Toho Animation announced that it is producing a television anime adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga. A teaser visual and teaser trailer has been revealed for the announcement.
The anime will be directed by Norihiro Naganuma, who you may know from his work in The Ancient Magus’ Bride. Aoi Yūki will be the voice of Maomao, the protagonist who is proficient in medicine in a fictional ancient China. Toho Animation joins OLM to animate the series.
The light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino was serialized online in 2011 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. In the following year, it was acquired by Shufunotomo, who initially published the series as a novel with a single volume in 2012, and then as a light novel series in 2014.
The story of The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, who is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for a life outside its perfumed halls, she isn’t long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a “curse” afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attention of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?!
▍ The Apothecary Diaries Anime Staff & Production
Original Work: Natsu Hyūga
Character Planning: Shino Touko
Director/Series Composition: Norihiro Naganuma
Assistant Director: Akinori Futsusaka
Character Design: Yukiko Nakatani
Color Designer: Misato Aida
Art Director: Katsumi Takao
CGI Director: Yu Nagai
Director of Photography: Rumi Ishiguro
Editing: Daisuke Imai
Sound Director: Shoji Hata
Music: Satoru Kanzen, Kevin Penkin, Arisa Okezama
Animation Production: TOHO animation STUDIO, OLM
Production: Yakuya no Hitorigoto Production Committee