Science SARU's Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia premieres on TV Asahi on July 4 with a double-episode one-hour special, directed by Naoko Yamada and already selected for Annecy 2026.
Science SARU's original anime Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will premiere on TV Asahi on July 4, 2026, at 11:00 PM JST. The debut airs as a one-hour special featuring the first two episodes, broadcasting across TV Asahi and 23 affiliated channels as well as BS Asahi.
Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia is a historical drama set during the height of the Mongol Empire. The story follows Shitara, a girl enslaved in 13th-century Persia who pursues education under the guidance of a scholar named Fatima. After the Mongol Empire devastates her city under Prince Tolui, she vows vengeance against the empire. The narrative eventually brings her now a woman with medical expertise to Ögedei Khan's palace, where she works alongside his wife Töregene.
Naoko Yamada, known for her acclaimed work on A Silent Voice and The Colors Within, serves as chief director. Abel Góngora directs under her, with Kenichi Yoshida handling character design and chief animation direction. Kanichi Katō wrote the series composition, Kōshirō Hino composed the music, and Noriyoshi Konuma serves as sound director. The opening theme, "Stella," is performed by SEKAI NO OWARI, with music composed by Nakajin and lyrics written by Fukase.
The voice cast brings together a roster of established talent. Akira Sekine voices the lead role of Shitara, while Houko Kuwashima plays the scholar Fatima. Ryōta Suzuki voices Prince Tolui, and Miyu Irino takes on the role of Shira. Jun Saitō voices Muhammad.
In roles tied to Ögedei Khan's court, Ami Koshimizu voices Töregene, Hiro Shimono plays Ögedei, Daisuke Namikawa portrays Chagatai, and Kenji Nojima rounds out the cast as Jochi.
Ahead of its television premiere, the anime has already earned international recognition. Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia has been selected for the TV Films category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, running June 21–27 in France. The first three episodes will receive a world premiere screening on June 13 at United Cinemas Aqua City Odaiba in Japan. A U.S. premiere is also scheduled at Anime Expo on July 3, one day before the TV broadcast.
The combination of Naoko Yamada's directorial vision, Science SARU's distinctive animation style, and a historical setting rarely explored in anime makes Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia one of the most anticipated summer 2026 titles. With its Annecy competition slot and back-to-back premiere events spanning three continents in June and July, the series is positioned as a prestige original from one of the industry's most creatively ambitious studios. The one-hour premiere special on July 4 will set the tone for what promises to be a singular entry in the season's lineup.
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