The Apothecary Diaries, based on the light novel series by Natsu Hyuga, was adapted into manga form and later debuted as an anime in 2023. Since then, it has been quietly cultivating a dedicated fanbase. While many anime series lean into futuristic tech or modern-day Japan, this one stands out with its ancient China-inspired setting. Its main character, Maomao, is especially refreshing—she’s not chasing romance, but is completely engrossed in herbal medicine, making her story both unique and entertaining.With the second season now complete,the buzz aroundThe Apothecary Diariescontinues to grow.
However,the anime may face production challenges if it catches up to the manga. While the show is primarily adapted from the light novels and uses those illustrations as the basis for its character designs, the anime team may still rely on the manga for visual references and pacing cues. If the anime outpaces the manga, it could complicate things behind the scenes—particularly for a series known for its visual quality and faithful adaptation. Maintaining consistency without enough supporting material might require slower production or even more original content.
A Courtroom Drama With a Clever Heroine
A Multi-Format Success Story
Set in a fictional empire inspired by Tang Dynasty China—with added influences spanning from the 16th to 19th centuries—The Apothecary Diariesfollows Maomao, a sharp-witted apothecary from the pleasure district. After being kidnapped and sold into the imperial harem, she uses her knowledge of medicine and poisons to investigate mysterious deaths within the palace. Her sharp observations catch the eye of Jinshi, a high-ranking eunuch, who tasks her with serving as a food taster for a favored consort. As Maomao digs deeper into palace intrigue, she must navigate a world of political power plays and hidden agendas.
The story began as a web novel by Natsu Hyuga in 2011 and has since expanded into multiple formats. Two manga adaptations launched in 2017—one by Square Enix and the other by Shogakukan. The anime adaptation, a collaboration between TOHO Animation Studio and OLM, aired its first season from October 2023 to March 2024. AsThe Apothecary Diarieslooks ahead to its third season, continuing Maomao’s journey through the ever-twisting corridors of palace politics.
No Crisis Yet, But Caution Ahead
A Growing Franchise with Strong Momentum
As ofThe Apothecary Diaries’ season 2 conclusion, it would appear thatthe anime has managed to overtake the manga, leaving many to wonder just where the production will go for the next installment. But while it may appear that Maomao’s journey has ended in one medium, there’s still plenty of the source material left for the anime to adapt.
Both iterations ofThe Apothecary Diariesmanga, since two different publications picked up the license, are based on the original light novel story written by Natsu Hyuga. And while the anime may have caught up with the manga after approximately 80 chapters or so, there are still 15 whole volumes in Hyuga’s collection for the production to adapt.
Thus far, the manga has been a faithful rendition of the original source, occasionally omitting small chapters to streamline the manga. Otherwise, each character’s motivation, story beat, and expansion into the lore of the palace have been maintained and kept in place, provided with stunning visuals that have served as a blueprint for the anime.
Now that the visuals have been reduced, the production forseason 3 may have a rocky time adaptingThe Apothecary Diariesnow that they too are limited to directly taking inspiration from the light novel. Although the series does include the occasional art piece dedicated to one page, everything in between could look drastically different between the anime and manga.
While fans shouldn’t have to worry about the production straying too far from the light novel, and therefore the story, this does serve as a fascinating instance where the anime that was originally based on the manga must now follow the same source material.
Where To Pick Up The Light Novel After Season 2
For fans who are more than eager to learn what happens next in Maomao’s journey, the light novels are the perfect avenue to turn to. While they may not provide the same experience one would get from reading the manga, the story, character, and inspirations remain the same.
Now that the anime ended, this lands readers right around the fourth to fifth light novel. The fourth adapts The Dancing Ghost, Consort Gyokuyou’s Pregnancy, and Maomao’s Kidnapping, wrapping up much of the anime’s season 2.The fifth light novel will carry on the story afterThe Apothecary Diariesfinale, allowing fans to enjoy where Maomao’s journey takes her next.
