Sanda – Season 1 (2025)
Set in 2080 Japan, where low birthrates grant children power but society forbids Christmas. Middle-schooler Kazushige Sanda, a descendant of the cursed Santa Claus, is pushed by classmate Shiori Fuyumura to find her missing friend, Ono. Forced to awaken his inherited superhuman abilities, Sanda must now become a chaotic Santa and fight back against the repressive adult world.
Length: 0h24m
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Mystery
This Title is: A Dark, Action-Packed Supernatural Mystery
Cast
Ayumu Murase, Hiroki Touchi, Umeka Shoji, Anna Nagase, Yuuki Shin
Parental Guidance
Maturity Rating: TV-MA – Violence and Thematic Material
FAQ
- Is Sanda – Season 1 (2025) Based on a True Story?: No. It is an adaptation of the original manga series *Sanda* by Paru Itagaki, the creator of *Beastars*.
- Where was Sanda – Season 1 (2025) filmed?: It is an anime television series produced in Japan by the animation studio Science SARU.
- Who Wrote the Soundtrack?: Tomoyuki Tanaka (FPM) composed the music for the series.
Filmmaker Profile
The series is directed by Tomohisa Shimoyama with scripts by Kimiko Ueno, and produced by Science SARU. The studio, known for its kinetic and visually adventurous style, brings a high-energy adaptation to the original dark fantasy manga by Paru Itagaki, the creator of Beastars.
Why It’s Worth Watching
This show excels with its imaginative and bizarre premise, fusing dystopian social commentary with frantic action. Science SARU’s animation is spectacular, featuring fluid, expressive character work and hyper-stylized fight sequences that perfectly capture the original manga’s unique blend of humor and shocking violence, making for a truly memorable viewing experience.
Main Character Deep Dive
Kazushige Sanda is an unassuming middle-schooler struggling with his adolescent life until he is forced to confront his destiny as the descendant of Santa Claus. His internal conflict centers on balancing his desire for a normal life with the superhuman powers and responsibility thrust upon him. Ayumu Murase’s performance captures the protagonist’s compassionate nature and confused emotional turmoil under bizarre circumstances.
Unforgettable Quote
“Santa has been sealed by a curse.”
Trivia
- The story is set in Japan in the year 2080, where a rapidly declining birth rate has granted children a higher social status than adults.
- The main character, Kazushige Sanda, is able to revert from his Santa transformation back to his normal self by consuming jellybeans.
- The source manga, also titled *Sanda*, ran in *Weekly Shōnen Champion* magazine from July 2021 to July 2024.
Trailer
Streaming Link
Stream Sanda – Season 1 (2025) on:
Our Review
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I was immediately captivated by the sheer audacity of this concept. The team at Science SARU has taken a strange and fascinating idea—Santa Claus in a dystopian, low-birthrate future—and executed it with remarkable precision. The animation is a masterpiece of kinetic motion and vibrant design; every scene is bursting with visual energy. I especially appreciated how the central premise is used to explore genuinely interesting societal themes without sacrificing exciting action. The performances by the voice cast are exceptional, lending gravity and heart to characters navigating a truly bizarre world. The show is packed with intense fights and moments of high-octane suspense. Watching Kazushige Sanda embrace his chaotic destiny while battling a totalitarian system is pure, exhilarating fun. I found myself glued to the screen, eagerly awaiting the next plot twist and the next incredible action set piece. It’s a wildly inventive and unforgettable experience.
Who Should Watch This?
Stream it if you love anime that expertly blends bizarre, high-concept fantasy with brutal, high-octane action and a sharp satirical edge. The compelling, vibrant visuals from the animation studio are a major highlight.
