The Fall anime season kicked off in October, but some hidden gems are still waiting to make their debut. One such gem is “The Apothecary Diaries,” a mystery-drama anime set against a historical backdrop. This series is slated to air in a few days.
The animation for the series will be a collaborative effort between two studios: “Studio OLM” and “TOHO Animation Studio.”
“Studio OLM” is renowned for animating popular series like “Summertime Rendering” and “Komi Can’t Communicate,” while “TOHO Animation Studio” is a newcomer, established in 2022, with no major titles to its name yet.
“The Apothecary Diaries” Plot
“The Apothecary Diaries” concerns Maomao, a young girl working in the red-light district as a pharmacist. She likes to remain low and never get noticed by others.
One day, she is kidnapped and taken to the imperial palace, where she serves as a servant to the Lord.
Maomao remains the same until her time of service is completed, as she doesn’t want others to notice her.
One day, Maomao hears the news of the Lord’s children facing a grave disease, so she uses her “pharmacist” knowledge to cure their anomaly.
Although she was adamant about remaining unknown, she made a name for herself in the Imperial Court due to this incident.
She attracts a Jinshi (the highest degree scholar of an Imperial Court), which makes Maomao’s life interesting.
So, every day is full of mystery as Maomao unveils new secrets about the Imperial Court and learns about the people who live in this castle.
Reason for Anticipation of “The Apothecary Diaries”
The anime is adapted from a light novel series penned by Natsu Hyuuga and illustrated by Touko Shino, marking their most acclaimed work to date.
The light novel has sold over half a million physical copies and was the third best-selling light novel of 2021.
With 14 volumes released, nine of which are available in English, and a 12-volume manga adaptation, the series has garnered a dedicated following.
Its tone is reminiscent of “Kakegurui,” featuring a cunning female lead, which has fans eagerly awaiting its premiere.
Production Team
The production team of “The Apothecary Diaries” consists of some talented staff members, which are as follows:
- Director: Norihiro Naganuma (worked as a director for “Ao Ashi”)
- Music: Kevin Penkin (famous for his music in “Made in Abyss“)
- Character Design: Nakatani Yukiko (worked as an animation director for “One Piece”)
Voice Casting For “The Apothecary Diaries”
The voice cast includes industry veterans:
- Maomao: Aoi Yuuki (“Mami” from Rent-a-Girlfriend)
- Jinshi: Takeo Ootsuka (“Hyouma” from Monogatari)
- Ah-Duo: Yuuko Kaida (“Sade” from The Duke of Death and His Maid)
- Lihua: Yui Ishikawa (“Saku” from The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today!)
Episode Count and First Episode Release Date
The total episode count for “The Apothecary Diaries” hasn’t been revealed yet. But as it will be a two-cour series, its episode count is expected to be around 23-25 episodes.
Usually, a single-cour anime series has 12 episodes, which air in three months.
The series will also have a three-episode premiere (the first three episodes will be released on the same day) on October 21 or 22, 2023, depending on your region.
Where to Watch “The Apothecary Diaries”
Crunchyroll will stream this anime series weekly in regions like India, Europe, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, the Middle East, CIS, and Oceania.
Mark your calendars, as Maomao is about to enter a world filled with disturbing secrets and mysteries.
