Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia premieres July 4 on Crunchyroll

Science Saru will bring Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia to Crunchyroll on July 4. The anime adapts A Witch's Life in Mongol, a 13th-century story praised for its complex characters and vivid depiction of historical and cultural detail, with Naoko Yamada attached as director.

Set in the city of Tus, Persia during the Islamic Golden Age, the story follows Sitara, a young orphan sold to a family of scholars and trained in subjects from mathematics to astronomy. When Tus is sacked by the Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan, Sitara tries to protect the family library before being taken captive by Tolui and brought to the Mongolian court.

The label “witch” functions here as a slur against educated, outspoken women; Sitara survives by covertly engaging in political maneuvering to subvert the patriarchal norms of imperial courts. The adaptation has been described as “the tale of a witch who toyed with a vast continent,” suggesting an emphasis on both personal agency and large-scale politics.

Persia, Tus

jaadugar, crunchyroll, science saru, naoko yamada, sitara, tus, persia, mongol, genghis khan, tolui