Paru Itagaki, the visionary behind the acclaimed BEASTARS, has embarked on an exciting new project: the anime adaptation of SANDA, a unique take on Santa Claus as a hero. This project springs to animated life under the creative guidance of the renowned Science SARU studio. Alongside the announcement, a captivating teaser visual was released, and Itagaki herself has shared her thoughts on this new venture.
SANDA, Itagaki’s most recent creation following the award-laden BEASTARS, explores a future Japan facing extreme population decline. In this world, children are overly protected, setting the stage for this unusual hero story. The manga concluded on a high note with its final chapter in Weekly Shonen Champion's 32nd issue on July 11. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the 15th volume on August 7th.
The anime announcement was timed with the manga’s finale. Science SARU, the studio behind hits like "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!" and "Dandadan", as well as internationally recognized works such as the Golden Globe-nominated "Inu-Oh" and "Your Color", winner of the Best Animation Feature at the Shanghai International Film Festival, is handling the animation production.
The intriguing teaser visual features a muscular, elderly Santa Claus in a red hood, whose shadow intriguingly transforms into that of a young boy, suggesting a mysterious link between the two. Itagaki expressed her enthusiasm about the adaptation, saying, "This manga was born from my desire to create a story with dynamic, visually striking actions. Seeing it come to life in animation is thrilling, and I am deeply thankful to both the fans and Science SARU."
Stay tuned for more updates on the SANDA anime series!
Animation Production: Science SARU.
Original Work Information: Paru Itagaki, SANDA (Published by Akita Shoten in Shonen Champion Comics) Comics from Volume 1-14 are currently available. The latest, Volume 15, is set to release on August 7, 2024.
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© Paru Itagaki (Akita Shoten) / SANDA Production Committee © Paru Itagaki (Akita Shoten) 2021
