Sanda – Episode 01

Episode Synopsis:

Fuyumura is convinced that her classmate Sanda is a descendent of Santa Claus.  When she fulfills the conditions of his curse, he transforms into the jolly legend.  Fuyumura wants to use his power to answer the wishes of children to help her find her friend Ono, who has been missing for months.  She’s not content to just make the wish, however, but is instead driven to discover all of the abilities Santa has.  By the end of the episode she’s discovered he can transform if he wears red, shrug off stab wounds nigh-instantly, return to his child form when he eats “Bratty Beans”, and is impervious to fire.  She learns the last ability when a bomb she set in a classroom to test Santa’s ability to save children goes off.  (The children had already evacuated). 

Episode Review:

There is so much going on in this show!  I could summarize the insane plot of its first episode, but you’d be much better served watching it for yourself.  Instead, I’ll go through some observations about this bananas show.

First off, I have to applaud the writers for coming up with this premise.  Who on earth would think to use the figure of Santa Claus as essentially a superhero, and then to pair him up with someone as ruthless and driven as Fuyumura?  I can honestly say I’ve never though of Santa as unstoppable, but Fuyumura clearly sees it.

Her plan to discover Santa’s abilities by planting a bomb in their school is such a rapid escalation that it leaves me truly wondering where this show is going to go.  The mind of someone that can say “Santa would never let children get hurt.  I must threaten to hurt children to find out what he can do” is going to take this show in some interesting and dark places.

A second observation is about the art style.  It feels unique and has a huge range.  Looking at Fuyumura, Sanda, and the other students really brings this home.  Here’s a good shot of all three:

Santa looks like some buff superhero, Fuyumura looks like she stepped out of some Jhonen Vasquez property, and the rest of the class from some normal school anime.  Somehow it all works though, there is some talent behind this show’s animation.

Lastly, an observation about the plot.  There have only been hints so far, but something isn’t quite normal with the setting.  Despite the normal-looking school setting, with desks, chemistry lab, and teachers all looking modern-day, some of the things the students say and some of the backgrounds are piquing my interest.

Hmmm… I’m intrigued to learn more.

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