SANDA Anime: Cast & Theme Song Revealed

Seki Toshihiko and Hirata Hiroaki have been confirmed to appear in the TV anime “SANDA,” which begins airing on October 3rd, and details of the theme song have been revealed. The main promotional video and main visual have also been released.

The original manga by Itagaki Paru, known for “BEASTARS,” was serialized in “Shonen Champion” (Akita Shoten) from 2021 to 2024. Set in a near-future society with an extremely low birthrate, the story follows Kazue Mita (voiced by Ayumu Murase), a descendant of Santa Claus, who is cursed and transformed into the powerful Santa Claus (Hiroki Tochi) as he strives to fulfill children’s wishes. The manga will be published in 16 volumes.

Seki plays Hifumi Oshibu, the principal of Daikoku Aid Academy, where Mita and her friends attend. He’s so obsessed with youth that, despite being 92 years old, he’s undergone multiple plastic surgeries to maintain his youthful appearance. Hirata plays Saburo Yagyuda, the ace of the “Red Coat Special Investigation Team,” a Santa-catching specialist team that seriously injured Santa Claus 20 years ago.

The opening theme song will be “Adult Chick Children” by singer yama, and the ending theme song will be “Diary” by singer-songwriter Soushi Sakiyama.

The main promotional video, featuring “Adult Chick Children,” features voice acting by Oshibu and Yagyuda. It also includes a battle scene in which Mita, transformed into Santa Claus by a curse, confronts Oshibu and Yagyuda. The main visual, with the tagline “Santa, please find a friend,” features Mita and Santa Claus at the center, alongside main characters Shiori Fuyumura (Umeka Shoji) and Isshi Amamiya (Yuki Arata). Oshibu and Yagyuda are also featured.

It has also been announced that the film will be available worldwide exclusively on Prime Video starting at 2:53 AM on October 3rd. The series will begin airing on AT-X from October 6th, and on Animax from November 1st.

Full comments from the cast and theme song artist are below:

[Seki Toshihiko (role of Oshibu Hifumi)]

1. Please tell us how you felt when you were cast as Oshibu in “SANDA” and give a message to those looking forward to the film. Among Itagaki Paru’s works, “SANDA” has always been one of my favorites. Among the characters that appear in his works, Oshibu Hifumi’s personality is particularly outstanding. I wanted to approach the role with a fresh perspective so I could fully express his unique presence. Please look forward to it!

2. This film is an action movie featuring Santa Claus. Is there anything you would like to ask Santa Claus for? If there really was a Santa Claus like the one in this film, every Christmas would be more exciting (lol). But if there really was a “Santa Claus,” I’d like him to promise “a future where children all over the world can live in peace”… I guess?

[Hiroaki Hirata (role: Yagyuuda Saburo)]

1. Please tell us how you felt when you were cast as Yagyuuda in “SANDA” and give a message to those looking forward to the series. Although the character appears midway through the series, I was warmly welcomed and had a great time recording. Recently, I haven’t been able to go out drinking after filming for many shows, but this one was full of heavy drinkers, and I was dragged out until late into the night every time. I’m counting on you, Murase!

2. This is an action film featuring Santa Claus. Is there anything you’d like to ask Santa Claus for? I’ve lived for over 60 years, but I’m still a bundle of greed and evil thoughts. I’d like to be the kind of person who can say, “I have no more requests.”

[yama (Opening Theme Song)]

What does it mean to become an adult? Just getting older doesn’t necessarily make you “adult.” The opposite is also true: I don’t believe that youth makes you a child. Carrying pain in secret is a sign of weakness and vulnerability… and struggling with it alone may symbolize the clumsiness of refusing to face reality. I used to think there was virtue in continuing to age while still embracing that vulnerability. However, over the past few years, I’ve gradually begun to open up to people close to me and through music. While the boundary between me and others remains the same, I realize there are parts of myself that I discover through my interactions with others. I don’t consider myself an adult or a child, but I’m sure we all possess both traits at any age. I’m not stubborn about either, nor am I right or wrong, but I’ve realized that I want to trust someone. That also means believing in myself. For someone else, caught in the same trap. I would be happy if it reaches you.

[Sakiyama Soushi (ending theme song)]

I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be performing the ending theme. I composed this song because I empathize with Ichie’s inner conflict, as she wavers between being an adult and a child. I’m repeatedly moved by Ichie’s actions, driven by the voices of others, despite the clash of different justices and the lack of a right or wrong. I hope you enjoy the song along with the anime.

Official TV Anime “SANDA” Channel

Subscribers: 266

TV Anime “SANDA” Main PV [Broadcasting begins October 3, 2025 on the “Animeism” slot and other channels! Streaming worldwide exclusively on Prive Video from October 4!]