TV anime Tenmaku no Jādūgal held a special screening at Japan Expo 2026 — one of Europe’s largest pop-culture events — in Paris, France on July 10, 2026. The venue was packed with enthusiastic fans as Episodes 1 through 4 were screened. Before the show, TV Asahi producer Kazuki Endo took the stage to share the story behind the series with French audiences.

The anime had just begun broadcasting in Japan the previous weekend, quickly trending across social media. Its simultaneous rollout on streaming platforms has also generated significant buzz internationally.

How the Anime Adaptation Came to Be

When the MC asked about the decision to adapt the manga, Producer Endo explained that he had read the original work and immediately wanted to bring it to life himself. He highlighted what makes it special:

“The balance between the cute, deformed character designs and the serious, hard-hitting story is genuinely unique. Moving deformed characters fluidly is actually surprisingly difficult — harder than animating realistic proportions — so I felt most conventional studios wouldn’t be able to pull it off. That’s why I went straight to Science SARU, who are always pushing artistic boundaries. When I approached them directly, they connected deeply with the material, and that’s how we ended up working together.”

Mongolia Location Scouting

A highlight of the talk was the team’s location scouting trip to Mongolia, the story’s primary setting. The group included chief director Naoko Yamada, director Abel Gongora, background art staff, and Endo himself.

Endo said the most memorable part of the trip wasn’t visiting museums or studying documents — it was staying overnight in a ger with a family of actual nomads:

“Living alongside people who still practice a nomadic lifestyle gave us a real feel for how the characters in the story — who move to Mongolia and immerse themselves in its culture — might have actually lived. That experience feeds directly into the direction of countless scenes and the authenticity of the visual details throughout the series.”

The audience responded with a loud round of applause.

Historical Research and Collaboration with Experts

Asked about working with original manga creator Tomato Soup, Endo described the challenge of accurately depicting the culture and history of the era. The entire production team approached it with great seriousness, consulting a wide range of documents and sources.

“Tomato Soup-sensei is a serious historical researcher in their own right. They provided us with a detailed list of reference materials, and we repeatedly asked questions like ‘Is this depiction accurate?’ or ‘What was your intention with this scene?’ We also received support from numerous other specialists and academics.”

The MC was visibly impressed, responding with an awed “That’s incredible…” — and the audience broke into applause once more.

A Triumphant Screening

Wrapping up the pre-screening talk, Endo told the crowd: “Today is a rare chance to see Episodes 3 and 4 before they air in Japan. It’s animation that grabs you from the very first frame and doesn’t let go — I hope you enjoy every moment of it.”

After the screening ended, the hall erupted in applause and cheers, bringing the Japan Expo 2026 special screening to a rousing close.

Broadcast & Streaming Information

• Worldwide: Streaming on Crunchyroll in over 200 countries and regions.
• Japan: Airing every Saturday at 23:30 on the TV Asahi network (IMAnimation slot) and BS Asahi, with simultaneous streaming on major platforms.

©Tomato Soup (Akita Shoten) / Tenmaku no Jādūgal Production Committee