Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia

The year is 2026, and an unlikely anime has carved out a niche in the summer season: Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia. Produced by Science SARU and broadcast across TV Asahi's sprawling network, the series aired 12 episodes from July 4 to July 18, 2026. Written by Kanichi Kato and Tomato Soup, it adapts a manga of the same name, though the source material remains obscure outside Japan. The show's premise is a sharp departure from typical fantasy fare: here, magic is not a spectacle but a quiet, dangerous craft, wielded in the shadows of the Mongol court.

The story follows Sitara, voiced by Akira Sekine, a young woman whose village is destroyed in a Mongol raid. Captured and brought to the imperial capital, she is taken under the wing of Fatima (Houko Kuwashima), a witch serving the Khagan Ögedei (Hiro Shimono). What follows is not a tale of epic battles but of political maneuvering, psychological warfare, and the slow, painful acquisition of power. The voice cast also features Ami Koshimizu as the ambitious Töregene, Miyu Irino as Sitara's conflicted childhood friend Shira, and several other notable names from the industry.

The series has drawn attention for its historical grounding, the Mongol Empire of the 13th century is rendered with unusual care for an animated production, and its refusal to romanticize its protagonist's journey. Sitara is not a hero; she is a survivor learning to become a predator. The show's visual style, overseen by cinematographer Naoki Takahashi, employs a muted palette and fluid digital animation that suits the grim tone. Critical response has been cautiously positive, though comprehensive aggregated scores are not yet available. As of the end of its first season, the series remains in production for a second season, leaving its future open.[edit]

Sitara is a young woman from a small, peaceful settlement on the fringes of the Mongol Empire. When Ögedei's armies sweep through her homeland, her family is killed, her home burned, and she is taken as a prisoner of war. In the chaos of the aftermath, she is discovered by Fatima, a witch who serves the Khagan's court. Fatima sees in Sitara a latent talent for the practice known as Jaadugar, a secretive art of illusion, manipulation, and hidden knowledge. Rather than killing her or selling her into slavery, Fatima takes Sitara as her apprentice, bringing her to the imperial capital of Karakorum.

The world of Jaadugar is not one of fireballs or levitation. It is a discipline rooted in observation, psychology, and the subtle manipulation of perception. Witches are feared and distrusted, operating from the margins of power. Fatima's position is precarious: she is tolerated by Ögedei because her advice has proven useful, but she has no formal authority. Sitara's training begins with learning to read people, to notice the small tells that betray a lie or a hidden intention, and to craft illusions that can alter a conversation or a court proceeding. The series devotes its early episodes to this education, showing Sitara's growth from a traumatized captive to a sharp-eyed apprentice.

As Sitara becomes more skilled, she is drawn into the intricate politics of the Mongol court. Ögedei is a ruler of contradictions: he can be generous and cruel, lazy and cunning. His wife, Töregene, is a formidable political operator in her own right, constantly maneuvering to secure her own influence and the succession of her son. The Khagan's brothers, Jochi, Chagatai, and Tolui, each represent different factions and ambitions. Sitara must learn to navigate this web of alliances and enmities, using her newfound skills to protect herself and advance Fatima's hidden agenda. Threaded through all of this is Sitara's personal quest for revenge against the empire that destroyed her life. She struggles to reconcile her desire for vengeance with the pragmatic lessons of her master, who teaches that true power is not about striking down an enemy but about making them serve your purpose.

The middle episodes of the season see Sitara taking on her first assignments: spying on a suspicious general, planting a rumor to discredit a rival courtier, and using an illusion to save Töregene from an assassination attempt. Each success brings her closer to the inner circle but also puts her in greater danger. She also re-encounters Shira, her childhood friend who survived the raid and has become a warrior in the Mongol army. Their relationship is fraught: Shira is loyal to the empire that gave him a new life, while Sitara sees him as a traitor to their people. Their clashes are both personal and ideological, forcing Sitara to confront the cost of her path.

As the season progresses, a larger conspiracy begins to take shape. Someone is trying to destabilize Ögedei's rule, using forbidden blood magic that goes beyond the accepted practices of Jaadugar. Sitara and Fatima must uncover the source of this threat while also dealing with the growing tensions within the court. The season builds toward a revelation that will force Sitara to choose between her thirst for revenge and the need to prevent a catastrophic civil war. The arc is one of transformation: by the end, Sitara is no longer a victim or a simple apprentice, but a player in the game of thrones, with her own plans and her own power.[edit]