Translation: Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements
Lettering: Bensidi Ayoub
Editor: Louis Yamani
Designer: David Colderley
The concept of Santa Claus has been around for years—overdone, some may say. It has been 100 years, give or take, since the legend of Santa gained popularity here in the United States. It's the holiday season, so what better time to cover Titan Manga's release of Sanda by Paru Itagaki? I'm not a stranger to Itagaki's work. I've been watching Beastars and have read a bit of the manga, but Sanda is the first of her works I'm reading in full.
Something I love about Itagaki's art is her sketch-like designs. I love the aesthetic of line art in animation, and Itagaki's artwork really hits that. I remember reading a bit of Beastars years ago and thinking how messy it looked, but either her human designs are less chaotic, or her art has simply become sharper. In any case, I love the look and feel of this series. The lettering of the sound effects also matches perfectly with the Japanese.
So what is Sanda about?
Set in 2080, Sanda takes place in a future where Christmas has largely been forgotten, and Japan's birth rate is at an all-time low. The school at the center of the story, where our main characters attend, rejects the act of growing up. Puberty—both mental and physical—is treated as something forbidden, and childhood, especially a child's innocence, is actively glorified. This mindset is embodied by the school's headmaster, who tries to preserve a youthful appearance despite being described as “ancient.”
From the first chapter, we're thrown right in. Kazushige Sanda is just living a typical fourteen-year-old boy's life when his classmate, Shiori Fuyumura, attacks him, demanding his help in finding her missing friend. Things quickly go off the rails. Sanda is revealed to be a descendant of the original Santa Claus, and when he dons red clothing, he transforms into a jacked, middle-aged man. Now, Sanda has to balance two identities at school: one in which he must maintain his innocence, and another in which he is forced to act like an adult and take responsibility for protecting his classmates.
Across the first two volumes, we get a clearer picture of who Sanda and Fuyumura are. Without spoiling too much, by the end of Volume 2, it becomes clear that they rely on each other for different reasons. Sanda's dual identities give him two perspectives. As Santa Claus, he views his classmates as children he needs to protect, but they are also his friends. Fuyumura sees Sanda as a friend her own age, but Santa Claus becomes more like a father figure—someone she can lean on, especially after the disappearance of her best friend, Ono.
At Anime Expo 2025, Itagaki cited The Wolfman (2010) as an influence, which follows a man cursed to transform into a werewolf after being bitten. While not a one-to-one comparison, the impact is evident: Sanda's identity crisis stems from his transformation. Itagaki's storytelling is also balanced so that nothing feels too serious for too long. The atmosphere is heavy with the odd corruption of the school's administrators and the uncertainty of the children's identities. However, she still manages to sprinkle in the appropriate amount of comedy to keep the series lively, and the facial expressions help as well. Not to mention the quieter, heartfelt moments that remind you these kids are still kids finding their place in the world. On that note, I've also been keeping up with the anime adaptation, which goes well beyond Volume 2, and I genuinely couldn't tell you where this series is headed—but I will be reading and watching.
How does the release look?
As for release quality, Bensidi Ayoub’s lettering is clean and perfectly complements Itagaki’s art, with the sound effects adapted flawlessly. The only noticeable flaw is in Volume 1’s table of contents, which lists two Chapter 6s—the second, titled “Sleeting Concrete,” is clearly meant to be Chapter 7. It’s a minor mistake and easily overlooked, but worth noting.
Conclusion
Christmas has been for the kids; it always has been, it may always be. Sanda focuses on a set of kids who, today, are seen as too old for magic and wishes, but too young to be worried about adult issues. It's a coming-of-age story in which the titular character is caught between accepting adulthood as Santa Claus and experiencing his own adolescence as a teen without completely losing himself. I can't wait to see where this series goes.
The holiday season is upon us, and it’s hard not to reminisce about past years while rewatching favorite Christmas movies—that’s how the songs tend to go. Sanda might not give you the nostalgia you expect, but it’s a fun, engaging read. Beyond the holiday trappings, it touches on deeper themes—maturity, identity, and the other complexities of growing up—making it a story that’s as thoughtful as it is entertaining.
We at Strict Algorithm, would like to wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday! Thank you for an amazing year, and here’s to 2026!
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