The highly anticipated TV anime adaptation of Paru Itagaki’s SANDA manga has dropped its main promotional video, revealing additional cast members, theme song artists, and confirming its worldwide streaming exclusivity on Amazon Prime Video. The series is set to premiere on Japanese television on October 3, 2025, effectively October 4 at 1:53 AM JST, and will be available globally on Prime Video starting October 4 at 2:53 AM JST (October 3 at 1:53 PM EDT).
The new trailer offers a dynamic glimpse into the world crafted by Science SARU, showcasing the studio’s distinctive animation style for this “Santa Claus hero action story.”
Expanded Cast Joins the Festive Frenzy
The SANDA anime has announced two new additions to its voice cast, bringing more depth to its intriguing character roster. Toshihiko Seki (known for roles like Iruka Umino in Naruto and Duo Maxwell in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing) will voice Hifumi Ōshibu, the 92-year-old principal of Daikoku Aid Academy, who is obsessed with maintaining a youthful appearance through extensive plastic surgery. Joining him is Hiroaki Hirata (voice of Sanji in One Piece) as Saburō Yagiuda, the ace of the Red Coat Special Investigation Team, a unit specializing in capturing Santa Claus.
These new cast members will appear alongside previously announced main cast:
- Ayumu Murase as Kazushige Sanda
- Hiroki Tōchi as Santa Claus
- Umeka Shōji as Shiori Fuyumura
- Anna Nagase as Ichie Ono
- Yūki Shin as Hitoshi Amaya
- Misato Matsuoka as Niko Kazao
Theme Song Artists Revealed
The promotional video also unveiled the talented artists behind the anime’s opening and ending theme songs.
- Opening Theme: yama will perform “Adult Chic Children” (romanization not yet officially confirmed).
- Ending Theme: Soushi Sakiyama will perform “Diary.”
Worldwide Streaming and Premiere Details
Fans worldwide can look forward to watching SANDA exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, with global streaming kicking off on October 4 at 2:53 AM JST (October 3 at 1:53 PM EDT). In Japan, the series will debut on October 3 and air in the “Animeism” programming block on TBS, MBS, and BS-TBS.
The anime had its world premiere at Anime Expo on July 4, with manga creator Paru Itagaki, director Tomohisa Shimoyama, and producer Kōhei Sakita in attendance.
Production Team and Story Overview
The SANDA anime is being produced by Science SARU, the renowned studio behind works like DEVILMAN crybaby and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!.
The key staff includes:
- Director: Tomohisa Shimoyama (YUREI DECO)
- Series Composition and Scripts: Kimiko Ueno (Delicious in Dungeon)
- Character Designs and Chief Animation Director: Masamichi Ishiyama (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off)
- Music: Tomoyuki Tanaka (FPM)
Based on Paru Itagaki’s manga, which concluded its serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion in July 2024, SANDA is set in a future Japan grappling with an extreme population decline, where children are excessively protected. The story follows Kazushige Sanda, a middle school student who discovers his classmate, Shiori Fuyumura, believes he is a reincarnation of Santa Claus and intends to kill him due to a “curse” he carries and her missing friend. The narrative promises a unique blend of action, mystery, and school-life drama as Sanda navigates this bizarre revelation and a world where the concept of Christmas holds unexpected significance.
