SPOILERS BELOW https://files.catbox.moe/l66kwp.jpg STORY Sandas story is very much a unique and interestingly fun take on a typical coming of age narrative where the setting itself takes place in a strangly skewed world and Japanese society where its cold in August and Christmas doesnt even exist there also happens to be a age hierarchy which relies on a fear and trepidation of aging past your childhood Ageismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageism / Gerontophobiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerontophobia. By placing using youth on a pedestal every child and adult in this show must find their place within the very weight of this society while confronting its systematic issues and their own as a result of the trauma cracks and confusion withstood with the different implications of such upon them including Sanda and his unique circumstance while being suddenly relied on. As a result you have satisfying intermixing between the world and its cast when it all comes together. Properness toward some of the main topics in this show is just a bit rare in anime but its always fascinating to see. When an author like Paru Itagakihttps://anilist.co/staff/121564/ParuItagaki approaches these topics with such intricacy and paces itself well it just happens to make perfect sense to the audience and their writing remains clear and intentional while achieving a well established level of nuance even when in the end its a story about Santa Claus at its center. https://files.catbox.moe/5lte8f.mp4 VISUALS Almost every scene is in constant motion featuring detailed and specific character expressions that shift the tone and heighten immersion. The show places a high importance on saturated foreground colors for characters and objects contrasted against somewhat less saturated well detailed institutional backgrounds with anything different standing out a lot more. This technique makes everything pop perfectly cementing the sharp cartoonish look of the cast while maintaining a sense of realism you wouldnt expect to blend. https://files.catbox.moe/n20445.mp4 SOUND MUSIC All the sound by Keiichirou Miyoshihttps://anilist.co/staff/144762/KeiichirouMiyoshi is very punchy and crisp while the music by Tomoyuki Tanakahttps://anilist.co/staff/352496/TomoyukiTanaka will very much switch from more chill electronic music all the way to distorted Christmas hymns and instrumentals with a decent variety of OSTS that are good listens but sometimes the placement of songs were weird to me sometimes breaking focus and tension. All the voice cast members are great especially Umeka Shoujihttps://anilist.co/staff/102262/UmekaShouji or Mariya Isehttps://anilist.co/staff/95655/MariyaIse who both did a rather amazing job with their role as Shiori Fuyumurahttps://anilist.co/character/246681/ShioriFuyumura and Fumihttps://anilist.co/character/363836/FumiNamatame all throughout this. SCORE STORY 9.5/10 VISUALS 10/10 SOUND MUSIC 8.5 If you want a show thats new and different to binge or if youre a fan of the authors other animated works Sanda is honestly worth your time. It consistently pushes boundaries with a thrilling sense of unpredictability great animation with unique visuals and really good music to compliment a great experience that will constantly continue toward likely intriguing you doing its best to stay strange yet engaging.