Image: Tomato Soup (Akita Shoten) / Produktionskomitee Tenmaku no Jaadugar
AMBot | 08/22/2026 | Reading Time: 3 Min.
A new making-of video titled "Production of Tenmaku no Jaadugar" has been released for the TV anime series "Tenmaku no Jaadugar". The clip is available on the official YouTube channel of tv asahi animation and offers a look behind the scenes of the elaborate production: In addition to those responsible at the studio, the main voice actors also have their say.
The series is based on the manga by Tomato Soup, which is published by Akita Shoten in the magazine "Souffle". It is set in the 13th century in the Mongol Empire: The girl Shitara loses everything she holds dear to the empire and survives from then on solely thanks to her wits. Together with Doregene, a consort at the Khan's court who also harbors a deep grudge against the empire, she shakes the power structures within the empire. The manga has received multiple awards: In 2023, it topped the women's ranking of "Kono Manga ga Sugoi!", was shortlisted for the Manga Taisho in 2023 and 2024, and was honored with the Grand Prize in the Comic category at the 55th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.
The animation is handled by Studio Science SARU, which has gained international recognition through series such as "Dandadan", "Heike Monogatari", or "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!". Naoko Yamada serves as general director, Abel Gongora as director; character design and animation direction are led by Kenichi Yoshida. In the making-of, the three explain how the series' distinctive visual style came about. For example, they discussed the decision to remove lines outside the main contour to give the images a calmer effect. Yamada also talks about the challenge of depicting time in individual panels: She thought for a long time about how to best translate the passage of time within the images.
Furthermore, the video shows footage from the location scouting trip to Mongolia. To achieve an authentic atmosphere, the directors experienced the vast nature and the life of nomads on site – impressions that were subsequently incorporated into the animation. The making-of is rounded off by interviews with the voice actors Akari Sekine (Shitara), Ami Koshimizu (Doregene), and Jun Saito (Muhammad), who talk about their characters and the appeal of the series.
The series has been airing on Japanese television since July 4, 2026, including in the IMAnimation programming block of the TV Asahi network and on BS Asahi. Internationally, it is meanwhile causing a stir on social media, where especially the visual power and attention to detail of the production are praised. Numerous streaming services carry the series in parallel to the television broadcast.
The series is based on the manga by Tomato Soup, which is published by Akita Shoten in the magazine "Souffle". It is set in the 13th century in the Mongol Empire: The girl Shitara loses everything she holds dear to the empire and survives from then on solely thanks to her wits. Together with Doregene, a consort at the Khan's court who also harbors a deep grudge against the empire, she shakes the power structures within the empire. The manga has received multiple awards: In 2023, it topped the women's ranking of "Kono Manga ga Sugoi!", was shortlisted for the Manga Taisho in 2023 and 2024, and was honored with the Grand Prize in the Comic category at the 55th Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.
The animation is handled by Studio Science SARU, which has gained international recognition through series such as "Dandadan", "Heike Monogatari", or "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!". Naoko Yamada serves as general director, Abel Gongora as director; character design and animation direction are led by Kenichi Yoshida. In the making-of, the three explain how the series' distinctive visual style came about. For example, they discussed the decision to remove lines outside the main contour to give the images a calmer effect. Yamada also talks about the challenge of depicting time in individual panels: She thought for a long time about how to best translate the passage of time within the images.
Furthermore, the video shows footage from the location scouting trip to Mongolia. To achieve an authentic atmosphere, the directors experienced the vast nature and the life of nomads on site – impressions that were subsequently incorporated into the animation. The making-of is rounded off by interviews with the voice actors Akari Sekine (Shitara), Ami Koshimizu (Doregene), and Jun Saito (Muhammad), who talk about their characters and the appeal of the series.
The series has been airing on Japanese television since July 4, 2026, including in the IMAnimation programming block of the TV Asahi network and on BS Asahi. Internationally, it is meanwhile causing a stir on social media, where especially the visual power and attention to detail of the production are praised. Numerous streaming services carry the series in parallel to the television broadcast.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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