout the arc.

One Piece’s Elbaf Time Dilation Is Set To Force A New Timeskip After The Imu Battle

In One Piece Chapter 1179, released on April 5, 2026, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 19, Nerona Imu, the King of the World, descended upon Elbaf. Since then, Imu has fought against one powerful entity after another relentlessly, without even taking a break. With each passing chapter, Nerona Imu’s body gets closer to its limit, and this has been highlighted by Oda time and again. In other words, Imu has spent a considerable amount of time fighting in Elbaf, which explains why he is at his utmost limit. Regardless of Imu hitting his limit, Elbaf itself dilates time, and this is something that Eiichiro Oda has set up in this arc right from the very get-go.

“Plants, trees, vines, flowers, insects, fish, and birds…everything is breathtakingly huge. Adventurers, do not regret your lost time here. However, if there is one message you take away from my account of the gigantic and mystical land of Elbaf, let it be this word of warning. ‘Do not overstay your welcome here.’” — Explorer, Louis Arnote, One Piece Chapter #1132

This was first hinted at in One Piece Chapter 1132, which was officially released on December 2, 2024, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 1. In this chapter, Louis Arnote, the famous explorer who we were first introduced to in the Little Garden arc, warned all those who came to Elbaf that they should not overstay their welcome. The reason as to why was not made clear at the time, but later down the line, specifically in One Piece Chapter 1152, released on June 23, 2025, it was confirmed that within Elbaf, those who stay for a long time start to perceive time very differently.

This was first indicated through a conversation between Scopper Gaban and Shanks as they were bathing together. In Gaban’s mind, Roger had died 3 years ago. However, Shanks corrected him, saying that it had already been 10 years since the death of the captain of the Roger Pirates.

Gaban: It’s been quite a while since we shared a bath. How long has it been, 3 or 4 years?

Shanks: Get real, Gaban-san! It’s been 10 years since the Captain died

Gaban: That long? It must’ve felt like forever to you!

— Scopper Gaban fails to perceive time in Elbaf, One Piece Chapter #1152

On top of that, in One Piece chapter 1149, which was released on May 26, 2025, Nerona Imu stated to his Holy Knights that they were taking significantly longer in Elbaf than they were supposed to. According to him, the Holy Land was already under attack in the span of time, even though it had only been a matter of minutes for the Holy Knights in Elbaf.

Under normal circumstances, one wouldn’t bat an eye at this, but for Marijoa to be attacked and the attack to have already been stopped in the same time that the Holy Knights were fighting in the country, where it hadn’t even been a day, goes to show that time is perceived very differently in this country of the Giants.

On top of that, in One Piece chapter 1178, when Imu decided to leave the Holy Land, the attack that had taken place on the Holy Land had already been quelled by Shamrock Figarland. The battle in Elbaf continues to rage on, which doesn’t make much sense unless time flows differently in the Holy Land of Marijoa than in Elbaf. This also explains why Imu is already at his limit, because in Elbaf he has fought for significantly longer than he actually thinks.

“Elders, the Holy Land shall be without Mu for a while!” — Nerona Imu leaves Marijoa, One Piece Chapter #1178

Why Luffy Vs Imu Will End With A World In War

Currently, One Piece’s Elbaf arc is awaiting the climax, which sees Luffy trade blows with Nerona Imu, the King of the World. As Luffy Vs Imu continues, Elbaf will be thrown into a Ragnarok-like situation where the end of the entire country and potentially even the world will be brought forth. In one way or another, Luffy must be able to push Imu out of Elbaf to protect the country, and as that happens, the trigger for the final war will officially be set.

“A vast war will ensue and drag the entire world into it! And which side the Giants pledge their allegiance to will have a profound effect on the outcome of the war!” — Gunko explains the Great War after Elbaf, One Piece Chapter #1146

In One Piece chapter 1146, Gunko stated quite clearly that a war that will engulf the entire world is coming, and whoever the Giants side with will be crucial in deciding the fate of the war. Clearly, the Giants will side with Luffy, and from here on out, One Piece will enter a warlike situation. Unbeknownst to Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, the war will likely already have kickstarted outside Elbaf because time there feels about three times faster.

The Events Of The Elbaf Timeskip

During Jump Festa 2026, Eiichiro Oda stated that after Elbaf, Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates will be headed to the island where only the Pirate King and his crew have set foot. At the same time, he said he would introduce the man with the Burn Scar and that the next arc will be an arc of reunions, with both rivals and friends crossing paths once again. Naturally, this excites us to no end.

“We are heading to “that island,” which only the Pirate King was ever able to reach!!? The Man with the Burn Scar will also appear. Characters who never had the chance to meet will finally encounter each other. Those two will meet, and those two will meet as well.” — Oda’s message, Jump Festa 2026

At the same time, when taking into consideration the fact that time flows very differently in Elbaf, these events have likely been in motion for months while Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates were in the land of the Giants. The very first thing that we will likely see after the Elbaf arc concludes is that, outside the Warland, things have progressed at a drastic pace, and a lot of major battles have likely happened. When Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates set sail from Elbaf, they will do so in a world that has moved along a lot further than they expected. In many ways, Luffy and the Straw Hats will have lost months, if not more time, in this country, while the others will have gained the upper hand over them. This time period will have allowed the Blackbeard Pirates to strengthen even further and potentially even the World Government to acquire more power and work on technology like Mother Flame. This timeskip is significant for the story to move at the proper pace that Oda wants it to, and for the Great War to begin without aging the Straw Hat Pirates up.

All chapters of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.