Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia should be on your must-watch list

Science Saru is adapting A Witch's Life in Mongol into Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, which premieres July 4 on Crunchyroll. The 13th-century story has been described as "the tale of a witch who toyed with a vast continent," and Naoko Yamada is directing the adaptation.

Set in Tus, Persia, the manga follows Sitara, an orphan sold to a family of scholars and educated in subjects from mathematics to astronomy. When Genghis Khan’s Mongol forces sack the city, Sitara tries to protect the family library but is taken captive by Tolui and brought to the Mongolian court.

“Witch” in this story is a derogatory term for educated, outspoken women; Sitara survives by applying her knowledge and engaging in covert political maneuvering to subvert patriarchal traditions. The anime aims to explore those nuances as she navigates wisdom, cunning and quiet resistance.

Mongolia, Tus, Persia

jaadugar, science saru, naoko yamada, crunchyroll, sitara, genghis khan, tolui, mongolia, persia, 13th century