Santa Is Naked And Pissed Off In The First Teaser for Science Saru’s ‘Sanda,’ Hitting Prime Video In October

Paru Itagaki, best known for Beastars, is returning with Sanda, an unorthodox Santa Claus–themed action series set in near-future Japan. The anime, based on a 16-volume manga published by Akita Shoten, will premiere on Japanese TV on October 3 before rolling out globally on Prime Video the following morning.

Produced by Science Saru – the acclaimed Tokyo-based production house founded by Masaaki Yuasa and producer Eunyoung Choi in 2013 and purchased by Toho last year, Sanda tackles Japan’s shrinking population through a dystopian lens.

Set in 2080, after extreme government policies have upended childhood and erased traditions like Christmas, the story follows Kazushige Sanda, a middle schooler who, after a classmate named Shiori Fuyumura accidentally breaks a curse on him, transforms into a Santa Claus–like figure with the ability to switch between his youthful and Santa forms. Together, they set out to find Shiori’s missing friend while uncovering the mystery of Christmas, challenging their society’s twisted norms, and rekindling forgotten hope in a joyless world.

Today’s promotional video highlights Saru’s signature kinetic animation and introduces key characters. Veteran Toshihiko Seki voices the 92-year-old Oshibu, a figure obsessed with youth via full-body plastic surgeries, while Hiroaki Hirata plays Saburo Yagiuda, top agent of the St. Nick Pursuit Unit.

With its mix of contemporary social commentary, eccentric and familiar characters, and Saru’s unmistakable energy, Sanda could be an unorthodox holiday treat for Prime subscribers later this year.