What if the most anticipated new anime of Summer 2026 wasn’t another shonen sequel or isekai power fantasy — but a historical drama set in 13th-century Persia and the Mongol Empire, directed by the legendary Naoko Yamada? That’s exactly what Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia is delivering, and it’s already turning the entire anime community upside down.
When Science SARU dropped the first trailer for Jaadugar earlier this year, nobody expected what came next. The trailer’s breathtaking art direction, fluid animation, and deeply unique visual style immediately grabbed attention from even casual viewers who had never heard of the original manga. Within days, anime forums, Twitter threads, and Reddit discussions were flooded with praise — and the hype has only grown since the series premiered on Crunchyroll in July 2026.
What Is Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia?
Based on the manga A Witch’s Life in Mongol by creator Tomato Soup, Jaadugar tells the story of Sitara — a young Persian girl from a family of scholars who is sold into slavery. When the Mongols invade her city of Tus, her entire world collapses. Forced into the court of the Great Khatun Töregene, Sitara must use her wits, her healing knowledge, and her unbreakable determination to survive and plot her revenge against those who destroyed her life.
The manga launched in 2021 and has accumulated 5 volumes so far, earning critical acclaim for its meticulous historical research and emotionally powerful storytelling. Tomato Soup is known for diving deep into the actual history of the Persian and Mongol empires, and that dedication to accuracy carries directly into the anime adaptation.
Naoko Yamada and Abel Gongora: A Dream Team
Here’s where Jaadugar becomes truly special. The chief director is Naoko Yamada — the genius behind K-On!, A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird, and the recent The Colors Within. Yamada is widely considered one of the greatest anime directors working today, known for her deeply emotional storytelling and masterful visual storytelling. Her involvement alone was enough to send fans into a frenzy.
The first episode was directed by Abel Gongora, the Spanish-born animator who previously directed Scott Pilgrim Takes Off! Gongora brings a unique western animation sensibility — specifically a Disney Renaissance influence — that blends perfectly with the expressive, cartoony character designs inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s legacy.
“I wanted to add a little of that Disney look to the character acting, pushing some of the scenes to make it a bit comical,” Gongora told IndieWire at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where Jaadugar was in competition. The result is something genuinely fresh — comedic characters with fluid, rubber-limb animation reminiscent of Aladdin, set against meticulously researched historical backgrounds.
Science SARU Goes All In on Authenticity
The production team didn’t just rely on textbooks for their historical depiction. They hired cultural advisors for both Persian and Mongol cultures, including language consultants. Several characters in the show actually speak Mongolian — a detail that Sitara herself wouldn’t understand, creating a brilliant narrative device where the audience experiences her confusion firsthand.
“We had some Mongol actors, but we mostly had Japanese actors having to do some of their lines in a different language,” Gongora explained. They even cast two Mongolian sumo wrestlers based in Japan to play characters in the show. The commitment to authenticity is staggering — but it’s not dogmatic. Yamada and Gongora deliberately bent historical rules when needed to make the show more emotionally resonant.
For example, cultural advisors told them that characters wouldn’t have smoked in Persia at that time period. But the team wanted to include it because “if you go to a bazaar in modern-day Iran you would have a lot of people smoking shisha,” Yamada explained. They ultimately removed that character, but the philosophy — breaking history slightly to honor the living spirit of these cultures — gives Jaadugar its distinctive warmth and humanity.
Why Jaadugar Is the Sleeper Hit of Summer 2026
In the Anime Corner community rankings for Most Anticipated Summer 2026 Anime, Jaadugar ranked #8 — ahead of far more established franchises like Clevatess Season 2, Grand Blue Dreaming Season 3, and even The Ghost in the Shell. That’s remarkable for a brand-new series with no existing anime fanbase.
The comparison that keeps coming up? The Apothecary Diaries — and Japan’s official Top 10 Anime of 2026 rankings already suggest Jaadugar could climb those charts. Both shows feature a brilliant female protagonist using knowledge and intelligence rather than brute force to navigate dangerous political environments. Both blend historical drama with moments of humor and warmth. And both have the potential to become massive crossover hits that attract viewers who don’t normally watch anime.
What Makes Jaadugar Different From Every Other Anime This Season
Summer 2026 is stacked with returning heavyweights — Saga of Tanya the Evil II, Mushoku Tensei Season 3, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — The Calamity. But Jaadugar stands out precisely because it’s NOT another sequel. It’s a completely original (in anime form) story that takes viewers somewhere they’ve never been in anime: the courts and bazaars of medieval Persia under Mongol conquest.
The animation quality from Science SARU is consistently stunning. The studio’s international staff — “we have a lot of foreigners in the studio compared to most anime studios in Japan,” Gongora noted — brings diverse influences that make Jaadugar feel unlike anything else on your Crunchyroll queue. It’s anime that respects its Japanese roots while genuinely embracing global perspectives.
Where to Watch Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia
Jaadugar is streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll starting July 2026. New episodes are releasing weekly, and an English dub is already confirmed for same-day release — a sign that Crunchyroll considers this a major priority title.
Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of Yamada’s previous masterworks, or just someone looking for an anime that doesn’t feel like every other show this season, Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia deserves your immediate attention. Sitara’s story of resilience, intelligence, and vengeance in the Mongol court might just be the most compelling new anime narrative of 2026.
What Do You Think?
Are you watching Jaadugar this season? Does Naoko Yamada’s involvement make this an instant must-watch for you? And how do you think it compares to The Apothecary Diaries — could Jaadugar become the next massive historical anime crossover hit? Drop your thoughts in the comments — this is one show the anime community needs to be talking about.
