"SANDA": Toshihiko Seki plays the school principal, and Hiroaki Hirata plays the Santa-catching specialist

 

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）／SANDA製作委員会

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）2021

It has been announced that Toshihiko Seki and Hiroaki Hirata will appear in the TV anime "SANDA," which will begin airing on October 3rd, and details of the theme song have been revealed. The main promotional video and main visual have also been released.

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）／SANDA製作委員会

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）2021

The original manga by Paru Itagaki, known for "BEASTARS," was serialized in "Shonen Champion" (published by Akita Shoten) from 2021 to 2024. 

Set in a near future where the birthrate has declined dramatically, the story follows Mita Kazushige (voiced by Murase Ayumu), a descendant of Santa Claus, who is cursed to transform into the powerful Santa Claus (Tochi Hiroki), as he strives to grant children's wishes. 

The manga will be published in 16 volumes.

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）／SANDA製作委員会

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）2021

Seki will play the role of Oshibuchi Hifumi, the principal of Daikoku Aid Academy, where Mita and his friends attend. He is so obsessed with looking young that he has had multiple plastic surgeries to maintain his youthful appearance despite being 92 years old. Hirata will play the role of Yagyuuda Saburo, the ace of the "Red Coat Special Investigation Team," a group of Santa-catching specialists who seriously injured Santa Claus when he appeared 20 years ago.

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）／SANDA製作委員会

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）2021

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

The main promotional video features the song "Adult Chick Children" and features voice acting by Oshibushi and Yagyuda. It also includes a battle scene in which Santa Claus, the form Mita transformed into by a curse, confronts Oshibushi and Yagyuda.

The main visual, with the tagline "Santa, please find a friend," features Mita and Santa Claus at the center, along with other main characters including Fuyumura Shiori (Shoji Umeka) and Amaya Isshi (Arayuki Yuki). Oshibu and Yagyuda are also depicted.

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

The full comments from the cast are as follows:

[Toshihiko Seki (role of Hifumi Oshibu)]

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）／SANDA製作委員会

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）2021

1. Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to play the role of Oshibu in "SANDA" and give a message to those who are looking forward to the film.

Of all the works by Itagaki Paru, "SANDA" has been one that I've been really interested in.

Of all the characters that appear in his works, Ooshibu Hifumi has an outstanding personality. 

I wanted to approach this with a fresh mindset so that I could vividly portray his unique existence. 

I hope you'll look forward to it!

2. This is an action movie in which Santa Claus plays a major role. 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 exciting (lol), but if there really was a Santa Claus, I'd like him to promise a future where children all over the world could live in peace...right?

[Hiroaki Hirata (role of Saburo Yagyuuda)]

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）／SANDA製作委員会

(C)板垣巴留（秋田書店）2021

1. Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to play the role of Yagyuda in "SANDA" and give a message to those who are looking forward to the film.

Although my character appears halfway through the series, I was warmly welcomed and the recording was enjoyable.

Recently, there haven't been many productions where we go out drinking after recording, but everyone in this one was a heavy drinker and I was dragged out until late at night every time.

I'm counting on you, Murase!

2. This is an action movie in which Santa Claus plays a major role. Is there anything you would like to ask Santa Claus for?

I've lived for over 60 years, but I'm still a mass of greed and evil thoughts.

I would like to ask that I become the kind of person who can say, "I have no more requests."