Mystery is in the medicine cabinet, and Maomao is ready to sniff out the secrets! The Apothecary Diaries, a Japanese light novel series, is making its big-screen debut with The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure, as Crunchyroll teams up with Sony Pictures Entertainment to bring the anime film to cinemas worldwide, including India.
Crunchyroll has acquired the North American and international distribution rights, excluding Asia but including India. The film marks the franchise’s first anime feature and is set to open in Japan on 11 December 2026. Release dates and ticket details for North America and other international markets will be announced later.
Based on a concept by series creator Natsu Hyuuga, the film is directed by Norihiro Naganuma and produced by Toho Animation Studio. The film is illustrated by Touko Shino, published in Japan by Shufunotomo under its Hero Bunko imprint. J-Novel Club releases the English-language digital edition, while Square Enix publishes the print edition.
The mystery begins when the emperor orders Jinshi to fulfil the final wish of a concubine who died five years ago: return her to her homeland. But when Jinshi examines her remains, he discovers something strange, they are remarkably well-preserved, as though she were still alive.
With questions piling up, Jinshi brings Maomao along to Binan-shu, a southern province ruled by the Bi clan. The bustling waterside city offers Maomao a fresh supply of unfamiliar herbs and medicines, but there is trouble brewing. Pirates are on the hunt for a treasure concealed by their late leader.
What begins as a solemn journey soon spirals into a mystery of buried secrets, pirate pursuits and unexpected twists. And when an incident erupts on the day of the concubine’s funeral, the case takes a turn no one saw coming.
Meanwhile, The Apothecary Diaries continues to keep fans hooked on the small screen. The third season premiered its first cour on 2 October 2026, with the second cour scheduled for April 2027. The first season aired from October 2023 to March 2024, followed by the second from January to July 2025.
