Sanda Anime Prime Video Review: Weird, Wild, Wonderful

In manga circles, Paro Itagaki is well respected as a certified weirdo. Since its first appearance, Monsters The creator has built a reputation for crafting brave, genre-bending stories that are unapologetically offbeat, that exert a magnetic pull that’s bold and strange, and yet it’s impossible to tap on the glass and see wonders that will never cease.

Meanwhile, Science Saru has quickly become one of my favorite anime thanks to its particular brand of visual chaos and thematic boldness, with titles like The crying devil, Keep your hands off Aizouken, and Dan da dan In her brilliant CV. So when these two creative forces collided in the new anime adaptation of Itagaki’s manga, SandaIt wasn’t just, “Is this going to be weird?” And more “How weird is our conversation?”

Show: Very. Sanda He not only flirts with the stranger, but tries to one-up him Nightmare before Christmas By driving onto a snowbank and daring to declare herself a new holiday anomaly.

A chaotic mix of Christmas cheer, terrifying horror, and slapstick comedy, Sanda It delivers all of the above at a dizzying pace that seems to open every door of the Advent calendar at once, revealing a new and unsettling surprise with each packed scene of the first episode.

Sanda The film follows a baby-faced middle schooler named Sanda Kazushige (Ayumu Murase), whose ordinary, miserable life takes a sharp turn when her lover, Shiori Fuyumura (Umeka Shoji), discovers his strange secret: he can transform into a burly Santa Claus when he “goes red”—a loophole she happily exploits by stabbing him.

What unfolds is a messy mix of Shazam and Santa Clausrevealing that Sanda carries a genetic curse as a descendant of Saint Nick, and is magically forced to grant the children’s wishes when it starts snowing (and the above conditions are met).

Shiroi’s wish is not just a twisted and cryptic romance with Sanda, but a sincere plea to help her find her missing friend, Ichie Ono (Anna Nagase), who is presumed dead. With Sanda’s help, Shiori hopes to reunite with Ichie in time for Christmas, fulfilling the promise they once made.

To test Sanda’s resolve as Shiori’s reluctant underwear-wearing Santa superhero, her first outing involves foiling a school bombing (which she masterminds). It’s all delightfully underscored by the soft, menacing hum of holiday carols.

Visually, Sanda It stands out as one of the most striking oddities of the fall season, equal parts strange and magnetic. Itagaki’s penchant for unconventional romantic comedy and instantly readable character designs shines through, as each character delivers a recap of their personality from the moment their faces appear on screen (which is especially helpful given the fast pace of the first episode!).

From oversized eyes and beady, turbulent pupils to curvy silhouettes and wildly diverse body types, each design—Brilliantly executed by Science Saru’s Masamichi Ishiyama, it seamlessly reinforces the show’s very thin tightrope walk between horror and slapstick, where every glare thrown can be a threat or a punchline.

What’s more, SandaThe bold use of red – scattered across the scenes like a visual siren – heightens its asymmetrical charm, drawing the viewer’s eye into a world still shrouded in mystery. As the story tiptoes deeper into Santa’s cursed lineage, wish-granting compulsions, and surreal dream logic, every crimson accent feels like a breadcrumb leading us through a holiday fever dream and a murder mystery that’s only just beginning to unfold.

Because, of course, there’s a murder mystery brewing underneath SandaA reassuring hypothesis. if Monsters She taught fans anything that Barrow herself loves a good crime, as well as scenic hikes, through her charming and imaginative storytelling.

However, for all its aesthetic transgressions, Sanda’s collection reflects the annoyingly chaotic charm of inappropriate anime classics, such as those found in Akira Toriyama’s film. Dr. Slump Or Rumiko Takahashi Urusei Yatsuura. From what little the premiere offers to a diverse cast of What’s Their Deal’s quirky characters, it makes every wonderfully animated interaction, whether comedic or menacing, appear with a great deal of unexpected joy to match its stunning visuals.

Itagaki may be labeled as an eccentric manga creator, but she doesn’t get enough credit as a deeply funny, emotionally resonant storyteller who knows how to build worlds that tickle your sides, punch you in the heart, and scratch your brains. and Sanda He seems ready to reveal his dark secrets one episode at a time.

It also doesn’t hurt that Science Saru’s adaptation amplifies and transforms this spirit Sanda In a series that seems tailor-made for Adult Swim’s Toonami anime block. It’s unconventional, a little funny, and unsettling enough to have viewers clicking their fingers to see what he’ll do next. And if the premiere is any indication, viewers are in for a chaotic and dizzying ride.

Sanda It is streaming on Prime Video.

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