The highly anticipated anime Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia has finally received a release date and revealed its heavyweight production team. Scheduled to hit screens in July 2026, the project based on Tomato Soup’s manga promises to be one of the major releases of the year in the world of Japanese animation. The news came with a visual teaser and a promotional video, confirming its broadcast on TV Asahi’s IMAnimation W block and its affiliated channels, as well as BS Asahi. The title’s relevance is enormous, thanks to a technical team full of renowned names and the critical success of the original material, which has already topped important rankings and been nominated for awards.
In overall direction is Naoko Yamada, the acclaimed director of A Silent Voice and The Heike Story. Meanwhile, the main direction is handled by Abel Góngora, known for his work on Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. The animation will be handled by the prestigious studio Science SARU, ensuring a unique visual identity. Additionally, character design will be signed by Kenichi Yoshida (Eureka Seven) and the scripts will be supervised by Kanichi Katō (Black Clover). Thus, the production brings together talents that promise a faithful and high-quality adaptation for fans.
The Manga and Its Success Before the Screen
The original work, A Witch’s Life in Mongol, began its publication in September 2021 on Akita Shoten’s Souffle website. Since then, the manga has won over a loyal audience and specialized critics. In 2023, it reached the top of the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! ranking for female readers and remained among the best the following year. Therefore, it is no surprise that it received consecutive nominations for the prestigious Manga Taisho Award in 2023 and 2024, in addition to being nominated for the American Manga Awards. However, author Tomato Soup will go on hiatus starting this summer (Northern Hemisphere) due to maternity leave, with plans to return to the series next year.
With five compiled volumes already released, the story has plenty of material for a captivating adaptation. The fusion of a supernatural theme like witchcraft with the historical setting of Mongolia offers a rich and underexplored backdrop in anime. Therefore, the premiere in July 2026 becomes an important milestone, not only for manga fans but for all viewers seeking fresh narratives with impeccable art direction. Thus, Jaadugar positions itself as a title to be closely watched on the release calendar.
