When Cyberpunk Met the Mongol Empire: Science SARU’s Shock Crossover Takes Over the Internet
When Cyberpunk Met the Mongol Empire: Science SARU’s Shock Crossover Takes Over the Internet · Avonetics
Animation studio Science SARU has done it again, dropping a jaw-dropping piece of official collaboration artwork that has sent shockwaves through the entire anime community.
Illustrated by Abel Gongora, the director behind Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, the visual unites two of the studio's major July 2026 releases: the iconic cyberpunk world of The Ghost in the Shell and the sweeping historical fantasy of Jaadugar.
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Standing side by side in Gongora’s instantly recognizable, fluid art style, Major Motoko Kusanagi appears right alongside 13th-century Mongolian schemers and mysterious witches, backed by the sleek, insectoid outlines of futuristic Fuchikoma tanks.
The visual drop triggered an immediate wave of intense excitement among fans, many of whom are calling Science SARU’s current run one of the most impressive studio streaks in modern animation history.
Following their explosive success with Dandadan, Science SARU has rapidly ascended to the top tier of international animation, and this latest art piece showcases why their creative vision remains so utterly unpredictable.
Reactions across online fan spaces split into eager speculation and lively debate over what this strange combination could mean for the future of the medium.
One admirer immediately pointed out how shockingly natural the blend looked, confessing that historical drama and cyberpunk shouldn't blend this seamlessly, yet Gongora managed to pull it off effortlessly.
Your brand, right here.Reach story-obsessed listeners in 45+ languages → advertise on AvoneticsAnother fan took the fantasy even further, imagining an entire alternate-history series where the Mongol horde rides into battle equipped with autonomous tactical spider-tanks.
Others noted that the protagonist's quest for vengeance in Jaadugar would certainly be made a whole lot easier if she had access to military-grade cybernetics and high-tech battle armor.
However, not everyone was entirely sold on the genre mashup as a narrative concept, with some pointing out that blending heavy military sci-fi with gritty 13th-century court intrigue runs the risk of undermining the serious emotional weight of historical storytelling.
Despite the debate, the consensus remains overwhelmingly clear: Abel Gongora’s art style never misses, and Science SARU continues to redefine what anime fans can expect from studio collaborations.
The hosts of Panel to Panel unpack every detail of this jaw-dropping crossover and deliver their final verdict on the podcast.
