The highly anticipated TV anime “Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia,” based on the award-winning historical manga “A Witch’s Life in Mongol” by Tomato Soup—currently serialized on the Souffle website—was featured at the TV Asahi Industry Panel at Anime Expo 2025, North America’s largest anime convention, held from July 3 to 6 in Los Angeles.
During the panel, Masanori Fujita (CEO, Science SARU) and Kazuki Endo (Producer, TV Asahi) took the stage to share behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the production process of the upcoming 2026 anime series, including their field research trip to Mongolia.
Behind the Scenes: Why “Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia” Is So Compelling
The panel opened with a screening of the special teaser PV, followed by an introduction to the story’s historical setting, characters, and themes. Producer Endo highlighted the unique historical perspective of the series: “There are many stories about Genghis Khan, but few focus on the generation that followed—his sons. This story shines a light on that crucial yet often overlooked chapter of world history.”
Fujita then shared the three key reasons why Science SARU decided to take on the project: “First, the original manga by Tomato Soup was so fresh and unique that everyone at our studio felt drawn to it. Second, we were convinced that adapting it into an anime would be a bold and meaningful new challenge for Science SARU. And finally, the passionate encouragement from Producer Endo at TV Asahi—who said, ‘Let’s bring this story to life together’—made it all possible.”
From Mongolia to the Screen
In the second half of the panel, the conversation turned to the production team’s research trip to Mongolia, in which Endo described them visiting nomadic homes (gers), exploring traditional horse culture, and learning about local cuisine and clothing. Sharing behind-the-scenes photos from their travels, Fujita explained how the trip deeply influenced the project: “It gave the directors a real sense of the world Sitara (Fatima) would have seen. They then brought that experience home and wove it into the script.” The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.
Symbolism within the Super Teaser Visual
Fujita also spoke about the newly revealed super teaser visual: “It’s a simple design, but we believe it captures the essence of the story. There’s one symbolic detail in particular—the main character’s name ‘Sitara’ means ‘star,’ and the shooting star at the center of the visual reflects that meaning.”
Looking Ahead
Endo hinted that more exciting updates would be coming soon: “We’re planning to release new information around December this year, so please look forward to it.”
Fujita then closed the panel with a heartfelt message to fans: “Everyone at Science SARU is pouring their hearts into this project. We’re feeling more confident each day. I can’t wait for you all to see it—please look forward to the next announcement.”
Endo added: “Thanks to Science SARU’s incredible creativity, we’re creating a truly beautiful anime. We haven’t announced everything yet, but we have some amazing creators involved. Stay tuned for more information.”
With those words, the panel concluded with warm applause and a palpable sense of anticipation from the audience.
Source: Press Release
