SANDA

In near-future Japan where birthrates have collapsed, children are treated as precious but kept under strict surveillance. Santa has been outlawed as a threat. On a snowy December 25, middle-schooler Kazushige Sanda, a descendant of Santa, is attacked by classmate Shiori Fuyumura after she begs him to find her missing friend Ichie Ono. To shield children from adult control, Sanda takes on the mantle of Santa and becomes a masked protector, juggling school life, friendships and a covert campaign against authorities who treat kids like possessions. Tone mixes action, mystery, moral questions about authority and care.

SANDA premiered in 2025, created by Paru Itagaki and Kimiko Ueno, blending animation and suspense. Voice leads notably include Ayumu Murase, Hiroki Touchi, Umeka Shouji, Anna Nagase and Yuuki Shin. The series mixes serialized mystery with action-led episodes.

As of its release, SANDA hasn't received major industry awards, though it earned positive early viewer ratings, holding an 8.0/10 average from 22 votes. Critics and viewers discussed its tone and concept across social media and review sites. Industry observers noted its distinct voice within contemporary anime.

Its provocative premise has prompted conversation about surveillance, parental control and how societies value children, especially online. Stylized Santa imagery and character fan art circulated on social platforms, while debates about children's autonomy and state power appeared in commentary and discussion threads across multiple languages and regions, drawing some worldwide attention.

Critics and viewers noted SANDA's mix of action, mystery and moral tension, praising its inventive premise and character work. Major themes include surveillance versus privacy, generational distrust and the ethics of protection and control, framed through a young protagonist who resists adult authority while trying to keep peers safe.