Science Saru finally released the first key visual for the creator of Beastars’ new series, Sanda, bringing Santa Claus to town in a whole new way. Set 60 years in the future, Sanda, a 14-volume manga series, follows the story of Sanda Kazushige, who soon discovers that he is a descendant of the original Santa Claus. The manga series was first serialized in Akita Shoten’s Shōnen manga magazine, Weekly Shōnen Champion, starting in July 2021. Afterward, it was collected into 14 tankobon volumes and released in December 2021. Years later, Sanda is receiving its own anime adaptation.

While a Santa Claus-inspired anime may remind some readers of some great anime Christmas episodes, the original story was aimed at an older audience, which makes sense when one discovers the writer’s identity and previous works. Before the idea of Sanda was conceptualized, Paru Itagaki published a one-shot chapter titled White Beard and Boobs, which was a story about Santa Claus and a sex worker. At the time, Itagaki was also publishing her series, Beastars with Weekly Shōnen Champion.

Similar to Itagaki’s original one-shot, Beastars takes characters typically found in children’s media and adapts them into a story aimed at adults. For example, while Disney’s Zootopia did not initially inspire Beastars, the series are heavily reminiscent of each other, following a male fox and female rabbit who struggle with mature themes like racism and societal roles.

After talking with her editor, Itagaki decided to adapt the Santa Claus character once again, this time into a story that all ages could enjoy. The creator of Beastars’ follow-up manga adaptation is so much wilder than fans may have expected.

Sanda’s Anime Adaptation Announcement Comes Just in Time for Christmas in July

In the Heat of Summer 2024, Science Saru Makes an Announcement Regarding One of Their Newest Series

On July 10, the first key visual for Sanda, Science Saru’s newest manga adaptation, was revealed on the anime’s official X account. While no official premiere date has been released, the next manga volume is set to be published on August 7, leaving fans hopeful that the anime series will follow shortly after, possibly just in time for the holiday season. However, fans can stay updated by following along with the series’ social media and official website.

Sanda: The 14-Volume Santa Claus Mystery Manga

Sanda is the Perfect Mix Between the Superhero, Mystery, and Feel-Good Genres

Set in Japan in 2080, Sanda takes place during a severe decline in birth rates, which causes the government to enforce strict rules on younger generations, including arranged marriages from infancy, not allowing children to sleep to slow down their development, and placing young people’s social status higher than adults. Many believe that Santa Claus has disappeared due to a curse that seals the abilities of its user, not allowing them to be revealed. As a result, Christmas is only remembered as an ancient custom at best or a fictional legend at worst.

However, on December 25, everything changes when middle school student Sanda Kazushige’s body seal is broken by his classmate, Fuyumura Shiori, turning him into Santa Claus. Realizing that he must be a descendant of the holiday saint, Sanda learns to harness his new powers and summon them at will by wearing red and eating jellybeans to turn him back into his regular self.

Together, Sanda and Fuyumura try to find their missing classmate, Ono Ichie, to remind their city about the importance of Christmas. A Santa Claus anime announcement in the middle of July may have been the last thing manga fans expected on their 2024 bingo card. Still, considering Beastars‘ success, Sanda will surely be the wild manga adaptation that fans didn’t know they needed.