U.S. Premiere of Acts 1 & 2 at Anime Expo 2026! Director Naoko Yamada, Science SARU’s Animation Producer Misumi, and TV Asahi’s Producer Endo Reveal the Allure of the Series

The TV anime 'Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia,' based on the award-winning historical manga by Tomatosoup, held a special panel at Anime Expo 2026—the largest anime convention in North America—held in Los Angeles, USA, starting July 2, 2026.

The event featured General Director Naoko Yamada, Animation Producer Rie Misumi (Science SARU), and Producer Kazuki Endo (TV Asahi), who participated in a panel discussion following the advance screening of Acts 1 and 2, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and the charm of the series.

'Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia' is a historical drama manga by Tomatosoup, serialized in Akita Publishing’s 'Souffle' magazine. Set in the 13th-century Mongol Empire, it tells the story of Sitara, a young girl who uses knowledge as her weapon to survive harsh fate, and Queen Doregene, who harbors deep hatred toward the empire, as they form a bond of revenge and defy destiny. The manga has received widespread acclaim, winning top honors including the Female Category No. 1 in Takarajima-sha’s 'This Manga is Amazing! 2023,' consecutive rankings in the 'Manga Taisho' awards for 2023 and 2024, and the Grand Prize in the Comic Category at the 55th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards. The anime adaptation is produced by Science SARU, renowned globally for its high-quality animation in titles such as 'Dandadan,' 'The Heike Story,' and 'Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!'

U.S. Premiere of Acts 1 & 2! Audiences erupt in cheers at the stunning visuals! Director Naoko Yamada, Animation Producer Rie Misumi, and Producer Kazuki Endo reveal the series’ full charm.

The U.S. premiere of 'Jaadugar' was packed with passionate fans eager to see the series. As Science SARU’s breathtaking visuals, the intricate world of Persia and Mongolia, and the heavy drama of protagonist Sitara confronting her harsh fate unfolded on the big screen, the audience responded with thunderous applause and cheers, marking a triumphant debut in the United States.

Following the screening, General Director Naoko Yamada, Animation Producer Rie Misumi (Science SARU), and Producer Kazuki Endo (TV Asahi) took the stage for a talk session.

When asked by the MC about the journey to anime adaptation, TV Asahi’s Producer Endo shared: 'When I first read the original manga, I was struck by how engaging and grand the historical drama was, and I immediately wanted to produce the anime adaptation myself. I felt this wasn’t a typical project that could be handled by just any studio, so I specifically approached Science SARU for their creative excellence.' When asked how the star-studded production team came together, Animation Producer Misumi explained: 'Director Abel is a fan of classics like 'Heidi, Girl of the Alps,' and we felt there were thematic similarities with this work. Also, compared to his previous works like 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off' and 'Dandadan,' this project has a different kind of dramatic depth, so we believed he could bring a fresh directorial approach. As for Naoko Yamada, she read the original and became deeply interested in the Persian and Mongolian settings. She also found the idea of collaborating with new staff, including Director Abel, to be creatively stimulating, which led to her joining. We heard that character designer Kenichi Yoshida is a big fan of the original manga, and his past works are exceptional, so this marks our first collaboration with him at Science SARU. For art direction—one of the key aspects of this production—we invited Yuzuri Kassawa, who previously served as art director for 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.''

It was also revealed that Director Abel handled storyboards and direction for Act 1, while General Director Yamada took charge of Act 2. The panel shared actual storyboard materials and production documents, discussing their creative decisions.

On behalf of Director Abel, Animation Producer Misumi commented on the opening scene of Act 1, where Sitara runs through the city: 'This scene is a completely original addition not found in the manga. We were told the director wanted to showcase the beauty and charm of ancient Persian cities, so he created this scene to highlight that in the main story. Also, Sitara is only 5 years old in this scene, and we wanted to emphasize her 'courage' as she escapes from a slave shop.' When asked about the challenges in creating this original scene, she added: 'Since it’s a historical work, we had to research what Persian cities were like at the time. We also struggled with how to make her escape visually engaging. Thanks to the exceptional work of animator Shuto Enomoto, who handled layout and key animation, we believe the scene turned out beautifully.'

General Director Yamada, citing the scene between Sitara and Fatima in Act 2, explained: 'Act 1, directed by Abel, features many joyful scenes of Sitara happily running through her beloved city, suggesting a hopeful future. In contrast, Act 2 places great importance on dialogue scenes—we wanted to focus on 'heart-to-heart conversations.' Though there’s less animation movement, we prioritized expressive facial acting, shaping the episode accordingly.' Regarding a memorable scene with pomegranates, she added: 'Pomegranate flowers bloom in the Persian region where Sitara lives, symbolizing her cherished homeland. The fruit also represents fertility and continuity, so we carefully depicted this to show Sitara’s hope for the future while honoring her roots.'

The panel also discussed the character design and art board creation process, sharing early sketches and concept art by Yoshida to illustrate how the characters were developed.

In closing remarks, all guests expressed heartfelt gratitude to international fans. A group photo was taken with the entire audience. At the MC’s suggestion, fans chanted in unison: 'Let’s send our love to Director Abel Gongora, who couldn’t be here today! Ready, set, Abel!'—filling the venue with passionate cheers as the panel event concluded in great success.