This beautiful historical anime should be on your must-watch list

When you think of acclaimed historical manga, titles like Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond and Fuyumi Soryo’s Cesare come to mind. Some, like Vinland Saga and The Rose of Versailles, have already received breathtaking anime adaptations, allowing their intriguing perspectives on 11th-century Viking warfare and French Revolution-era France to enter the popular consciousness. The primary draw of historical manga lies in its blend of painstaking research and fantastical storytelling, where fact and fiction melt into a compelling snapshot of a moment in time, heightened in a way only the Japanese art form knows.

Next month, another beloved historical manga will make the jump to animation, and it has the potential to become anime's next sleeper hit. This July, Science Saru (the studio behind the highly anticipated Ghost in the Shell adaptation) is bringing Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia to Crunchyroll.

Making its debut on July 4, Jaadugar adapts A Witch's Life in Mongol, an engrossing 13th-century tale that boasts complex characters and a vivid world that faithfully reflects real-world history and cultural traditions.

Here's why Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia should be on your summer anime list, and what you need to know ahead of time.

What is the plot of Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia?

Image: Science Saru

The sweet, cartoon-like art style of A Witch's Life in Mongol feels jarring against its grim setting, but this purposeful dissonance immediately pulls the reader in. Set in the city of Tus, Persia, the manga follows a young orphan girl named Sitara, who is sold as a slave to a family of academic scholars. The sociopolitical backdrop of the Islamic Golden Age bolsters the need for Sitara’s education, which is quite robust, as she is well-versed in everything from mathematics to astronomy. But this period of relative stability is short-lived. Tus is soon sacked by the Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan, compelling Sitara to protect the precious family library.

To make matters worse, one of Khan’s sons, Tolui, takes Sitara captive and brings her to the Mongolian court. A Witch's Life in Mongol chronicles Sitara’s survival story as she leverages her vast knowledge in a land that feels inherently hostile. The term “witch” isn’t a moniker associated with wisdom or respect. Instead, it is a derogatory term used for educated, outspoken women like Sitara, who must covertly take part in political maneuvering to subvert patriarchal traditions guiding imperial courts at the time.

The Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia anime is set to tackle this nuanced subject matter, which has been described as “the tale of a witch who toyed with a vast continent.” Naoko Yamada (A Silent Voice, The Colors Within) is helming this adaptation, giving us reason to believe that the historical and cultural tenets of the story will be handled with tact and sensitivity.

Why Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will be a sleeper hit on Crunchyroll

Image: Science Saru

Science Saru has a solid track record of bringing distinct aesthetics to life, as evidenced in titles like Tatami Time Machine Blues, Devilman Crybaby, and Dandadan. The animation studio is also helming the upcoming Ghost in the Shell, which sports a markedly different visual style than its iconic predecessors.

The teasers for Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia also look spectacular thanks to Abel Gongora’s art direction and character designs by Kenichi Yoshida (who has done key animation for heavy hitters like Princess Mononoke and Den-noh Coil). With the animation being in such capable hands, Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia has the potential to surprise viewers with its gripping storyline and remarkably capable protagonist.

Speaking of Sitara, her disadvantaged position in both Tus and Mongol never holds her back from exercising meaningful agency. While Sitara navigates the world with a sense of sweetness, she understands the power of quietly channeling rage when the occasion demands it. The full breadth of her complexity is apparent once she is brought to the imperial court, where wisdom and cunning are necessary tools for women leading quiet revolutions.

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia promises tense politicking and the witty efforts of a young girl seeking revenge against systemic oppression. If you’ve never watched historical anime, now might be your chance to dip your toes into this spectacular realm.

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will premiere on July 4 on Crunchyroll.